The Secretary General of Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), Col (Rtd) Janot Ruhunga, has revealed that in the past five years, RIB has handled 4,437 corruption-related cases involving over 9,200 individuals.
He made these remarks during a press conference on February 10, 2025, marking the launch of the Judiciary Anti-Corruption Week in Rwanda.
As per IGIHE, Col (Rtd) Ruhunga emphasized that the fight against corruption starts from within institutions.
Over the last five years, RIB has dismissed 56 employees suspected of corruption-related offenses, some of whom have been prosecuted and sentenced.
He noted that corruption is rarely committed by a single individual, which explains the high number of suspects.
“As you know, corruption is not a crime committed by a single person. That is why the number of those investigated is nearly double the number of cases,” he stated.
The RIB Secretary General highlighted that corruption is evolving, with intermediaries deceiving citizens by claiming they can influence judges or other justice officials to secure favorable verdicts.
He urged the public to trust the judicial system instead of falling prey to such fraudulent schemes.
“The key contribution from the public is to restore confidence in our justice system. These intermediaries exploit people’s belief that nothing can be achieved without bribery. This mindset is fueled by a few known corruption cases, leading people to think that paying a bribe is the only way to get things done,” he explained.
Rwanda’s legal framework protects whistleblowers, ensuring that individuals who report corruption or bribery attempts are not prosecuted and are guaranteed safety.
Col (Rtd) Ruhunga affirmed that this policy has yielded positive results, as many corruption cases are initiated based on reports from the public.
“These cases are largely built on information provided by citizens, the media, and anti-corruption bodies. If every Rwandan is committed to fighting corruption, they will report it and hold authorities accountable for taking action,” he said.
The Chief Justice of Rwanda, Domitilla Mukantaganzwa, called on citizens to trust the judicial system and reject the false narrative that winning a case requires bribery.
The theme of this year’s Judiciary Anti-Corruption Week is: “Reject Corruption in Courts and the Deceptive Brokers. Justice is Not for Sale.”
According to the 2024 Rwanda Bribery Index (RBI), corruption was most prevalent in the private sector at a rate of 13%.
Other sectors recorded varying corruption levels, including, Rwanda Energy Group (REG) – 7.80%, Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC) – 7.20%, Local Government – 6.40% AND Judiciary – 6%.