Not public
Asset declarations in Rwanda: who declares and whether it is public
Laws
Who must declare
High-ranking leaders, senior officials, senior military and police officers and other authorities, judges and judicial staff, prosecutors and their assistants, investigators, public servants handling public finances or State property, staff of the Office of the Ombudsman, State notaries, Executive Secretaries of Sectors and Cells, and political organisations. A Minister's order may add others. Employing organs notify the Ombudsman of their covered staff by 31 March each year.1
What is declared
Assets in Rwanda and abroad, with their type, quantity, location, source, acquisition period and value at acquisition, including assets of a spouse married under a community of property regime and of children under 18, and donations made from the declarant's assets in the previous 12 months. Political organisations declare their books of accounts and their movable and immovable assets.1
How often
Serving officials declare by 30 June each year (political organisations by 30 September), after receiving an electronic link issued by 15 May. New officials declare within 30 days and departing officials within 15 days of receiving the link.1
Public access
Declarations are confidential and their contents are known only to the declarant and the receiving office. The President of the Supreme Court, the Prosecutor General or the head of an alternative dispute resolution body may obtain a copy on written request in the interest of justice, and declarants may obtain copies of their own declarations.1
Where to find declarations
Declarations are submitted electronically to the Office of the Ombudsman (https://www.ombudsman.gov.rw/). Declarations of Ombudsman staff go to the Bureau of the Senate.1,2
Who verifies
The Office of the Ombudsman checks whether declared assets were legally acquired and whether declarations are accurate, through analysis, cross-checking and physical survey of assets. Where assets appear not to have been legally acquired, the case is referred to the criminal investigation body.1
Sanctions in law
A declarant who files late, incompletely or falsely is first asked to correct or file within 7 days. Repeated faults lead to suspension without pay for one to three months depending on the provision, and a person who still does not declare after suspension may be referred for criminal investigation. Political organisations face a warning, a reprimand, suspension of State grant funding and, for continued non-submission, suspension for one year.1
Notable developments
- Law N. 55/2021 on Declaration of Assets was published in the Official Gazette on 30 August 2021.1
Checked 28 October 2026.
Sources
- Laws.Africa Commons (copy of the Official Gazette of Rwanda), Law N. 55/2021 of 29/08/2021 on Declaration of Assets, Official Gazette no 32 ter of 30/08/2021 (30 August 2021)
- Office of the Ombudsman, Republic of Rwanda, Office of the Ombudsman, Rwanda