RALGA strengthens the capacity of District and City of Kigali lawyers to improve land service delivery
June 25th - 26th, 2026, Legal advisors and One Stop Center lawyers from the city of Kigali and all districts gathered in Muhanga District for a two-day training and peer-learning workshop organized by RALGA to enhance their capacities, efficiency, and compliance with laws and legal frameworks in land-related services.
The workshop was facilitated by experts from the Ministry of Justice (MINIJUST), the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC), the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the Rwanda Land Authority (RLA), and the Rwanda Public Procurement Authority (RPPA).
A recent capacity needs assessment conducted by RALGA among District Legal Advisors, Notaries, and One Stop Center (OSC) Lawyers identified several capacity gaps that hinder effective service delivery. The assessment revealed deficiencies in key areas, including land law, public procurement law, litigation procedures, and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). It also highlighted inadequate practical skills in contract drafting and legal risk management; limited proficiency in ICT systems, particularly the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS) and other digital case management tools; high workloads; limited access to updated legal reference materials and standardized legal templates; and insufficient opportunities for continuous professional development.
In her welcome remarks, Muhanga District Mayor, Jacqueline Kayitare reminded participants that many of the disputes brought before local government entities and courts originate from land-related issues. She stressed that by diligently carrying out their responsibilities, they can prevent many of these disputes, thereby protecting citizens' rights and contributing to social cohesion and national development.
She further encouraged participants to work closely with citizens and remain actively engaged within their communities so that they could identify and address potential conflicts at an early stage before they escalate into formal disputes.
The mayor also called upon participants to prevent legal cases against their institutions wherever possible, “resolve citizens' disputes and complaints in a timely manner, and promote alternative dispute resolution mechanisms," she said.
She noted that helping citizens settle disputes outside the courts is particularly important, as many people cannot afford the costs associated with legal representation and court proceedings.
Officially opening the workshop, RALGA Secretary General Valens Uwineza emphasized that the training was designed to enhance participants' knowledge and enable them to deliver citizen-centered services more effectively.
“This workshop was organized to equip you with more skills and tools to improve service delivery. We expect that when you return to your respective institutions, you will apply new approaches that enhance your performance and introduce positive changes to the way you work. We also encourage you to share the knowledge and skills acquired here with staff at the sector and cell levels so that these improvements can be replicated across all local government entities. Whenever you require technical support, RALGA and other partners will continue to facilitate access to experts and provide additional capacity-building opportunities.” S.G Uwineza said.
Participants received presentations on emerging issues in land and property law presented by Mr. Jean Baptiste Uwihoreye from RLA and Mrs. KABIBI Specioza, Director General of Civil Litigation Services at MINIJUST; public procurement law and contract management presented by Gaspard Ndekebahige from RPPA; the law governing public-private partnerships (PPPs) in Rwanda, presented by Nadine U. Munyemana from RDB; and service delivery, presented by Faustin Minani, Head of Service Delivery and Good Governance Department at RGB.
Overall, the workshop focused on strengthening participants' professional capacities, improving the quality and efficiency of service delivery, enhancing knowledge and skills, and providing a platform to exchange experiences on persistent challenges related to land administration, land management, and compliance with the legal and regulatory framework governing the sector.
The training forms part of RALGA's ongoing efforts to strengthen the capacities of local government officials and promote effective, citizen-centered service delivery across Rwanda.
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