Some residents of Kigali point out that they have been asked for bribes so that they can build houses. Those who gave the bribe say they did not give it to one of the local authorities but a series of leaders.

Eric MANIRAGABA is a resident of Kicukiro District, Gahanga Sector, Gahanga Cell, Rinini Village. On 20th of February 2020 at 9:30 am, a telephone number 0782237090 registered in tha names of  Ndayisaba sent a text meddase to Eric Maniragaba who was building a toilet and bathroom telling him that if he built a house without construction permit, what he builds he has to remove it with his teeth.

 The text message was sent by security officials to Maniragaba saying that if he did not want his house demolished, he would respond to the security forces.

A copy of the text message reads: “We are the security guards; they are demolishing the house if it is not valid. Your wife despised us, if you want them not to destroy it come and talk to us. If you don't want to, you will remove   the house with your teeth. ”

Maniragaba's house was finally demolished together with a bathroom and a toilet.

 "He asked me for 50,000. When I met him in the sector, he told me “you still don't think about it?" since I didn’t go to look him he came and demolished the house.

“I met him at sector office on Monday 8^th March 2020 and he came to demolish my house on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.” Says Maniragaba

Maniragaba regrets that he did not pay the bribes resulting in the demolition of the house, bathroom and toilet, he knew that it was his right to build but says that if he found out that it would be demolished he would have paid the required amount.

"I know that every citizen is allowed to have a toilet, which is why I refused to give bribes, but if I found out that even the house they had demolished, I would have given it to my house and not demolished it," Maniragaba said.

On March 13, 2020, Eric MANIRAGABA wrote to the Executive Secretary of Gahanga Sector seeking redress.  The first paragraph of the letter, reads, “Mr. Mayor, I am writing this letter to you, I live in Rinini village since August 8, 2019. I am married.  I built a bathroom and toilet, but the cell leader and land notary came with Dasso and former village head Sabane Jean Pierre, they demolished bathroom and Toilette together with the house , They told me I needed to get a permit to build a bathroom and toilet

In 2016 and 2017 the man we named Joseph HISHAMUNDA for security reasons was in the process of building in Gasabo district in Kinyinya sector in Kagugu cell known as Batsinda,   he couldn’t complete building so he had given money to the local authorities to continue.

“I looked for kitchen and bathroom building permit which was popular but I would not have received the permit if the Sector Land Notary had not given it to me,” he said.  I have paid 100,000$ to get the building permit. ”

Joseph HISHAMUNDA not only gave money to the sector land notary   but also village leaders.

“I came to the village and the village executive committee also gave me a permit to build more than that kitchen and Douche and I paid them 300$.”

Hishamunda admits that he continued to give money to other people as he continued to build illegally.

However the sector leaders ordered me to demolish what I have built.

Joseph HISHAMUNDA knew that to build in such place was part of the process of bribery because he knew it was possible.

"I didn't even have to go to apply for a permit because I knew my plot was not a residential area, which means I was not a candidate to go and apply for a permit; I used bribery way because I knew it was possible; rent was very difficult for me."

The cost of bribery was over 600$ something he says he has in common with others.

“I remember that at least 600$ was a lot of money that I should have used for family interest. That's how houses in Kigali often go up with renovations and you find the place where the big house was built from the renovated houses down there. ”

Vincent NDAHIMANA is a resident of Nyacyonga village in Kagasa cell in Gahanga sector, Kicukiro district.

 On July 14, the cell's administration decided to demolish his house because it encroached on a neighbor's land 50 cm.

NDAHIMANA was asked by leaders to pay 200$, but he refused because had amicably discussed with the neighbor.

"They had information that I had sold a plot with an advance of 600$ so they wanted to take my money. Since I didn’t pay the money   they came to my house with local security agents( DASSO) they immediately said, "Bring the money, they gave me two minutes to make up for the lack of money ... we had already collected 100,000 and they said, 'If there are 150 missing, let them destroy it, then I'll know how to go.”

Emmanuel RUCOGOZA, the executive secretary of Nyanza cell in Kicukiro district, is said to have defended the wing of the people and refused to demolish the fences of the house after they were built illegally. The district administration has asked him to demolish but he refused because he has been given bribes by owners.

“Just yesterday he went to demolish and called the village leader telling him that “there was a house the mayor told me to demolish and I want you to go together; when he arrives he noticed that the owner has already given him money   then he said we will demolish it another day”

One of the land notaries in Gasabo District, named Regis MBARAGA for security reasons, admitting that he was bribed by a resident who wanted to build without documents, when he refused it affected him.

"Someone came to me with money asking for fraud building permit, when he saw that I denied it, maybe some people were accustomed to it when he kept following me many times, I reported that the person and the security forces arrested him," he said.  After his arrest, his family sought revenge to harm me; they waited for me on my way and I have been save by the people who were passing by.

The Chairman of  Transparency International Rwanda, which is also concerned about corruption in construction in Kigali city, as well as elsewhere in the country, Ms. INGABIRE Marie Immaculle, argues that punishing corruption receivers and givers and educating the public not to give it would be the answer.

"I urge the government to take immediate action to reduce the number of corruption cases in the country," said Roni Bar-On, a Member of the Knesset for Kadima. If it is his right, it is his right, let him give the documents without bribery, if it is not his right he will build it and they will destroy it. As soon as the people hear about it, the corruption will stop, instead of giving it they will talk about it and report it”

A study released by Transparency International  Rwanda on December 3, 2019 shows that corruption is rampant in Rwanda, with construction licensing services predominant in corruption, at a rate of 33%.

By Agahozo Amiella and Tite Dusabirema / Radio Flash FM