The mass relocation of residents from Kangondo and Kibiraro slums located in Remera Sector to Busanza modern estate built in Kicukiro District by the Government of Rwanda began in September this year.

The government explains that the relocation is in public interests to move citizens from hazardous zones to safe places.

The Deputy Government Spokesperson, Alain Mukuralinda has told IGIHE that 1130 families comprised of 5,402 members have been relocated to Busanza estate.

Each family resettled in the model village was given a house with the value estimated between Rwf14 to 35 million.

Residents with properties valued below than Rwf14 million also received similar shelters.

However, families whose properties were worth more than Rwf35 million did not receive houses but were given monetary compensation.

Mukuralinda explained that 45 out of 53 families have been compensated under this expropriation model but eight more have not yet received payments due to unsettled issues.

“There are two people who approved their properties’ valuation but established that they had been presented as collaterals. We are still waiting for banks to release original documents of their properties. As of today, six residents have not yet signed a document detailing how their properties were valued,” he said.

Mukuralinda further revealed that there are two people living abroad, one residing in Ivory Coast while another one resides in Canada. As he said, they approved the valuation of their properties via email but funds have not yet been disbursed.

He explained that their money will be kept in the national coffers until they will designate representatives approved by respective embassies or come to Rwanda to pick the money themselves.

Among others, three former Kangondo residents rejected the valuation of their properties awaiting the court’s decision while another one is waiting for a revised valuation as per current prices in 2022.

Mukuralinda has told IGIHE that 89.7% of available houses in Busanza estate have been given to resettled residents while 130 more remain unoccupied.

Before the relocation, 114 residents had filed a lawsuit claiming for monetary compensation instead of houses.

Mukuralinda explained four of them agreed the compensation model through negotiations with the City of Kigali, ten accepted cash payments as their properties were worth over Rwf35 million while two refused cash and are awaiting court’s decision on 11th November 2022.

The government explains that the relocation from Kangondo and Kibiraro is in public interests to move citizens from hazardous zones to safe places.

The mass relocation of residents from Kangondo and Kibiraro slums to Busanza estate began in September this year.

Busanza estate where Kangondo residents were relocated.