Dispossessed of their land since 1972, three Buganda families have been fighting for years to recover their property. Despite court rulings in their favor, this land remains occupied by people close to the ruling party. Faced with an interminable wait, they are appealing to the authorities.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Three families from Buganda district, in Cibitoke province (northwestern Burundi), are demanding the return of their land, which they have not occupied since 1972. This land, located in Murambi village, is currently in the hands of dignitaries close to the CNDD-FDD, the ruling party.

These families, numbering more than 50 members, fled the country during the 1972 crisis, which claimed more Hutus than Tutsis. Upon their return as part of the repatriation process, they discovered that their land had been occupied in their absence. They then appealed to the National Commission for Land and Other Property (CNTB), which ruled in their favor, as well as to the Burundian courts, which ruled in their favor.

However, despite these decisions, the 10 hectares in question remain in the hands of the current occupants.

« The courts ruled in favor of these families, but they were never able to recover their land, » confided a Buganda resident.

Asked about the case, the president of the Cibitoke First Instance Court indicated that the families had to wait until the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (CVR) issued its decision. The families, that denounced a blatant injustice and worried about their children’s future, considered the wait interminable.

In a desperate appeal, they urged relevant authorities to intervene quickly to enforce their rights to land and put an end to this situation.

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Part of the land recovered by Burundian Prime Minister Gervais Ndirakobuca in Cibitoke (SOS Médias Burundi)