Speaking during the reopening of the airline’s check-in office at Kigali city center, the CEO said the move is aimed at providing convenience for the airline’s customers.
“We are very proud that we can offer this very good service again, which is to check in the city in the morning and spend the day not worrying about your luggage, then go to the airport and ensure the luggage is there,” the CEO stated.
“To further enhance convenience, we’re increasing service to daily flights from Kigali starting in June,” Von Boxberg announced.
The airline currently operates five flights per week between Kigali and Brussels. The new plans include reopening the Nairobi route that the airline previously served from 2002 to 2015. This new route allows the airline to increase flight frequencies to Kigali and provide daily service.
“We are starting six flights per week on the Nairobi-Brussels route. Two of these flights will connect to Kigali,” Brussels Airlines Country Manager Audrey Natukunda explained.
The additional flights between Brussels and Kigali will be operated on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Commenting on the resumption of check-in service, Natukunda noted that the unique service offers passengers the convenience of dropping off their luggage at the airline’s offices located within Hôtel des Mille Collines before heading to board their flights at Kigali International Airport, situated on the outskirts of Kanombe, about 5 kilometers from the city center.
Natukunda explained that the check-in service was halted after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in line with the government measures introduced to curb the spread of the virus.
“We, as Brussels Airlines, care for our staff and passengers. We needed to be compliant with the regulations to keep the distance and stay healthy,” Natukunda explained.
Rwandan forces are helping Mozambique’s army fight militants who launched an armed uprising in 2017. The insurgency began with the group expressing discontent over the lack of economic benefits from natural gas in the region, allegations of government corruption and marginalization of local communities.
Speaking during a presidential panel comprising Presidents Paul Kagame and William Ruto of Kenya at the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali on Friday, Nyusi affirmed that Rwanda’s solidarity had helped Mozambique neutralise terror threats in the country.
“There have been quite a number of efforts, together with my brother, His Excellency Paul Kagame. We discussed issues related to security. We have put so many aspects in the northern part of the country where we are looking at exploring mineral resources such as hydrocarbons. It’s true we have gone through terrorism occurrences in 2021. We encountered so many challenges, and we put in place micro-projects in those areas which were supposed to start.
“In terms of national security, thanks to the support of my brother from Rwanda we have been able to contain the threat situation. I thank the people of Rwanda for showing solidarity,” President Nyusi stated.
Terming the current situation as stable, the President dismissed claims that the terror threats pose risk to private sector investments in the country.
“The current situation is stable. It’s just a minor part of the North which is under threat. But investments have never been stopped. It means that the level of risk in Mozambique is nonexistent,” he explained.
“In terms of investments in Mozambique in sectors such as power, infrastructure, energy, we are building ports. We have three ports so far that can have major shipping lines to do the work. There are so many people who have visited Mozambique they can witness.”
President Nyusi also noted that dialogue with the ‘enemies’ had helped de-escalate the security situation in Mozambique.
“Thanks to dialogue, I personally had the opportunity to go to the forest to dialogue with the enemies because I knew what was happening and what they wanted. So we were able to discuss and agree on some points. So the situation is quite better now,” he added.
Rwanda deployed its security forces to Mozambique in 2021 after the insurgency escalated with the militia employing violent tactics, including attacks on civilians and security forces and destruction of property. Mozambique has also received military support from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in 2021. However, SADC forces started withdrawing last month as its mandate ends in July.
Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) announced this week that new troops of the are preparing to deploy to Cabo Delgado in the gas-rich Northern Province.
The soldiers on Tuesday received a briefing on the new mission during a meeting with senior officials, including the Rwanda Defence Forces Army Chief of Staff, Maj Gen Vincent Nyakarundi and Commissioner Vincent B. Sano, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations.
The RDF Army Chief of Staff conveyed a message from President Paul Kagame, who also doubles up as the Commander-in-Chief of RDF, reminding the troops to maintain discipline and commitment to the crucial mission.
Nyakarundi emphasized that the forces currently deployed in the region were performing admirably and urged the troops to uphold the standards.
“This deployment underscores the strong bilateral relations between the Republic of Rwanda and Mozambique,” RDF said in a statement.
Early this month, RDF announced that joint Rwanda and Mozambique forces had made gains in neutralizing the militia insurgency in the country.
RDF revealed on May 5, 2024, that the joint security team had managed to smoke out and kill a majority of the Al-Shabaab terrorists hiding in Odinepa, Nasua, Mitaka, and Manika forests during a one-week operation that started on April 26.
Only a few insurgents are reported to have escaped the military onslaught during the one-week operation.
MP Donatille Mukabalisa expresses that during her tenure, both as a speaker and parliamentarian, she takes pride in the achievements of the Rwandan Government, which have been accomplished with contributions from everyone.
In an interview with IGIHE recently, she discussed various topics, including her views on the Parliament’s responsibilities in representing the citizens, the preparations for elections within the Liberal Party (PL), which she leads, and other diverse subjects.
{{IGIHE: How are the preparations for the elections within PL going?}}
{{Donatille Mukabalisa:}} As you know, in July 2024, there will be Presidential and Parliamentary elections, and we in the Liberal Party (PL) are well prepared. Whenever there are elections, the first thing a political party thinks about is how to present its agenda to Rwandans to gain their votes.
The key preparation involves creating a political agenda that outlines what we intend to deliver.
We have carefully prepared our agenda, the Liberal Party’s (PL) principles, and our plans for Rwandans from 2024 to 2029 during this five-year term. This is based on the pillars of the economy, social welfare, and good governance.
Every political party has the responsibility to lead Rwandans toward sustainable development, ensuring their welfare, safety, and a country that experiences rapid and lasting progress.
All of this is grounded in the vision we have collectively set as Rwandans, whether you belong to a political party or not.
We have all contributed to the Vision 2050, and there are other sustainable development goals we must achieve as a country and globally, such as Vision 2063. These foundations are what we will present to Rwandans to secure their votes, enabling us to contribute to the goals we have set as a nation.
{{We have seen that you have chosen to support Paul Kagame. As a significant party in Rwanda, don’t you think you should present your own candidate instead of supporting another party’s candidate?}}
It is not only in Rwanda that a political party supports a candidate from another party.
The Liberal Party granted its members the freedom to choose. We asked them if they saw fit to present a candidate, and if so, who within the party would be suitable? They chose to support the candidate presented by the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) Inkotanyi, Paul Kagame.
During the deliberations, each speaker highlighted the reasons why they felt we should support the RPF Inkotanyi candidate, emphasizing the achievements and positive direction he has brought to the country.
When considering a Head of State, you ask what Rwandans need. But you must also conduct a broader analysis, asking what Rwanda as a country needs and who has the capability to meet those needs.
Given the critical challenges we faced after President Paul Kagame stopped the Genocide against the Tutsi and liberated our country from all possible evils, looking at our progress and vision, it is clear that there is no reason to change a winning team.
From the worst possible state, we have reached a place where even the world marvels at our progress. What seemed like a dead country has resurrected, with people rebuilding and showing great resilience, all thanks to good leadership.
We believe this good leadership should continue to guide us to reach and even surpass our goals, establishing a strong foundation and pillars while collaborating with him in all aspects.
{{In 2010, you had a candidate in the Presidential election. Did the unsatisfactory results lead you to support Paul Kagame this time?}}
You must consider the state of the country, the region, and the world at large because the world has become like a village. You must look at the interests of the country and Rwandans.
Considering all these factors, we concluded that the right candidate to support is Paul Kagame. However, this does not prevent us from preparing to present our own candidate in the future.
{{Do you think President Kagame’s successor could come from the Liberal Party?}}
We will assess that in due time, as it requires thorough preparation. When the time comes, you will know.
Before the Genocide against the Tutsi, the Liberal Party was very active, but now many people wonder what you do that would attract someone without a political affiliation to join the PL. What would you say to them?
The Liberal Party was founded on July 14, 1991. This July, we will be celebrating 33 years. It started during a very challenging and politically difficult time, with significant strength and noble goals.
The party fought for individual freedom, which was not available to Rwandans, for justice, and for development.
Living in a country that denies people their rights, where there is no justice, and where people cannot freely pursue activities that can lead to their development is unacceptable.
A country with severe exclusion and oppression of some Rwandans cannot progress if it is divided.
Fighting for these causes during such challenging times was not easy. We persisted, but Habyarimana’s regime saw the power of the Liberal Party and split it, creating a faction called PL Power based on ethnicity, while the rest of us continued with the original mission.
Understandably, many PL members were victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi, but those who survived drew strength from within to rebuild the party’s political foundation, focusing on unifying Rwandans, which had been shattered.
We had the framework and the place to work from, which enabled us to continue building our strength to collaborate with other Rwandans in rebuilding the country, advancing it, and fostering a sense of unity. We are proud of the role we played in achieving this progress.
{{You have led the parliament for 11 years; when you look back, which achievements do you appreciate that have changed the lives of the citizens?}}
When we talk about the Assembly, it’s not about an individual looking at themselves alone, speaking as a leader or viewing it as just the Parliament because it involves collaboration with colleagues.
The Parliament has different organs, including the General Assembly as the main body, the Chairpersons’ Council, and various committee works where we all work together.
Regarding its responsibilities of enacting laws and overseeing government activities, we do all this collectively.
We are proud of all we have achieved as a country because we have fulfilled our duties as the Parliament while working with other institutions.
When we talk about enacting laws, they are established to ensure that the policies that have been set can be implemented, and laws are made to address specific issues.
When we oversee the government’s activities, we are looking at things like the past seven-year program, the 2050 vision, and ensuring that the goals Rwandans need to achieve are met appropriately, bringing visible changes in the lives of Rwandans.
I can say that we are proud of what we have achieved because we played our part in our duties as the Parliament across all levels. We cannot claim it was just us alone; we all worked together.
{{We sometimes see laws being enacted and then amended shortly after; how does this happen, and why aren’t enduring laws passed from the beginning?}}
We are a developing country; when laws are enacted, we do not stop there. After some time, we go back and review our oversight duty to monitor the implementation of those laws to see if they are solving the issues they were created to address.
We review how they are being implemented, often after about three years. When we review their implementation, we sometimes find that they are not being implemented correctly or are not solving the issues they were created to address, making it necessary to amend them.
We are a country that wants to progress quickly, and like when you build a house, there comes a point where you notice things that need to be improved even though the plan was initially well-drawn. You may need to make adjustments to make it better.
When building a country, you reach a point where you review and ask if what you are doing is solving the problems that led to the laws being enacted. That is where amendments come in.
There is nothing wrong with amending; the problem would be to leave something that is not working well unaddressed because you are not amending it.
A recent survey by Transparency International Rwanda (TI-Rwanda) found that only 34.5 per cent of respondents were aware of property expropriation rights, with just 1.4 per cent saying they were fully aware of their rights.
Additionally, 29.0 per cent said they were not sure, 29.1 per cent were unaware, and 0.8% said they were totally unaware of their rights in cases where the government claims privately owned property for the benefit of the public.
A total of 1,050 respondents participated in the survey conducted across the five provinces of Rwanda, where the government has claimed privately owned land for the construction of feeder roads, as well as education and health infrastructure projects. 52.90 per cent of the respondents were male while 47.10 were female.
TI-Rwanda conducted an assessment on the issues of expropriation targeting government programs with support from the German development agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
At least two projects in each of the 15 districts across Western, Eastern, Southern, Northern and Kigali Provinces were selected among three key areas (feeder roads, health and education) for examination.
TI-Rwanda also examined the level of citizen’s participation in the selection of infrastructure projects and compliance with Law NO 32-2015 of 11-06-2015 relating to expropriation in the public interest. The law stipulates that any compensation must be made prior to the project implementation.
“Investors consulted me and assured me that they would not take my land that is why I was not on the list of people who were supposed to be compensated. Later, I was surprised to see their workers with machines destroying my compound and taking my land. They even called the engineer of Gasabo district saying that they will not compensate me because they said that I should claim before the starting of the project. I cannot say that we, citizens have the right on neither our property nor on the expropriation of our properties affected by infrastructure-related projects,” one of the respondents was quoted as saying.
On community awareness of selected infrastructure projects in their village, 39.4 per cent of the respondents said they were aware, 1.9 per cent said they were totally aware, and 18.2 per cent said they were not sure. Additionally, 30.5 per cent of respondents said they were unaware, 0.9 per cent said they were totally unaware, and 9.1 per cent said they didn’t know.
“We were not informed about this project, but we are thankful for benefiting medical services because it is our advantage to see that works related to the construction of Shagasha health centre were complete,” another resident was quoted as saying.
The survey also revealed that 80.7 per cent of the feeder roads were reported by the citizens to have negatively affected community properties during the implementation of projects in the districts selected for the study.
“Houses have been destroyed by the construction of the new roads, and some houses are hanging and may be destructed due to them being on steeped roads,” a respondent from Kamonyi lamented.
A section of residents of Nyabihu complained that their houses were damaged by landslides due to roads missing water drainage. The residents also decried lack of compensation for their damaged property.
The report recommends the adoption of improved notice procedures by authorities at the district level and increased transparency and accountability. It suggests provision of all relevant information to the citizens who will be directly affected and avoiding the implementation of projects without written prior agreement from the beneficiaries.
The report has also made several recommendations to Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (Loda), Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC) and Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN).
The recommendations include the authorities to enhance independence and activities of the Institute of Real Property Valuers in Rwanda (IRPV) and provide necessary support in setting and updating annual land prices; Improve feasibility studies on expropriation projects, including an assessment of socio-economic impacts on the affected population; Initiate a livelihood strategy for citizens whose properties are affected by the implementation of infrastructure projects; and Clarify and follow project timelines, improve, and streamline the payment procedures by allocating sufficient project budgets before the project starts.
Oda Gasinzigwa ,NEC Chairperson, stated that significant efforts have been made to enhance election preparations, including the consolidation of the elections, revision of the election law, and creation of a Presidential decree regulating the elections.
She highlighted that after updating the law and the voter list, it was found that nearly two million young people will be voting for the first time.
Currently, the total number of voters stands at 9.5 million, with over 53,000 Rwandans living abroad. The process of correcting the voter list is still ongoing.
This is a combined election where Rwandans will vote for the President and 54 Deputies from political parties or independent candidates, with additional Deputies coming from special categories.
{{The number of independent candidates has increased}}
The NEC has announced that there has been an increase in the number of independent candidates as it has now received nominations for the position of President of the Republic and candidates for the position of 41 MPs.
They are currently seeking signatures where their applications will be accepted from May 17, 2024 to May 30, 2024, to be considered eligible.
Candidates are requested to abide by the rules and regulations and avoid any disqualification.
{{Requirements for the person who wants to be a candidate }}
Legal Commissioner Judith Mbabazi outlined the legal requirements for the various positions.
She pointed out that for the position of the Head of the Nation, he is required to have Rwandan nationality by origin, to have no other nationality, to be morally sound, and not to be deprived of his civil and political rights by the courts.
The aspirant is required to be at least 35 years of age, he must be in Rwanda at the time of his candidacy and for MPs, he is required to be 21 years of age and have citizenship.
{{Polling stations }}
The NEC states that more than 17,000 polling stations have been prepared across the country because it is hoped that at least 500 people will vote in each station.
Another thing that goes with the polling room is the equipment that will be included, which is two boxes in each room.
{{Reviewing the Voters List is ongoing}}
While the National Electoral Commission states that 9.5 million people have already registered to vote, it states that the process of correcting the voter list using technology is ongoing.
This system is designed to help people check if they are on the voter list, move based on their location and make general corrections by dialing *169#.
In terms of technology, observers have also started applying to monitor the elections and now it has been made easier so that applicants are allowed without having to come to Rwanda, but everything is done online.
{{Dissolution of the House of Representatives}}
The Constitution stipulates when the House of Representatives can be dissolved for electoral reasons, but due to changes that led to combined elections, the statutory period was ignored as their term expired last year.
The NEC states that during the transitional period, the law shows that the members of parliament who are present at the end of their term, continue to lead until the assembly is dissolved for electoral reasons.
Due to the fact that the elections were combined this year, the dissolution of the assembly will depend on the term of the President of the Republic when it ends.
{{Important dates for elections}}
NEC announces that from May 17 to May 30, 2024, it will be receiving candidates’ applications. Their confirmation will be announced on June 14, 2024, and on June 22 – July 13, 2024 campaign activities will begin.
It is planned that on June 29, 2024 the list of voters will be published, on July 14 there will be elections for Rwandans living abroad and on July 15, 2024, there will be elections inside the country.
On July 16, 2024, elections are scheduled for 24 women deputies, two representing youth and one deputy representing people with disabilities.
It is planned that by July 20, 2024, the provisional results of the elections will be announced, while the results of the elections should be announced by July 27.
The Head of State, vying for the presidency on the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) party ticket, was the first candidate to present his papers to the commission in the exercise that kicked off today at the Commission’s office in Kiyovu.
The President was accompanied by First Lady Jeannette Kagame, RPF Vice-Chairperson, RPF Secretary-General, and RPF commissioners.
NEC chairperson Oda Gasinzigwa verified the President’s papers and asserted that the candidate’s file was complete.
At least eight independent candidates have declared their interest to challenge Kagame in the forthcoming poll. Also on the list of candidates eyeing the presidency is Frank Habineza, the leader of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda.
To be cleared to run for the presidency, candidates must meet several requirements, including proof of Rwandan citizenship. The candidates must be at least 35 years of age, be of high integrity, and not have a history of criminal convictions resulting in sentences exceeding six months, among other requirements.
{{RPF endorses Kagame }}
President Kagame received a green light from the ruling party to run for a fourth term in office during the party’s meeting held in March, where he secured 99.1 per cent of the votes cast.
Welcoming his endorsement, Kagame said, “We know where this country has come from. I appreciate the apparent role you have played in that. I also appreciate the trust that you always and continue to place in me. The burden you have given me I have accepted to carry.”
Kagame assumed the presidency in 2000, six years after leading the RPF rebel group to topple the Hutu-led regime that perpetrated the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
He, however, pointed out that the continent’s potential is often hindered due to a lack of unity that affects sharing of the resources within the continent.
The President was speaking during the opening ceremony of the Africa CEO Forum (ACF) at the Kigali Convention Centre (KCC) on Thursday, May 16, 2024, themed “At the table or on the menu?”
According to President Kagame, a united continent would increase its bargaining power on the global stage.
“The more united Africa is, the more productive our engagement with partners will become. Integration for Africa’s business community is an opportunity to grow our markets and become more competitive. Africa does not have to ask for a seat at the table,” Kagame stated.
“Today almost 20 percent of the world is Africa. By the year 2050, it will be 25 percent. Soon enough, the only middle class in the world that will still be growing is Africa. As this century progresses, Africa will increasingly be one of the world’s economic engines. But to become truly prosperous, we have to upgrade our mindsets and aim for quality and turn into high-tech products and sell back to us. It’s not sustainable; it’s simple and clear.”
The head of state affirmed that with the right politics and governance in the region, Africa has the potential to thrive on the global economic stage.
“This will take a lot of time and effort, but Africa can do it. In everything we do, good governance and politics play a very important role. Having the solution is not enough. The willingness to find a middle ground and not let unnecessary levels of bureaucracy get in the way can make things work better and faster,” he added.
President Kagame noted that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents a major opportunity for African countries to adopt reforms necessary to enhance long-term growth among the member states.
“Over the years, what has become clearer is that our common challenges can be solved if we work together. For our continent, it is equally important to build a capacity to respond swiftly and efficiently to any challenge and bounce back. For example, that is why we established the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The rationale is that we have the resources but we need to be able to share them among ourselves,” he stated.
AfCFTA was established in 2018 with the aim of uniting Africa’s economies. According to the World Bank, AfCFTA has the potential to lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty. This, however, significantly depends on policy reforms and facilitation measures put in place.
{{CEO Forum}}
Meanwhile, Kigali welcomes the Africa CEO Forum for the second time since 2019, when the forum made its debut in the East Africa region. More than 2,000 business leaders and government officials are gracing the CEO forum.
The participants include Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi and two prime ministers, Patrice Emery Trovoada of Sao Tome and Robert Beugre Mambe of Côte d’Ivoire. Presidents William Ruto of Kenya, Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana, and Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti are also expected at the two-day event.
Rwanda Development Board (RDB) is hosting the event alongside the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group focused exclusively on the private sector in developing countries.
The forum is expected to challenge attendees to take decisive action for Africa’s future amidst global economic uncertainties.
In a press conference discussing preparations for the elections scheduled for July 2024, NEC leadership provided updates on the current state of readiness. NEC Chairperson, Oda Gasinzigwa revealed that eight individuals have so far expressed their intention to run as independent presidential candidates, alongside 41 prospective parliamentary candidates.
However, Gasinzigwa emphasized that these numbers might not be final. The candidates must submit their applications for verification to ensure they meet the necessary requirements. Historically, some applicants fail to meet these criteria, resulting in a reduced number of eligible candidates.
Gasinzigwa also issued a warning to those seeking to become independent candidates for both presidential and parliamentary elections against using money to solicit signatures. “We’ve heard rumors of this practice. If true, it is unacceptable. We do not want our citizens to be subjected to such manipulation,” she stated.
She continued, “When requesting a signature, it means engaging with the person, explaining your intentions, and ensuring they are on the voter list. It’s a one-on-one conversation, and we believe we have communicated this clearly. We trust the process will go smoothly.”
Starting from May 17, 2024, the commission will begin accepting official applications from those seeking to run for various positions. This process will conclude on May 30, 2024.
Judith Mbabazi, Commissioner in charge of Legal Affairs, outlined the legal requirements for different positions. For the presidency, candidates must possess Rwandan nationality by origin, have no other citizenship, exhibit impeccable conduct, and not have been stripped of civil and political rights by any court.
Additionally, they must be at least 35 years old and be present in Rwanda at the time of their application. For parliamentary candidates, the age requirement is 21 years.
This election marks the first time that presidential and parliamentary elections will be held simultaneously, a change aimed at reducing the overall cost of conducting separate elections.
The campaign period for both presidential and parliamentary candidates will commence on Saturday, June 22, 2024, and conclude on July 12, 2024, for candidates abroad, and on July 13, 2024, for those within the country.
In a discussion at the Qatar Economic Forum held on May 15, 2024, Makolo stated that the construction work is ongoing.
“Construction is already in progress. We’re about to finalise the horizontal works and move to the vertical. We’re looking [at] between 2027 and 2028 in terms of the airport being operational,” said Makolo.
Construction of the airport was initiated by the Government of Rwanda in 2017. It was initially slated for completion in 2024. The following year, Qatar Airways expressed interest in investing in the project, leading to an expanded plan aiming for completion in 2026 at a cost of US$2 billion.
Jules Ndanga, the Chief Executive Officer of Aviation Travel & Logistics (ATL), a Rwandan government agency overseeing aviation and tourism-related activities, recently disclosed that Qatar Airways holds a 60% stake in this project, with Rwanda holding the remaining 40%.
He stated, “They now hold 60%, while the Rwandan Government holds 40%. The airport we originally planned to build, which was part of our pledge, was estimated at 400 million Rwandan Francs. Currently, when you add everything together, the cost reaches 2 billion dollars.”
The CEO of Qatar Airways, Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, explained on May 15 that the construction of the airport faced challenges, including delays in the delivery of materials to the construction site.
He however explained that a meeting is scheduled for next week to finalize the construction contract and reaffirmed anticipated completion of the airport in 2027.
Meer announced that Bugesera International Airport will resemble the Hamad International Airport located in Doha, covering an area of over 36 square kilometers.
When questioned about this possession, Barikana, who had already resigned from his position in the Chamber of Deputies, admitted he acquired the weapons while living with soldiers but forgot to return them.
Currently, Barikana is being held at the RIB Station in Remera while investigations continue to determine how he obtained the weapons and why he possessed them without legal authorization.
RIB has reminded the public that “owning firearms is governed by specific laws and any violation of these laws constitutes a criminal offense under Rwandan penal statutes.”
Barikana has been a deputy since 2013, prior to which he served as a Director in the Prime Minister’s Office between 2010 and 2013. From 2003 to 2013, he was the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, and before that, he was the Prefect of Kibungo Prefecture from 1999 to 2001.
{{What does it take to own a gun in Rwanda?}}
In 2018, Rwanda revised its 2009 firearms law to reintegrate crimes and penalties that were omitted in 2012 and aligned with the constitutional requirements.
The National Police once told IGIHE that since 2018 [to 2022], no civilian in Rwanda has been granted a firearm license due to pending regulations. These regulations define the fees for a gun license, how and where one can acquire a gun, mandatory training for gun use, and the amount of ammunition allowed.
In 2022, the Deputy Spokesperson of the Rwandan Police stated that no civilian owns a gun as those who had them had returned them when the law was revised.
He mentioned, “It used to be done, but since the law was abolished, they returned them to wait for what the new law stipulates.”
When the law was revised, the then Minister of Justice, Johnston Busingye, stated that the requirements to own or trade weapons in Rwanda are numerous and nearly impossible to fulfill.
He said, “I believe it is almost impossible. To trade, to show where you want to trade, it’s a Presidential Order that dictates how it should be done.”
{{Requirements for obtaining a firearm license}}
Owning a firearm, except for those allocated to the Rwandan Defence Forces, the Rwandan Police, and other legally authorized agencies, requires a written permit issued by the Rwanda National Police.
Carrying a firearm, except for those allocated to the Rwandan Defence Forces, the Rwandan Police, and other legally authorized agencies, is permitted with a written authorization from the Rwanda National Police.
{{The law grants a firearm license to an individual who fulfills the following}}
An agreement with the Rwanda National Police confirming that if provided with a gun, ammunition, and related items, they will not be used unlawfully,Travelers with a certification from their country stating the gun, ammunition, and related items are for their personal use, private security firms.
To be eligible for a firearm license, one must write to the Rwanda National Police explaining why they need a gun; be of good character; be at least 21 years old; have a medical certificate from a recognized doctor confirming they do not suffer from mental illness.
Additionally, they must have a certificate from the Rwanda National Police proving they know how to use a gun; not have been sentenced to imprisonment of six months or more; and show a legal firearm ownership and carrying permit for foreigners who possess it.
However, the Rwanda National Police may refuse to grant a firearm license.
An individual who meets these requirements can own one (1) firearm for hunting, sport, or self-defense. Those with a permit issued by the Rwanda National Police may own more than one (1) firearm.
The law explains that owning a firearm in any form, except for those allocated to the Rwandan Defence Forces, the Rwandan Police, and other legally authorized agencies, requires a written permit from the Rwanda National Police.
Carrying a firearm, except for those allocated to the Rwandan Defence Forces, the Rwandan Police, and other legally authorized agencies, is permitted with a written authorization from the Rwanda National Police.
A firearm license, along with ammunition and related items, is renewed annually with a fee set by a Presidential Order.
The Rwanda National Police has the authority to temporarily or permanently revoke a firearm license and ammunition if they are used unlawfully or in a manner that could threaten public safety.
The law also states that no civilian is allowed to own weapons designated for state security agencies. Anyone owning a gun, ammunition, and related items cannot carry them without a permit. Renting, lending, or mortgaging guns, ammunition, and related items is prohibited.
When a lawful owner of a gun, ammunition, and related items dies, the Rwanda National Police retrieves them.
