KIGALI - Since the beginning of the land registration process early this year, over 21,000 plots of land have been registered in 18 districts, according to information obtained from the National Land Centre (NLC).

Evode Ngombwa the Communications officer at NLC said that the process has been slowed down by the fact that the registering officials combine solving some land disputes with the registry process.

"We have been delayed in the registration process because we have to solve some land disputes which emerge as we work, but we hope to extend to other districts in the coming weeks,” he said.

He said land registration is aimed at ensuring proper documentation of the land in line with the owners. This will serve to eliminate land disputes that have been rampant in many parts of the country.

This process will further serve to authenticate land ownership such that land owners can access facilities such as bank loans where land can be used as collateral.

"This process greatly benefits people themselves. They will now be able to have authentic documents confirming ownership of their land, with this they will be able to present the land as security for bank loans,” he said.

‘We therefore call upon people around the country to participate and collaborate in this exercise.”

The land registration exercise is expected to take 3 years. The NLC is targeting to register up to 10 percent of the 8 million plots of land in the whole country by June this year.

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