The challenges of expropriation and the right to property : a case of Rwanda's urbanization policy

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.