The households, which make up about 29% of those living in the province, are currently outside areas officially designated for settlement.

Western Province Governor Jean Bosco Ntibitura said residents living outside planned settlement areas should consider moving to places set aside for housing because the government will not extend infrastructure to unplanned areas.

“The infrastructure being provided is concentrated in designated settlement areas,” Ntibitura told journalists. “Those who do not live in these areas will not be reached by the infrastructure provided there.”

The policy is part of Rwanda’s long-term land-use plan, which was approved by the cabinet in September 2020 and is intended to support the country’s Vision 2050 development goals.

The plan aims to significantly increase urbanisation, with 70% of Rwanda’s population expected to live in towns and cities by 2050, compared with 18% when the plan was adopted.

The strategy covers Kigali, eight cities near the country’s borders — Nyagatare, Musanze, Rubavu, Karongi, Rusizi, Huye, Kirehe and Kayonza — as well as 16 smaller towns in other parts of the country.

For people who remain in rural areas, the plan envisages about 3,000 planned settlement sites spread across the country.

Most households already in planned areas

Western Province has about 671,000 households, according to Ntibitura. Around 457,000 of them, or 71%, already live in areas officially designated for settlement.

The province also has 24 model villages, home to about 1,801 households.

Ntibitura said the remaining households living outside designated areas would gradually be encouraged to move to planned settlements, where roads and other public infrastructure can be provided more efficiently.

The approach reflects a broader government effort to concentrate housing and services rather than extending infrastructure over scattered settlements.

Agriculture takes largest share of land

The land-use plan also puts most of Western Province’s territory aside for farming and livestock.

Agriculture and livestock farming account for about 12,433 square kilometres, or 47.2% of the province’s land.

Forests cover another 7,725 square kilometres, representing 29.3%.

Residential areas, infrastructure and roads account for about 3,980 square kilometres, or 15.1%, while water bodies, their buffer zones and protected wetlands cover about 2,200 square kilometres, equivalent to 8.5%.

The government says concentrating settlements in planned areas will make it easier to deliver public services and infrastructure while helping Rwanda manage land more efficiently as its population and towns continue to expand.