How automation of 10 land services solved accessibility issues

The National Land Authority (NLA) highlights that since the addition of the 10 most requested land services to the Irembo online platform, land and property owners are benefiting from faster processes. Most requested land services include authentication for loan agreement, rectification of boundaries and area correction, registration of condominium and split of condominium, addition or removal of a spouse in the land register, change of land use, title detail update, sporadic registration, title transfer, land merging and land subdivision. ALSO READ: Rwanda launches electronic land titles to boost efficiency Sylvain Muyombano, the acting Head of the Land Administration Department and Registrar of Land Titles for the Southern Zone at the NLA, emphasized automation enhanced accessibility, transparency and overall service quality by streamlining processes, reducing delays, and minimizing manual interventions. ALSO READ: Electronic land titles helping to check fraud “The automation of land service delivery eliminates the Rwf5,000 charges for paper-based land titles and additional transportation expenses for collection at the land office,” Muyombano said. “Moreover, it enhances security by preventing forgery and fraud, as e-titles can be easily verified via QR code or by dialing *651#. We have reported 1,465,596 electronic land titles downloaded since January 2023, which marks a landmark achievement in land services.” Landowners can get notary and land surveyor services via online via Irembo without having to visit a land office. Previously, people wouldmake multiple trips to collect their land titles, but now they can download them online. Currently, the 10 most requested land services are automated, with efforts underway to digitize the remaining services. More than 150 private notaries currently offering land-related services. The NLA plans to increase their number to meet growing needs. ALSO READ: How private notaries have eased land ownership transfer services Currently, public servants with land notary roles include 416 sector land managers, 30 district one-stop center lawyers, five land registration officers at the National Land Authority, and six registrars of land titles. Since these officials manage notary duties with other responsibilities, efforts are underway to increase the number of private land notaries, who offer greater accessibility and are more readily available. Isaac Uwayisenga, an Irembo agent operating in Gisozi sector, said electronic land title services increased the number of clients relying on his services. “While anyone can download an electronic land title and store it on their smartphone, many still prefer to keep physical copies. However, as land services become more digitized, we continue to see an increase in the number of clients,” Uwayisenga said. Factors to the increased use of land services The land authority highlighted that citizens now recognize the benefits of land registration, with land titles providing access to bank loans. Service costs have significantly decreased, with land transfer fees reduced from Rwf30,000 to Rwf500 per page (usually 1,000 Frw for two-page contracts). Additionally, copies of land titles, which previously cost Rwf5,000, are now provided free of charge. ALSO READ: Private notaries given powers to oversee land transactions However unregistered land remains a concern for the National Land Authority, as it can lead to disputes. Currently, about 1.3 million plots, or 13 per cent of demarcated land plots, are provisionally registered under the Government of Rwanda because their owners have not registered them or are unknown. Land registration awareness campaigns led to up to 340,000 land records being collected at the start of 2024.

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How automation of 10 land services solved accessibility issues