INES-Ruhengeri trained the staff of land offices in the City of Kigali

From Wednesday, 3^rd - 4^th February 2022, about 45 staff of land offices in the City of Kigali were in a training for Land Sector Staff in Kigali on Peaceful Conflict Resolution and Mediation Techniques  which  took place at Lemigo Hotel. The training was organized by INES-Ruhengeri in collaboration with the City of Kigali and Search For Common Ground under the project “Amplifying the Expertise of African Peacebuilding Scholars and Practitioners III".

            Ir. Jossam Potel , a Lecturer at INES-Ruhengeri explaining  the mechanisms used in  land dispute resolution (Photo / Vedaste)

 “In an effort to support the government land conflict mechanisms and based on the request of the land registrar office in the City of Kigali, we have organized and conducted in conjunction with Search For Common Ground  the training for the staff of land offices in the districts of Gasabo, Nyarugenge and Kicukiro,” said Ir. Jossam Potel , a Lecturer at INES-Ruhengeri and Trainer on Land Dispute Resolution.  He added that the training has empowered the staff of the land offices in peaceful   conflict resolution and mediation of land-based cases in Kigali.

“ In fact, the main objectives of the training include the increase of participants’ knowledge and understanding of the concepts of peaceful dispute resolution, to equip the staff of the land office in Kigali with mediation techniques and skills needed in their work, to help the staff of the land office to discuss and exchange the experience on land conflict cases in Kigali and how to resolve them, to establish a common understanding on how land conflicts can be resolved outside of court proceedings”, mentioned Jean Paul Ntezimana, Representative of Search For Common Ground in Rwanda.

In this training, the participants covered  various  topics including peaceful conflict resolution and mediation, land laws (the new land law governing land in Rwanda, matrimonial regimes, children’s land rights and inheritance) as well as procedures of land transfer and land service delivery. 

“This training has really empowered me in terms of land conflict resolution especially in using meditation.  I knew also the techniques to approach people in land conflict, how to assess the cause of the conflict and then, to handle it peacefully”, revealed Mongane Bahati, Geographical Information system (GIS) Officer in Kicukiro District.

“For me, this training is very important. I have benefited from the experience exchange from my colleagues here present  about the methods of conflict resolution namely power based, right based and interest based”, Yvette Nyumbayire, Land Management and Notary Team Leader in Gatenga Sector, Kicukiro District underlinfed. 

Group photo of the trained staff and the Trainers (photo /Vedaste)

On behalf of the entire trained staff, Rusine Alphonse, Director of Land management and Notary in Gasabo District told to the Director General of Rwanda Land Management and Use Authority (RLAMA), Mrs. Esperance Mukamana who officially closed the training that they are strongly committed to put into practice the skills acquired during this two-days training for improving land related service delivery.

INES-Ruhengeri, the Institute of Applied Sciences has undergraduate courses including Bachelor of Sciences with Honours in Land Administration and Management, Bachelor of Science with honours in Land Survey among others.

INES- Ruhengeri’s mission is to contribute through the interactive conjunction between Civil Society, Private Sector and Public sector to national and regional development, by providing specialized higher education enhanced by research, in order to create competitive enterprises and well paid employment.