Rwanda Seeks 3,000 New Staff to Tackle Growing Delays in Land Services

Environment Minister Dr. Arakwiye Bernadette told lawmakers that the backlog is largely driven by the rapid increase in applications processed through the country’s Land Administration Information System, known as LAIS. The digital platform, which stores and manages all land records and ownership data, has seen its workload grow dramatically in recent years.

When the system was launched, it handled about 15,000 files annually. It now processes more than 800,000 applications per year. Officials report that land-related filings rose from 376,686 in 2023 to more than 750,000 in 2024, and are projected to exceed 864,000 in 2025 — more than doubling in just two years.

Arakwiye said the spike reflects government efforts to decentralize and simplify access to services. Land services, once available only at provincial offices, are now offered at sector levels, with land committees established in local administrative cells. Twelve of the most requested services are also available online through Irembo, Rwanda’s e-government portal, and private notaries have been authorized to assist.

To ease pressure on the system, the ministry plans to integrate land services with other government platforms so institutions can directly obtain land documents on behalf of applicants. The reform, expected by June 2026, aims to cut land-related files by 10%.

In addition to hiring more staff, the government will upgrade the digital system’s capacity and strengthen district One Stop Centers through additional training and equipment to improve service delivery