Karugarama advises on Rukumberi land wrangles

NGOMA - The Minister of Justice, Tharicise Karugarama, urged local leaders and residents of Rukumberi Sector in Ngoma district to end land wrangles amicably. Karugarama Friday was meeting local leaders and about 30 families in Rukumberi Sector involved in land disputes. He warned people with double standards saying that the settlement policy and land law are too clear to be messed with. “It is just blowing the issue of land out of proportion...calling complainants; children, Genocide orphans and later on saying their land was grabbed. People above 30 cannot be called children by any means,” the minister said. “We can’t rely on sentiments...Principles and not sentiments are supposed to guide you as you settle land disputes. A solution has been agreed upon and land wrangles will end soon”. The Minister also warned people who took advantage of Genocide orphans’ age to sell their land, saying that they will have to answer for it. Karugarama said that people who lost land through community settlement locally known as ‘Midugudu’ will be given alternative land. “We are going for agreeable solutions, where all the parties in conflict will enjoy justice”. Venuste Bisangabagabo the Executive Secretary of Rukumberi Sector, said local leaders were going to allocate land to the affected people. “I am indeed relieved. The land issue is now clear. We had had contradicting approaches. The challenge is to get alternative land to give the rightful beneficiaries,” he said. Dominique Rwomushana, 29, who survived the Genocide, told The Sunday Times that the presence of the minister gave people hope that land solution was imminent. He however requested that an immediate solution be forged to help the landless settle. “I started the struggle to win back my father’s land in 2003, but up to now, I haven’t won it. But, the fact that the Minister of Justice is now handling the case, leaves me optimistic that time has come for a lasting solution,” he said. Thousands of Tutsi were killed in Rukumberi Sector leaving huge land uninhabited after 1994. Ends