EASTERN PROVINCE

NGOMA — The district authorities have  pledged to allocate new plots to about five landlords whose houses were demolished early this month in Kibungo town.

Charles Twayigize, the district director of lands said that the landlords’ plots and their appropriate documents are being processed and will very soon be handed over to them.

Close to 50 tenants mainly operators of retail shops were affected when the district demolished over 10 substandard houses early this month.

Twayigize further clarified that the demolition was ordered by the district and not the provincial Governor [Ephraim Kabayija], as it had been perceived.

"This was the district’s plan to pull down  kiosks and other unplanned settlements.The intention is to give a new facelift to Kibungo town,” he said.

"The demolished houses are among those that had earlier been earmarked for replacement. Their owners were given prior notice … and they knew what would happen if they did not comply with our instructions,”he added.

Twayigize further added that  landlords are required to present their housing plans to the lands office before erecting new structures.

"Structures have to be approved. Such plans have to comform with the larger town plans,” he said. He did not disclose the types of houses required.

However, some of the affected tenants who talked to The New Times complained that their landlords did not give them ample time to relocate.

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