Nyiranziza Francine and her husband received on 6 July 2022 their land titles through the initiative of Ruzizi III Energy Limited of financially supporting the Project affected people to obtain their land titles.   Nyiranziza Francine, 43, and her husband live in Cyagara Village, Nyange Cell, Bugarama Sector. They bought the land of 1164 square meters in 2012. 

Ten years later, they were yet to undertake the land title transfer process with the former landowner. According to Francine, the lack of financial means was a hindrance to having their land title transferred. Their piece of land located in Gisheke Village, Murya Cell, Nzahaha Sector Rusizi District figures on the list of lands and properties to be affected by the Ruzizi III Hydroelectric Power Project developed by Ruzizi III Energy limited.  

Francine’s case of pending land title transfer is one of 104 pending land title transfers under the Ruzizi III Hydroelectric Power Project. To have the pending cases of land title transfer cleared, REL initiated the process of financially supporting the PAPs to complete the land title transfer during the land week that took place from 27 June to 1 July 2022 in Rusizi District. 

With 104 pending cases of land transfer among the Project-affected people before the initiative, there are still some cases to be sorted out, but the process is on track in close collaboration with the Rusizi District Land officials. After obtaining her land title, Francine said that she was pleased by the financial support from REL that allowed her to obtain her land title. “After buying the land, it became very difficult for us to get funds for transferring land titles. Today, REL has financially supported all of us to obtain our land titles. We thank the project for this support. It was very difficult to do it ourselves,” Francine said. 

Ngabinyuze Japhet bought the land of 1313 square meters in 2017. After five years, he was yet to obtain the land title. He said that being supported by REL to obtain the land title became a proof that the project has very interesting plans for the population in the project area.

“After counting our lands and properties, a lot of people were still doubting this Project. But, financially supporting us to obtain the land titles for our lands is a proof that the project is genuine and will strengthen development in this area,” Ngabiyunze said. “After obtaining these land titles, the population is not doubting the project again. Now, we expect that we will even receive fair and transparent compensation for our lands and other properties,” added Ngabinyuze.

By financially supporting the Project Affected People to obtain the land titles, it is expected that the compensation process as provided by the Resettlement Action Plan developed by REL will be smooth, fair, and transparent.