Residents of Cyagara and Muko villages in Bugarama Sector, Rusizi District, have been urgently ordered to relocate amid fears that the mountain they live on could collapse again. However, they say they cannot understand the directive because they believe they should first be told where they will be relocated.
The authorities have asked residents to leave the area before the heavy rains expected in September, following an assessment of the mountain that found significant amounts of water that could cause further landslides.
However, the residents say relocation itself is not the problem. Their main concern is that they have not been told where they will go or how they will secure land on which to build new homes.
Nirere Jean Bosco, who lives in the area with his wife and 10 children, told IGIHE that he had recently renovated his house, making relocation difficult for him.
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“I have a wife and 10 children, and I had just renovated my home. It is true that this mountain cracked, but it has been three years now, and trees and grass have started growing on it. Some people have even started cultivating it. Those who lived on the mountain were relocated and accommodated elsewhere for three months, with the Sector paying their rent, but they are now paying for themselves.”
He said residents were being asked to relocate without being given sufficient information about where they would live.
“They told us that we should relocate, but they did not tell us where we would go. The government has land; let them give us somewhere to build, even if it is just a single room. But if we leave here, we have nowhere else to go.”
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Residents Demand Clear Relocation Plans
Mugereza, another resident of the area, questioned why residents had not been warned earlier that the mountain could pose a danger.
“Since this mountain collapsed, no official has come to tell us that there is a problem so that we could leave. We feel there may be another reason they are not telling us about. As for me, I will not leave.”
He said uncertainty over where they would live was causing residents even greater concern.
“They are telling us to leave without knowing where we are going. We do not know whether they want us to go and live in the trees.”
Mukabahizi Zaina, who has lived in Muko Village for six years, also said residents need to be properly informed about the relocation plan before they are moved.
“Those who lived on this mountain were relocated and accommodated elsewhere, but after the rent was no longer paid, some returned to their homes. Others whose houses were destroyed by the mountain have still not found places to live.”
She added that residents did not understand why the relocation was being ordered suddenly, especially as infrastructure development continues near the mountain.
“If the problem is really the mountain, they would not be constructing a road below it. We will not relocate unless they show us where we are supposed to go or provide compensation.”
Residents say they have begun requesting detailed explanations before they are relocated, including information about where they will live and what assistance will be provided to help them secure accommodation.
Mbarushimana Anastase, a resident of Muko Village, said:
“The government is responsible for looking after us, and we are not causing them problems. Relocate us, but show us where we are going.”
The Mountain Began Collapsing in 2024
The mountain began collapsing in the early hours of March 4, 2024. The ground continued shifting, with part of it being carried away by the Cyagara River on one side and spilling onto the road on the other for three weeks. The landslide completely destroyed 10 houses located near the mountain.
To prevent accidents and protect residents’ lives, 36 families were evacuated from the area and accommodated elsewhere.
More than two years later, residents who remained in the area have again been ordered to relocate amid fears that heavy rainfall could trigger another landslide.
Although residents say they are concerned about their safety, they are calling for the relocation to be carried out in a manner that respects their rights, with clear information provided in advance about where they will live and what assistance they will receive.
For now, the residents’ main concern is knowing where they will go after being ordered to leave their homes by August 17.
