BUGESERA - The Mayor of Bugesera district, Luis Rwagaju, has warned residents about claiming ownership of government land.  

Addressing local leaders and residents recently, Rwagaju said that those involved in such malpractices will be punished.

"Some people have registered government land as their own. This kind of deliberate cheating is going to land them into trouble,” Rwagaju said. "Surprisingly, they are doing it with the help of local leaders, who indirectly benefit from such wrong doing.”

His comments followed reports from Francis Ntaganda, an official from the land commission who is carrying out land demarcation in the region

"Our work is derailed by dishonest people. We have witnessed people who acquired illegal land documents from various officials.” Ntaganda said, adding that such land grabbers face 5- 10 years imprisonment if convicted. 

People have unlawfully inherited land under the assumptions that there are no rightful owners, one local leader said. 

The demarcation exercise that started in Bugesera district, in Eastern Province, is aimed at offering tittle deeds to land owners.

Ends