There was tears last weekend whereby on Saturday, families living in areas of Mulindi, Bannyahe, Muhima and Rwampara – all in Nyarugenge sector of the Nyarugenge District in Kigali, are seeing their homes being razed to the ground.
According to them, mid last week they were issued with a 15 Day notice to leave these areas, considered wetlands. However, 3 days into the ‘Move’ notice, without prior warning, men wielding different tools descended on the villages and began destroying the homes.
Some people were still sleeping when the rowdy men arrived.
City authorities say these people in low-laying areas have to leave as there has been flooding, and more heavy rain expected which puts them in danger.
The landlords and tenants were all in tears in Gatsata area of Kigali. Two girls, who are orphans and are looked after by good samaritans who pay for their rent and tuition said they have no where to go.
In the whole of Kigali, made up of Gasabo, Nyarugenge and Kicukiro districts, there are 7,222 properties in wetlands; both residential homes and businesses which include garages and warehouses. All these must move, as par standing order that has been around for years.
As for the hillsides or high risk zones, which are at risk of landslides as the hills suck up more rain water, Kigali city says in Nyarugenge district alone, there 13,400 families in danger.
Kigali city said in a statement on Sunday that 48 families had heeded the call to move away from wetlands, and actually thanked them. All the other are encouraged to leave, said the statement.
How the 198 currently housed in a school were selected is another issue, though city authorities said the danger on these was at critical level and they had to move.
