The administration of Eastern Province has announced plans to relocate 66 households from a mining zone in Rwinkwavu, Kayonza District to safer residential areas and give them land for cultivation.

The province has also begun issuing land titles to some 345 households that will not be relocated. This is after a revision of the mining plan, which reduced the concession area from 8,250 hectares to 2,186 hectares.

Bugambira Mines Ltd, which took over the concession from Wolfram Ltd, determined that certain areas previously used for mineral extraction no longer contain valuable resources. As a result, the new mining plan focuses on relocating 66 households living in high-risk zones.

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"Fifteen households are located in active mining areas, which pose a serious threat to their safety. Another 17 families, whose properties have already been damaged, will also be relocated. These areas are no longer safe, and any natural disaster could cause further harm,” the province said in a statement sent to The New Times.

An additional 34 households are situated in areas where future mining activities are planned. "These families will be moved to prevent potential damage when mining operations expand,” officials added.

Not all families in the region will be relocated, as the entire concession will not be used for mining, the provincial officials said.

The government has also identified land that was previously classified as public property, which has been occupied by some residents without authorization.

In a move to address the issue, the administration has decided to issue land ownership documents to these families.

"Although some homes were built on state land without authorisation, we have opted to provide land titles to eligible households,” the statement said.

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Kayonza District Mayor John Bosco Nyemazi, on September 13, handed out land titles to 20 households. He acknowledged that mining activities in Rwinkwavu have been ongoing for decades, with some residents settling in the area without legal authorisation, resulting in a temporary suspension of land documentation

"We are currently counting residents, and once the process is complete, 345 families will receive land documents,” Nyemazi said.

The district is also collaborating with the provincial administration to manage the relocation of households residing in the areas of Gahengeri, Murama, Rubirizi, and Kinihira, which have been impacted by mining activities.

Kayonza District has launched a housing construction programme for the relocated households.

Nyemazi described the program as "progressing well with positive results” and emphasised the district&039;s commitment to find a solution to the concerns raised by residents.

"When someone has an issue, we follow up and address it. We ensure that those genuinely settled on the land receive the titles, while cases involving state land are carefully reviewed,” he added.

Households to be relocated will also receive land for cultivation at their new locations, the mayor said, adding that any business activities or structures built on state land will be compensated, although the land itself remains state property.

Jeanette Mukamazimpaka, who received a title for the land her family had occupied for over a decade, expressed a sense of relief.

"Today, after 12 years of living in Muganza Cell, we finally received our land documents. We were constantly worried and feared we might be forced out and left homeless, but today, we are grateful to the government,” Mukamazimpaka said.

"It was a difficult situation because, without proper documentation, we couldn’t ask for bank loans to improve our lives. Now that we have the titles, we can secure loans and start working towards developing ourselves," she added.

Claude Shyiramire, another resident, said, "I acquired my land in 2007, and at the time, we were told there were no official documents available. It has been a long wait.

Now that I finally have the land title, I’m relieved and happy to have full rights over my property.