Residents of Kivuruga sector of Gakenke district in Northern Province have raised concern over a required amount of Rwf 50,000 bereaved families are meant to pay to be allowed to bury the dead on family’s land, saying the amount can only be afforded by rich people. The poor who are unable to find such money have to travel long distance of 3 kilometers for the public cemetery.
Byukusenge Martin, a resident of Sereri cell in Kivuruga sector, says that he has paid the Rwf 50,000 when he wanted to bury her dead mother but Kivuruga sector officials failed to classify the account.
“I recently went to pay the Rwf 50,000 but the Rwanda Revenue Authority staff failed to classify the account on which the money could be posted,” he said.
Byukusenge and other residents from Kivuruga say that sometimes they don’t get invoices when they pay the Rwf 50,000.
“I have paid the money to Kivuruga sector official in charge of registering revenues. He told me that the book in which people paying similar fund is registered was finished. He asked me to go and bury the deceased promising no one would stop me. Even though he required me to get back to collect the invoice I have decided not to return to the sector’s office after reporting there several times without getting the invoice till now,” said a another resident of Gasiza cell.
Citizens wish to bring the cemetery closer to them
Various citizens from Kivuruga sector request sector officials to understand the challenge of trekking a long journey for burial and asked a cemetery to be opened in their proximities.
The executive secretary of Kivuruga sector, Mungaruriye Fidele says that citizens’ worries are understandable and promised that in collaboration with the sector’s advisory council, they will conduct advocacy to district administration to seek the right solution.
He however said that he’s not aware of Rwf 50,000 paid for one to bury on family land.
“Perhaps they have donated the cash but I don’t know that case since I have been operating in this sector for six months only. The law requires everyone to bury in public cemetery. However any person having particular reasons to bury on his/her land is requested to ask permission from the mayor,” said Mungaruriye.
The law nº 11/2013 of 11/03/2013 granting the usage of public cemeteries indicates that it is prohibited to bury a dead person elsewhere except if he/she is buried in public cemetery.
Article 27 of this law demonstrates that the mayor of district can authorize a person or an organization requesting to bury in a desired place with clear reasons.
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