Rwanda News Agency/Agence Rwandaise d'Information (Kigali)
1 April 2008
Kigali — The members of the former Rwandan royal family kicked out of power some 40 years ago have already been compensated for property lost but the money is still in government accounts, it was heard on Tuesday.
President Paul Kagame told a press conference in Kigali that compensation was awarded but the family has "failed to agree on who takes what and how much".
The monarch in Rwanda was abolished in 1961 out of political agitation from a wide array of political forces with support of the Belgian colonial administration. In 1962, Rwanda was granted independence ushering in a republic as form of government after a controversial referendum.
The last King Kigeli V Jean-Baptiste Ndahindurwa was forced to leave the country and has been living in the United States ever since. The family property mainly in Nyanza (part of southern province) and other places was either destroyed or taken over to become offices for government departments.
However, King Kigeli had succeeded his half-brother Mwami MUTARA III Rudahigwa who ruled until his death in 1959.
Years down the road, some living members of the royal family started demanding that their property is returned to them along with compensation for what was destroyed. Those calling for the property align directly to lineage of Rudahigwa.
Up until 1994, one royal palace building in Nyanza was housing the provincial court of appeal and prosecution. Government has since refurbished the same building and other traditional homesteads turning them into museums for traditional regarlia. It has become one of the top tourist destinations.
President Kagame said: "The problem is not with any ministry - actually the first problem is with them (royal family) because the claimants are so many".
"One claims ownership today, another as well after - and when they are told to share, they can't even agree on how to distribute - they have problems internally", said Kagame before calling in the Justice Minister Mr. Tharcise Karugarama whose office has been handling the issue.
The problem is distribution which they are still sorting out, Karugarama said adding, "We actually talked to the few who are so concerned about a week ago".
"The people following up this issue are very few because even Rudahigwa himself and most of them (supposed beneficiaries) are no longer alive - those demanding are few and know how far the process has reached", said Karugarama.
President Kagame revealed that "the money has been there for close to two years" but there was need for more time for the family to "sort themselves out".
King Kigeli V Jean-Baptiste Ndahindurwa for his part has maintained that he can only return to Rwanda after it changes orientation back to a monarchy - a demand government is adamant to even discuss.
President Kagame has previously said Kigeli was free to return to Rwanda like other Rwandans did and even offered him state upkeep at the tax payer expense - but his offer is yet to be accepted.
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