NYAGATARE - uthorities in Nyagatare District warned residents over illegal sell of land.

In 2008, President Paul Kagame launched a land re-distribution exercise in the Eastern Province to help all residents get access to and ownership of land.

After the redistribution exercise, the district authorities issued a statement warning those who were given the land not to sell it before securing land titles.

In an interview the district mayor, Fred Atuhe Sabiti, said that despite having warned residents not to sell their land illegally, a number of cases have been registered in the district.

"The district warned that anyone who would be caught involved in illegal sell of land would be punished. The law states that land belongs to government and no one should illegally sell his or her land before securing a land title,” he said.

The national land centre issues a 99-year land title deed.  
In recent years, there has been illegal influx of people migrating from different districts of the country coming to Nyagatare for greener pastures.

According to officials in the district, most come from Gicumbi, Musanze and Gakenke in Northern Province while others are from Karongi, Ngororero and Nyamasheke in the Western Province.

"Most of them come here in search of labour in different farms across the district. They stay here for some time and later buy plots of land illegally,” a local leader who preferred not to be named said.

In an interview, some residents admitted illegal possession of land.

"We admit we sold some hectares of land illegally because some of us needed money to cater for our families. The issuance of land titles delayed and we could not wait for them,” one of the residents said.

However, according to the district mayor, if caught, both the seller and buyer will lose.

"Be it the one selling or buying any land illegally…all will equally lose,” he said.

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