Kayonza: Historically marginalized slide back into abyss after selling land given by the government

The said residents are from Rwisirabo Cell, Mwiri Sector in Kayonza District who were relocated there in 2008 from Mukarange Sector, where they lived in poor conditions without land to cultivate.

Government had given them houses to improve their living conditions, each resident receiving a home on 1 hectare of land.

However, in 2014, they started selling the houses and land for as low as Rwf200,000.

When visited by Dr. Alvera Mukabaramba, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Local Government in Charge of Social Affairs last week, one of them said:

“We are living like this because of our ignorance of which some people took advantage to give us money and we accepted it. We do not blame the government, because it had given us large pieces of land. It was our fault,” he said.

The representative of the historically marginalized residents of Rwisirabo Cell, Samson Kamuhanda told IGIHE that it has affected them because most of them live by working for their neighbors after they sold their pieces of land.

“Many families earn a living by working for their neighbors, others rely on the money they earn from VUP. They have no piece of land to cultivate because they were given pieces of land and sold them, remaining with just houses. ” he said.

Their children’s schools fees is paid by New Life project and the government provides other materials including clothing, notebooks, and other necessities.

Kamuhanda added that they have learned a big lesson such that when given pieces of land next time, they would not sell them.

Kayonza District Deputy Mayor in charge of Social Welfare, Jean Damascène Harerimana said that they took measures in addressing the issue, and no resident will be allowed to sell his land anyhow.

“We have taken measures for people whom the government gives pieces of land to help them uplift themselves and against selling the land,” he said.

He added that no other land is expected to be given to the residents, but that they are going to temporarily allow them cultivate in a marshland where they may grow rice as one way of helping them.

As to whether they may be supported under the Girinka program, he explained that cows are given to those who are apparently able to care for them. He said when someone is found to be able to care for them, that person is given a cow like others.