Each district is now required to develop detailed physical plans covering between 20 and 50 hectares every year as part of efforts to accelerate the development of organised settlement sites, the Minister of Environment, Bernadette Arakwiye, has said. The minister made the remarks while responding to concerns raised by Members of Parliament over land-use challenges, including delays in developing detailed physical plans and limited infrastructure in designated housing zones. ALSO READ: Why City of Kigali missed deadline to demarcate new residential sites Lawmakers said these challenges continue to lock many people, particularly young people in rural areas, out of home ownership. MP Germaine Mukabalisa said delays in preparing detailed physical plans are among the main obstacles preventing young people from building homes in areas officially designated for housing. ALSO READ: Ten new changes reshaping land use, urban planning in Rwanda She noted that many designated housing sites lack basic infrastructure such as water and electricity, while some landowners are unwilling to sell their plots. As a result, many young people are forced to continue living with their parents, a situation she said often leads to family conflicts. Mukabalisa added that the problem is more severe in rural areas, where there are virtually no rental housing options. “People were promised physical plans to open up more settlement sites, but they have waited for a long time without seeing results,” she said, adding that residents in Ruhango District have also failed to access nearby state-owned land they want to develop. ALSO READ: Kigali City explains phased system for new residential site approvals MP Alphonsine Mukamana said persistent delays in land services, including physical planning, are discouraging investment and weakening public trust in institutions, while MP Barthelemy Kalinijabo pointed to weaknesses in spatial planning, citing findings from parliamentary visits to Gakenke District. “During a recent visit in Gakenke District, we found that none of the 87 established housing sites has a detailed physical plan. At the same time, prices in authorised housing sites are increasing, affecting people who are forced to relocate,” he Kalinijabo said. Responding to the concerns, said there is an annual target for each district to prepare physical plans covering 20 to 50 hectares, a move intended to ease the shortage of serviced plots. “These plans are being fast-tracked. Once completed, they will clearly indicate the location of infrastructure such as roads, water and electricity to support organised settlement,” she said. She added that Rwanda Development Board is working to attract investors to develop state-owned land in Ruhango, and that the digitisation of land services will help reduce delays and minimise corruption. On rising plot prices, Arakwiye said the government is working with professional valuers to introduce ‘reference prices’ by May. “Prices in housing sites are rising. We are working with the Institute of Real Property Valuers to establish reference prices so that people can access land at fair prices,” she said.
