Exploring the impact of urbanization on land value in Rwanda. The case study of Kacyiru sector, Gasabo district (2015 2020)

Abstract

Generally, Urbanization is the process through which cities grow and higher percentages of the population comes to live in the city, which can lead to a key to economic development. However, urbanization has caused air pollution, land degradation and loss of biodiversity. The intensive urban growth can lead to greater poverty, with local governments unable to provide services for all people. The general objective of this study was to explore the impact of urbanization on land value in Rwanda. Specific objectives were to identify the driving forces of urbanization in Kacyiru sector, to examine the features of land value in Kacyiru sector and to identify the relationship between urbanization and land value in Kacyiru Sector. Simple random sampling technique was applied to select households for the sample size of 99 respondents from the whole population of the study area in Kacyiru Sector and purposive sampling technique was used to select 3 local leaders at cell levels and 1 Land officer at sector level so the sample size used was 103 respondents. Both primary and secondary data; primary data were gathered using questionnaires and interview while secondary data were gathered using documentation review. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and they were presented using frequency table and percentages. The study found out that population growth 18.7%; environment effect 36.1% and infrastructure facilities 45.2% are driving forces of urbanization in Kacyiru sector. The study found out features of land value in Kacyiru sector are land tax or property tax 26.2%; price of land 27.2% and location of land 28.2% and physical attributes of land 18.4%. The study concluded that urbanization has a positive impact on land value in Kacyiru Sector as it increases demands for land 23.3%; makes land prices to be high 32%; develops and expands land use 14.6% and makes land for housing and development of public utilities to be expensive 30.1%. The study concluded that urbanization has a positive impact on land value in Kacyiru Sector as it increases demands for land even though it makes land prices to be high but it develops and expands land use and makes land for housing and develops of public utilities. The study recommends that the government of Rwanda to limit the movement from rural areas to the city by putting public utilities available in the city in rural areas as these may also limit rapid population and urbanization growth.