AYINKAMIYE Dative, a resident of Niboye Sector in Kicukiro District, lost part of her commercial and rental property during the construction of the Sonatube–Sahara road. While an earlier portion of her property had been formally expropriated and compensated, another portion was later demolished without prior expropriation or compensation.
After seeking redress through administrative channels without obtaining a satisfactory remedy, Dative pursued her case through the courts. She was referred to the Legal Aid Forum (LAF) by Transparency International Rwanda, and LAF provided her with legal representation.
On 11 November 2025, the High Court of Nyarugenge ruled in Dative’s favour and ordered the City of Kigali to compensate her for the demolished property and the rental income she had lost. The Court awarded FRW 25,684,500 in principal compensation, in addition to lawyers’ fees, litigation expenses and a court-fee refund.
The City of Kigali appealed the decision but later withdrew its appeal, leaving the original judgment in force. The City subsequently paid the compensation awarded by the Court.
For Dative, the property represented more than buildings it was a source of income and livelihood. Through access to legal representation, she was able to challenge the circumstances surrounding the demolition, pursue her rights before the courts, and ultimately obtain an enforceable remedy.
Dative’s case demonstrates the practical impact of legal aid: when people have access to professional legal support, they can challenge rights violations, seek accountability and secure meaningful remedies.