Ruyigi High Court has decided to grant a 9 km2 property to a certain Samuel Ntimpeba who would have won a lawsuit against more than 800 families from Butezi commune in Ruyigi province.
Térence Ntahiraja “The justice has to take into consideration the population’s complaints”
Around 10,000 people grouped in more than 800 families were given 6 months to leave the properties they live in. The High Court of Ruyigi ordered the population to get ready to quit the area by the end of February 2018. The decision was communicated to them on 31 August 2017.
The case was won on the 14th February 1988 in trial RC No. 1/1988. The Supreme Court subsequently asked the High Court of Ruyigi to execute this trial by a letter addressed to the latter on 19 May 2016.
The Butezi communal administrator appeals to the Minister of Justice and President of the Republic to take this question seriously. “It’s a km2 land where around 10.000 persons live now. Apart from those people who live in that property, there are churches a small enterprise and school. I’m not going against the justice’s decision but we ask the minister and the president to take this issue seriously,” said Georgine Mbonimpa, Butezi Communal administrator.
She says the administration doesn’t see where those families will go. “They are given 6 months to leave the land and nobody is allowed to use it any longer. We visited those families together with Ruyigi Governor but we don’t see where these persons will settle.”
The ministry of the interior says it is very much concerned about the issue. Térence Ntahiraja, its spokesperson asks the minister of justice to consider the population’s complaints. “We can’t challenge the justice’s decision but we recommend them to examine their case carefully. That suit was won in 1988 and its execution occurs in 2017. It is not that easy to move 800 families from their homes,” says Ntahiraja.
This Monday 4 September 2017, more than 4000 persons have staged a protest in Butezi chief town to challenge the decision.
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