The Government of Rwanda is set to sign agreements with vulnerable families it has resettled, granting them official housing documents and other forms of support to help them work and develop in safety.
The decision was announced during a meeting that brought together officials from eight districts in the Southern Province, leaders from the National Land Authority, and representatives from the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC).
According to Nsabimana Védaste, a senior official at MINALOC, new guidelines issued in late June 2025 outline the categories of citizens eligible for these agreements. “These new regulations cover vulnerable survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, war veterans with disabilities, other vulnerable citizens, and people resettled by the government due to public interest projects or land use master plans,” he said.
The program will also include vulnerable people living in high-risk zones and those relocated due to natural disasters. Nsabimana noted that many resettled citizens still lack land titles, and the process of issuing them will run from September to December 2025.
Uwiringira Marie Josée, Deputy Director of Social Affairs in Kamonyi District, said the new measures will resolve inheritance disputes that arise when resettled homes lack proper documentation. She cited cases where heirs appeared years later to claim property without legal proof of ownership.
The agreements will formalize the relationship between the government, the resettled person, and their family members or relatives, ensuring smooth property transfer and use.
Southern Province Executive Secretary Nshimiyimana Védaste emphasized the need to update housing regulations to assess which resettled families have become self-reliant and which still require assistance. This will begin with a census of all resettled households, followed by an analysis of their living conditions and challenges.
MINALOC reports that over 9,000 families have been provided with homes by the government, though this figure is provisional pending verification.
