The Rwandan Government, through it’s the Land Management and Use Authority, has repossessed land from 20 farmers. The repossessed land had initially been given to the farmers in view of development livestock farming in the eastern province.
According to government newspaper, The New Times, those who lost the land benefited from the controversial 2008 land redistribution exercise in Nyagatare, Gatsibo, Kayonza and Kirehe districts.
The programme mainly targeted civil servants, businessmen and military officials who owned huge chunks of land.
Twenty livestock farmers in three eastern province districts of Gatsibo, Nyagatare and Kayonza failed to utilize the land, officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Province are quoted.
“The aim is to raise crop and livestock production. It is not right for people to own land for over ten years without making it productive,” the Minister of Agriculture, Geraldine Mukeshimana, said.
The Governor of Eastern Province Governor, Fred Mufulukye, said all those set to lose their land had received letters notifying them that their rights to the lands had been withdrawn.
Article 44 of the land law states that; “In case the lessee does not comply with the lease contract obligations other than those stipulated in article 38 of this Law, the lessor may terminate the lease after a written warning notice of fifteen (15) working days without any other formalities.”
