Residents of Kankuba Cell, Mageragere Sector, affirm that it is difficult to construct buildings because obtaining a construction permit requires bribing officials. They claim that in their area, disorganized construction is allowed as long as money is exchanged with certain local authorities, leaving those with limited resources unable to build unless they first pay the officials. Others are even asked for fuel for patrols, while others are forced to contribute to health insurance for poor residents, which is not their responsibility.
One resident in Mageragere, who asked not to be named, told Sound of Africa that one’s financial ability determines whether a resident gets an approval to construct or not, as failing to pay a bribe often means being denied permission to build.
Another resident gave a similar account and said the building irregularities depend on one’s paying one’s way. “If you do not give something to the village leaders, you won’t be allowed to build. Those with financial resources find it easy as nobody asks how his buildings were constructed, but it is very difficult for poor ones,” they added
This resident added that if you don’t have enough money to give the officials, they may not even allow you to level your plot. “They often come asking for fuel for patrol vehicles or contributions to health insurance for the poor, which is not our responsibility, but that’s how they operate,” they noted.
They emphasized that leaders are supposed to help residents but instead demand bribes. When construction materials like bricks and timber are brought to the site, local officials come asking for documents, and if you haven’t paid them anything, they obstruct your construction. “Those with money build as they please, but if you have only one small plot, they won’t even allow you to build a single structure,” they continued, adding that wealthy individuals are allowed to build extensively while the poor are harassed for not offering bribes.
The residents expressed their wish to receive services as required by law, without the need for bribes, so they too can progress and improve their livelihoods like others. “As the less privileged, we are the ones most affected by this. The wealthy are allowed to settle, but we, the poor, are marginalized,” they said.One resident recounted selling a goat, intending to use the proceeds for fertilizer, but had to give the money to officials instead. At times, they even destroy what has been built if they haven’t received a bribe.
The Executive Secretary of Mageragere Sector, Hategekimana Silas, trashed the residents’ allegations, arguing that what they said has no basis. He explained that receiving construction permits is not difficult and thus not attached to bribery.”There’s no logic in saying that residents must pay bribes to build. Health insurance is a personal responsibility, and there’s no connection between that and obtaining construction permits,” he said.
He outlined the procedure for building in the sector, which requires an application, inspection by engineers to ensure alignment with the master plan, and then issuance of a permit.
In contrast to the sector official’s denial, another resident reported being asked to pay 60,000 Rwandan Francs to a local security officer for a construction permit, only to have their building demolished later. “When they demolished my building, I kept quiet because it wasn’t the village chief but higher authorities who ordered it. He had come to my home with those responsible for demolition, and I let them carry out their orders,” the resident said, adding that they had previously paid the official 60,000 Rwandan Francs in bribes.
When we reached out to the security officer, Ntirenganya Vedaste, he denied ever receiving money from the resident and accused them of trying to frame him. “It’s not the first time people have tried to accuse me of corruption. If they had a plan to report me, they should have done so immediately,” he said. We also spoke to one of the village chiefs, who confirmed the allegations, saying, “It’s true, the security officer received the money. It is a corruption, but with participation from a certain group, and they had pocketed the money.
Mageragere is one of the ten sectors that make up Nyarugenge District and was once part of Butamwa District. Inhabitants, despite living in Kigali, still have rural lifestyles: farming and cooking with firewood. It measures 54.8 square kilometers and hosts approximately 16,800 inhabitants, divided into seven cells: Nyarufunzo, Kankuba, Mataba, Nyarurenzi, Runzenze, Ntungamo, and Kavumu.
