From 26th February to 21st March 2024, Rwanda’s Ombudsman carried out the anti-injustice campaign in the City of Kigali to address and resolve issues of injustice within the community. The campaign took place in all 35 sectors of the three districts that make up the city namely Gasabo, Kicukiro, and Nyarugenge.

During this period, the Ombudsman’s office engaged in direct dialogue with the citizens, providing a platform for public hearings and the filing of complaints. The campaign focused on a wide range of issues, particularly those related to land disputes and family matters, which are common sources of conflict within communities.

Many complaints were resolved on the spot whereas some other cases were referred to district authorities for further examination.

Key issues that emerged during the campaign include: land dispute cases, land exchange not effected in the presence of a land notary which in turn affects the land titles exchange among others.

The City of Kigali Vice Mayor in charge of Socio-Economic Affairs Urujeni Martine commended the work done by Rwanda’s Ombudsman. She noted that the City of Kigali will refer to the detailed report to address pending issues.

“We welcome the report from the Ombudsman. We are going to follow up on pending issues. We request citizens to trust established institutions and always reach out to them on time for any matter of concern”. Said Urujeni.

The Ombudsman of Rwanda, Madame Nirere Madeleine urged the City of Kigali to organize more land weeks to ensure land services are offered close to citizens. She also requested the city of Kigali to address all issues presented in the report.

The campaign also served as an educational opportunity, with the Ombudsman’s office emphasizing the importance of living in peace, avoiding unnecessary disputes, and seeking institutional help in a timely manner. The office urged citizens to follow institutional hierarchies when seeking resolutions.