A probe team looking into the mismanagement of a survivors’ housing fund has discovered that about 169 houses in Kigali were sold to people who were not supposed to benefit. Cases of some people who benefited from the fund illegally featured prominently in Kimironko, in Gasabo District.

The team was composed of officials from the Ministry of Local Government,  he Genocide Survivors’ Fund (FARG), police, the prosecution and Ibuka, the umbrella organization of Genocide survivors’ associations.

On May 19, 2010, the team started investigating Kigali districts to ascertain whether funds meant for survivors were used appropriately.

In Gasabo District, about 101 survivors were found to have sold their homes while Kicukiro had a total of 34. In Nyarugenge, the team also found that 34 houses were sold by the survivors.

Jean De dieu Udahemuka, from FARG, who also headed the probe team, confirmed the development when contacted on Monday.

"We have recommended that only 980 survivors get houses in Kigali. The rest have been advised to go back to their respective districts and Farg is committed to help them,” Udahemuka said by phone.

The team also recommended that people who benefited from the survivors’ fund illegally be disciplined together with officials who helped them access the money.

Findings in the past from upcountry districts indicated that the housing programme was messed up and the government had lost money. There were also cases of shoddy work and reports of inflating figures of beneficiaries in order to embezzle public funds.

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