Rwanda Land Management and Use Authority (RLMUA) recently changed to National Land Authority abbreviated as “NLA” has been given the power to resolve land disputes relating to land boundaries and systematic land registration conducted between 2008- 2013.

The resolution of land disputes is regulated by the Law N° 27/2021 of 10/06/2021 governing land, especially in Article 73 and in its last paragraph it provides the Ministerial Order No 004/moe/22 of 15/02/2022 determining modalities and procedures for resolution of disputes related to land boundaries and systematic land registration that was gazetted in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda to implement the new land law.

The land dispute resolution mechanism aimed at reducing an increase of land litigation in courts where the Rwandan courts have been burdened by a great number of disputes concerning land.

As per the Ministerial, a person who has an issue relating to the disputes based on the systematic land registration and land boundaries, submits his or her claim to the district with legal personality or the City of Kigali where the concerned land is located.  

If he or she is not satisfied with the decision on his or her claim or when the period referred to in Paragraph 2 of the Article 73 of the above-mentioned law expires without being notified of the decision, he or she may appeal to the institution in charge of land management and use within thirty (30) days from the notification of the decision or the expiration date.

The institution in charge of land management and use, when considering the appeal, invites the concerned parties for mediation. This institution may also invite relevant experts depending on the status of the concerned claim.

The institution in charge of land management and use issues its decision in writing within a period not exceeding forty-five (45) days from the date of reception of the appeal.

The decision taken by the institution in charge of land management and use is final and is not eligible to any further administrative review and if there is no court appeal for that decision within thirty (30) days from notification date, the decision bears an enforcement order.

To conclude, the institution is vested the power to resolve land disputes before they are submitted to the courts.