Burera residents demand compensation as Base-Kidaho road project disrupts their properties
Some residents along the Base-Kirambo-Butaro-Kidaho road project in Burera District claim they were never compensated for their properties, including houses and farmland, which were affected by the construction. They are urging authorities to assess their losses so they can relocate safely.
In sectors such as Kagogo, Kinyababa, and Butaro, where the road passes, locals say construction has encroached on their homes, causing cracks and instability. Some houses are now dangerously perched on steep embankments, raising fears of collapse.
Mukandori Esperence, a resident of Kagogo Sector, shared her concerns: “Our homes are now stuck in the middle of the road, making it risky even to step outside without fear of being hit by vehicles.
We used to have courtyards where children played, drying spaces for crops, and small gardens at our doorsteps. But all that has disappeared, leaving us in a precarious situation.”
She further lamented: “Officials have ignored us. They never assessed our properties for compensation like they did for others, leaving us stranded.”
Pierre Senkera, another resident, added: “Authorities assured us that our properties were outside the road’s construction zone. But in reality, we were left trapped in the middle of the highway. We now live in constant fear that a vehicle could crash into our homes at any moment.”
Farmers in the area also report that construction debris has buried their fields, rendering them unproductive. “Our farmland has been smothered with soil, making it impossible to cultivate anything. Even when we try, crops fail to grow,” Senkera explained.
The 63-kilometer Base-Kirambo-Butaro-Kidaho road is being paved with asphalt, with construction led by two companies: NPD Ltd., a Rwandan firm working on the Base-Kirambo-Butaro section, and CRBC, a Chinese company handling the Butaro-Kidaho segment. The project began in 2022 and is expected to be completed within three years.
While Kigali Today could not immediately determine the exact number of residents left uncompensated, locals insist the issue affects many households along the road.
Burera District Mayor, Mukamana Soline, acknowledged the problem and promised swift action: “We will gather all affected residents and engage the responsible authorities to resolve this matter. No infrastructure project should displace people without proper compensation. We will ensure a solution is reached soon.”
The road, set to cost RWF 96 billion, is widely anticipated to enhance trade and connectivity, easing the transport challenges residents have endured for years.
