Angelique Kayitesi has explained that her family bought land and completed transfer transactions six months ago but has not yet received related documents.

“We bought a piece of land worth Rwf1 million, completed land transfer transactions at sector level at the beginning of February 2021 but we have not yet received land title. Delaying land documents restricts us from exploiting our land to the maximum so that we can apply for loans or build houses. Besides, prolonged delay might trigger land disputes. We appeal for support to get land documents issued,” she said.

Another landholder, Jean Baptiste Tuyishime residing in Muko sector has appealed to relevant officials for intervention to address the problem.

“We made a declaration, cleared payments, made land transfer transactions at sector level, sent files to the district but documents have not yet been released. The issuance of documents has been pending for three months yet it would take no more than 15 days in the past. We have been asked to be patient until they are released. We want such services to be delivered fast,” he noted.

The mayor of Gicumbi district, Felix Ndayambaje acknowledged the delay in the release of land documents attributing it to the absence of land officer who was on maternity leave.

He assured residents that the situation is set to return to normal.

“The successor of the land officer who was on maternity leave was overwhelmed with piled files to be processed. We have sought support from five land officers at sector level to intervene for a period of one week. We are optimistic that they will receive pending documents effective from next week,” revealed Ndayambaje.