Despite the progress made in paying compensation to people for expropriated property, issues still exist, Chief Ombudsman Madeleine Nirere has said.

More than Rwf15.8 billion expropriation money is owed to people, Nirere said on Tuesday, October 22, as she presented her office's report for the financial year 2023/2024 and action plan for 2024/2025 to a joint plenary sitting of Parliament.

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She indicated that for the 2023/2024 fiscal year, there were 165,269 [expropriation] files in total, of which 163,647 were valuated, 121,246 paid, and 42,401 have not yet been paid.

The unsettled files are worth more than Rwf15.8 billion, she said, adding that those that were paid are worth more than Rwf76.3 billion, "among more than Rwf92 billion that had to be paid” to people for expropriation.

"This year, we realise progress was made though issues still exist because arrears exceeded Rwf100 billion in the previous years,” she said.

"We request that even the unpaid amount be cleared because people need compensation for the expropriated property,” she said, calling for fast-tracking the payment process.

In March 2020, lawmakers argued that delays or issues in expropriation payments stem from non-compliance with the provisions of the law relating to expropriation in the public interest which was enacted in 2015.

The law provides that the approved fair compensation shall be paid within a period not exceeding 120 days from the day of its approval by the district or City of Kigali Council, or relevant ministry.

It further stipulates that the compensation for disruption caused by expropriation to be paid to the expropriated person shall be equivalent to 5 per cent of the total value of his or her property.

According to the 2023/2024 report, grievances related to expropriation in the public interest accounted for 7 per cent of all the 1,587 complaints the Office of the Ombudsman received.

Land-related complains accounted for the highest percentage – 29 per cent, while those concerning welfare followed, with 16 per cent.

Overall, out of all the complaints received, 942 have been resolved, while 645 are still being followed up by relevant institutions, according to the Office of the Ombudsman.