Land and settlement issues to top agenda in MPs’ nationwide outreach

By The Inspirer. 

Land disputes, housing challenges, and digital service delivery will be key focus areas during a nationwide tour by Members of Parliament, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Gertrude Kazarwa, announced on Wednesday.

The outreach campaign, set to run from May 28 to June 4 across all provinces, and from June 7 to 8 in the City of Kigali, aims to engage citizens directly and assess the performance of decentralized government services.

Speaking to the media, Speaker Kazarwa emphasized that the selected focus areas are central to the daily lives of Rwandans and require urgent attention.

“Land services remain one of the most problematic sectors,” she said. “We continue to see disputes arising from overlapping or unclear boundaries, leading to conflicts among residents.”

She explained that several parliamentary commissions have investigated these issues, submitting recommendations to the Office of the Prime Minister. A nationwide initiative to review and correct land boundaries is being considered to address the problem systematically, regardless of who is involved.

During the outreach, MPs will not only listen to citizens’ concerns but also consult local leaders on how such issues have been managed so far.

“We will engage residents directly, offering advice where needed, and guiding local leaders on how to support their communities in resolving such disputes,” Kazarwa said.

The visits will also evaluate the role of community-based structures such as Friends of the Family in promoting social cohesion and family well-being. MPs will assess their effectiveness in conflict resolution and community support.

In addition, citizens will be educated on the appropriate channels to report their issues. “Many people bypass local authorities, yet their problems could be easily addressed at lower administrative levels,” Kazarwa noted.

The outreach initiative is part of Parliament’s constitutional mandate to monitor government performance and promote inclusive governance that prioritizes citizens’ needs. MPs will compile reports on unresolved issues and forward them to relevant authorities. In some cases, immediate guidance will be provided on the ground.

“These tours reaffirm Parliament’s role in ensuring government accountability and accelerating the implementation of the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) and Vision 2050,” Kazarwa said.

Beyond service delivery, MPs will engage communities in discussions on national unity, resilience, conflict resolution, civic responsibilities, and the shared role of citizens in advancing Rwanda’s development.