The Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC) has reminded Rwandans to bury dead bodies in public cemeteries based on the law guiding the use of graveyards released in 2013.
Residents in some parts of the country have been expressing challenges of lacking where to bury the dead, others saying cemeteries are far from their homes, requiring money for transport which at times is not readily available thus burying on their own land.
Some residents from Cyanzarwe and Rubavu sector of Rubavu district say that they have no public cemetery while residents from Gikomero sector of Gasabo district say that the public cemetery is too far from their residences.
Talking to IGIHE, the communications officer from the Ministry of Local Government, Ladislas Ngendahimana said that it is against the law to bury on one’s land.
“We remind them that it is prohibited to bury dead bodies in a place which is not earmarked or not a public cemetery,” he said.
He adds that Rwandans must adopt the law nº 11/2013 of 11/03/2013 published officially in May 2013 stating the usage of cemeteries.
“What we remind citizens is included in the law. When the law is published in the official gazette, it must be adopted,” said Ladislas Ngendahimana.
Commenting about citizens who say that public cemeteries are far, Ngendahimana said that the law spells that each sector must have a public cemetery.
“We have no cases of sectors lacking cemeteries. Again, every village can’t have a cemetery. Citizens must seek where the cemetery must be located in collaboration with local leaders,” he said.
The 27th article of this law indicates that a district leader can confirm to bury out of a public cemetery in case an individual or a family request it for clear reasons. The decision is supposed to be communicated to the minister regarded with public cemeteries and the president of district advising committee.
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