Authorities in Rutsiro District have announced an ongoing program to build houses for 434 families who lost their homes to disasters, out of more than 700 families still awaiting permanent resettlement.
On May 2–3, 2023, Rwanda experienced heavy rains that triggered devastating floods and landslides, claiming 135 lives and destroying thousands of homes, including 1,126 houses in Rutsiro District alone.
By 2024, the district had secured land to construct homes for 381 families, leaving 745 still without permanent shelter. Of these, 434 families are now set to be relocated by December 2025 across 11 resettlement sites currently under construction.
Rutsiro District Mayor Marie Chantal Umuganwa said that many displaced families are either renting houses paid for by the district or temporarily hosted by neighbors.
“The main challenge slowing down the resettlement program is land acquisition. Many of the affected families were living in high-risk zones, and they had no suitable plots of their own. The district has had to purchase land for them,” Umuganwa explained.
She added that there is no clear timeline for when all displaced families will be resettled, as disasters continue to occur unpredictably. However, the district has introduced several measures to reduce risks.
“Our strategies include encouraging residents to build stronger houses resistant to recurring disasters, promoting terracing and anti-erosion ditches, planting trees, relocating families from high-risk areas, and training Red Cross volunteers to lead disaster-prevention campaigns,” Umuganwa said.
The remaining 311 families will only be considered in the 2026/2027 fiscal year, depending on the availability of funds and support from development partners.
Author: Justinmind HARERIMANA
