The deputy Registrar of land titles, Esperance Mukamana, has said that less than 1% of Rwanda’s population have registered their land.

Makamana was speaking to The New Times yesterday in an interview after a two-day seminar about land registration held in Gicumbi, Northern Province.

"The exercise is supported by the government, it will be totally free of charge, we want everybody’s land to get registered,” Mukamana said.

Mukamana said that land registration will help each member of Rwandan families to have equal rights to their land.

She said that draft law on land registration and acquisition of land titles has passed parliament and the cabinet and now waits the line minister to sign it and be published in the official gazette. She continued that exercise of land registration would begin January next year.

Mukamana added that District land officers, and line executive members of each District who will have been trained will form a land commission that will help in the identification of the genuine holders of each land across the country. She also said that an aerial view picture will be taken in July this year so as every District to have land chart.

This will take place in July and information will be gathered about each plot of land to identify its genuine owner. At the launch of pilot phase of land registration in Nyamugari Cell, Gatsata Sector in Gasabo District, Mukamana said that other three District were to be included in the pilot survey of the land registration. They are Kirehe, Karongi and Musanze districts.

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