Abstract:
Rwanda is developing country whose economy has been characterized by rapid urbanization in
the last decade. The Government has embarked on projects like the Kigali master plan to boost
development. In order to get around the hurdle of ownership and the right to property, states
may compulsorily acquire property from an individual in the interest of the public. The rules
that govern such acquisition of property must strictly followed otherwise the acquisition will be
deemed illegal. Rwanda is party of UDHR by virtue of membership to the United Nations as well
as several other international and regional treaties on human rights.
The issue which forms the core of this research is the problem of displacement of inhabitants
from a particular area earmarked for development. The issue of displacement arises in the
compulsory acquisition of land. This imposes an obligation on policymakers to respect human
rights when pursuing the objective of development and urbanization. This research exposes the
challenges that have been associated with Rwanda’s law and policy on expropriation and
proposes some recommendations.
