People whose land and properties were expropriated for infrastructure projects three years ago are still waiting for compensation, even as construction works kick off.

Last week, the government flagged off construction works for the Sonatube-Gahanga-Akagera road and the Nyagatare Rukomo bridge.

But the people living around the area say three years after government officials demarcated the area where the road is expected to pass and asked them not to farm the land, they are yet to hear from them about compensation plans.

“No consultations have taken place. There was only one meeting in October last year to launch construction works for the homes of contractors, and government officials asked us not to cultivate our land,” said Jean de Dieu Kanani, a resident of Ngarama sector in Gastibo district.

Mr Kanani said that property owners now have limited time to negotiate their compensation. He estimates that his land and his house are worth more than Rwf4 million.

Xavera Kabahira, who also lives in Gastibo district said with no word forthcoming from government, residents remain confused.

“People are stuck because they lack direction. I cannot move on. If government takes up five meters on the polar side of the road my house will be destroyed, and I will have nowhere else to go,” said Ms Kabahira, adding that her son failed to get married because the land he was supposed to construct his house on has been earmarked for the road construction.

Government is racing against time to deliver key infrastructure projects pledged by President Paul Kagame, and has allocated 17 per cent of its 2018/2019 Rwf2.4 trillion budget to road works.

Contracted projects

Projects already contracted include the 13.8km Huye-Gisagara road which is Gisagara District’s first tarmac road, the 19km Rubengera-Rambura road, the first batch of the 93km Nyabihu feeder road, the 69 km Nyaruguru district feeder road and the 66.5 km Kibugabuga-Gasoro plus the Sonatube-Gahanga-Akagera roads.

Residents living along the Sonatube-Rwandex newly constructed road say road expansion works have left their houses hanging on edge of the road and devalued their land.

“Even traders doing business along the roads where construction works are ongoing are suffering as client numbers dwindle,” an affected trader said.

A recent report by the Rwanda Civil Society Platform on expropriation notes that targeted properties are being sealed off and marked for demolition even before negotiations take place.

Many respondents said there is hardly any consultation between the government and affected residents, and where it happens it is limited and done on short notice, forcing land and property owners to accept the compensation terms offered to them.

The report found 27.6 per cent of respondents received some information about the planned expropriation, while three per cent said they did not receive any information.

But government officials said that the compensation exercise would be done in phases as project executors arrive on the scene.

“We can’t expropriate and compensate all the people at ago and we can’t expropriate people while the construction works haven’t yet began,”said Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, the Minister of State in charge of Transport in the Ministry of Infrastructure.

Referring to the Nyagatare –Rukomo road, the minister said that compensation and evaluation for the Nyagatare side residents was already underway, while those of Rukomo sector would follow.

“There are five kilometers from Nyagatare that have been valuated and compensated and the next phase will accommodate the people around Rukomo– also five kilometers,” said Mr Uwihnganye.

The law governing expropriation states that the right to property may not be interfered with except in public interest, in circumstances and procedures determined by law and subject to fair and prior compensation.