A six-month land registration and boundary correction exercise in Kayonza District has resulted in the issuance of more than 28,000 land titles and helped resolve long-standing boundary disputes that had left thousands of residents without clear ownership records.

‎The exercise was conducted and concluded by LANDESA on June 17, and targeted more than 28,527 hectares of land that either lacked formal registration or had unresolved boundary issues, challenges that had fueled disputes, created uncertainty over ownership and limited access to land related services.

‎According to officials, more than 35,000 land parcels were recorded and processed during the exercise. However, about 4,700 parcels could not immediately receive land titles due to ownership disputes, bank mortgages and government-owned wetland areas that had been incorrectly registered by individuals.

‎‎Acting Kayonza Mayor Fred Hategekimana said the exercise has significantly improved land administration and reduced disputes in the district.

‎“This is an initiative we highly appreciate. Wherever there are still issues related to land boundaries and disputes among residents, it remains our responsibility as leaders to continue assisting them. We also encourage citizens who have not yet registered their land to approach local authorities so that we can provide the necessary land services. These are privately owned lands belonging to citizens, not government property,” Hategekimana said.

‎Before the exercise, some residents had land wrangles which had persisted for years.

‎Joseph Rwanjogera, a resident of Kayonza Cell in Mukarange Sector, said the initiative resolved a boundary conflict with his neighbor, after their plots overlapped and led to frequent disagreements.

‎“I had a dispute with a man named Habyarimana because our land boundaries overlapped. We were constantly in conflict, and we did not have the means to resolve the issue quickly. Fortunately, we learned that LANDESA was helping to address such problems. They assisted us without charging any fees. Today, the issue has been resolved, I have my land title, and my neighbor also has his,” he said.

‎Rwanjogera said the exercise not only restored good relations between neighbors but also gave landowners legal certainty through proper documentation.

‎Marie Grace Nishimwe, Director General and Chief Registrar of Land Titles overseeing the exercise, said the initiative has benefited both citizens and the government.

‎“The exercise has produced positive results. Citizens are already seeing its benefits, and government land that had not been identified during the original land registration process has now been recorded. This is an activity that will continue across the country,” she said.

‎Nishimwe said additional districts, including Bugesera, will be covered in the next fiscal year as authorities continue efforts to correct land boundary issues, strengthen land administration and improve security of land ownership.

‎Officials said unresolved cases from the exercise will be handed over to district administrations for further follow-up.

The exercise was carried out across all sectors of Kayonza District, with special emphasis on Kabarondo, Ruramira, Kabare, and Rukara sectors, where land boundary disputes and registration issues were most common. The targeted intervention helped resolve numerous land-related challenges and improve land records.

A six-month land registration and boundary correction exercise in Kayonza District has resulted in the issuance of more than 28,000 land titles and helped resolve long-standing boundary disputes that had left thousands of residents without clear ownership records.

‎The exercise was conducted and concluded by LANDESA on June 17, and targeted more than 28,527 hectares of land that either lacked formal registration or had unresolved boundary issues, challenges that had fueled disputes, created uncertainty over ownership and limited access to land related services.

‎According to officials, more than 35,000 land parcels were recorded and processed during the exercise. However, about 4,700 parcels could not immediately receive land titles due to ownership disputes, bank mortgages and government-owned wetland areas that had been incorrectly registered by individuals.

‎‎Acting Kayonza Mayor Fred Hategekimana said the exercise has significantly improved land administration and reduced disputes in the district.

‎“This is an initiative we highly appreciate. Wherever there are still issues related to land boundaries and disputes among residents, it remains our responsibility as leaders to continue assisting them. We also encourage citizens who have not yet registered their land to approach local authorities so that we can provide the necessary land services. These are privately owned lands belonging to citizens, not government property,” Hategekimana said.

‎Before the exercise, some residents had land wrangles which had persisted for years.

‎Joseph Rwanjogera, a resident of Kayonza Cell in Mukarange Sector, said the initiative resolved a boundary conflict with his neighbor, after their plots overlapped and led to frequent disagreements.

‎“I had a dispute with a man named Habyarimana because our land boundaries overlapped. We were constantly in conflict, and we did not have the means to resolve the issue quickly. Fortunately, we learned that LANDESA was helping to address such problems. They assisted us without charging any fees. Today, the issue has been resolved, I have my land title, and my neighbor also has his,” he said.

‎Rwanjogera said the exercise not only restored good relations between neighbors but also gave landowners legal certainty through proper documentation.

‎Marie Grace Nishimwe, Director General and Chief Registrar of Land Titles overseeing the exercise, said the initiative has benefited both citizens and the government.

‎“The exercise has produced positive results. Citizens are already seeing its benefits, and government land that had not been identified during the original land registration process has now been recorded. This is an activity that will continue across the country,” she said.

‎Nishimwe said additional districts, including Bugesera, will be covered in the next fiscal year as authorities continue efforts to correct land boundary issues, strengthen land administration and improve security of land ownership.

‎Officials said unresolved cases from the exercise will be handed over to district administrations for further follow-up.

The exercise was carried out across all sectors of Kayonza District, with special emphasis on Kabarondo, Ruramira, Kabare, and Rukara sectors, where land boundary disputes and registration issues were most common. The targeted intervention helped resolve numerous land-related challenges and improve land records.