Dutch minister hails land registry programme

The Dutch Minister for Trade and Development Cooperation, Lilianne Ploumen, has hailed the land registration programme in the country, saying it has not only helped reduce land wrangles but also enabled land owners to secure bank loans to lift themselves out of poverty. Minister Ploumen was speaking on Wednesday in Musanze District during her visit to the North Western part of the country. The visit aimed at assessing the achievements of various development activities supported by the Dutch government. While in Musanze, the minister visited Rwaza Sector and interacted with residents and local leaders who commended land registration, saying it had helped them in various activities. She heard testimonies of how land registration had helped curb land wrangles and given people land rights. “Land ownership and usage are key aspects in land management,” Ploumen said. “People, for example, need to secure loans from banks and knowing who has access to what land is of great importance. In my country, land ownership is clearly streamlined and we know who land belongs to and who has access to it. I have vast experience in land matters and I am eager to share it with Rwandans,” she added. She added that over the years, the Dutch government has been able to support Rwanda’s land registry process. “We try to bring in financial and human resources and we are also eager to learn from Rwanda,” she said. Netherlands is a key partner in various national development initiatives. The land registry programme, which saw over 10 million land owners registered countrywide, cost over $60 million (around Rwf40.8 billion) and the Dutch government contributed up to 15 per cent, according to the Director-General of Rwanda Natural Resources Authority, Emmanuel Nkurunziza. Nkurunziza urged local leaders to help land owners get their title deeds from land offices and keep them in their homes. Only 7 million people have collected their title deeds. Musanze residents shared various testimonies on how land registration has helped address conflicts and enabled them to acquire bank loans to start businesses. Françoise Mukagasana, a resident of Rwaza Sector in Musanze District, said it had been difficult to register her land in her names due to family conflicts but after mediation efforts by local leaders, she finally had it registered. “I registered my land to avoid more conflicts, now the small land I have belongs to me. I cultivate on it and I can use it as collateral to secure a loan,” Mukagasana said.

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Dutch minister hails land registry programme