The Parliamentary Committee on Social Affairs reports a 92% rise in the number of people admitted to correctional facilities in 2023/2024, highlighting ongoing challenges in curbing behaviors that threaten public safety.
The findings are drawn from a detailed audit conducted by the Office of the Auditor General of State Finances in January 2025, which examined the management and operations of Rwanda’s correctional institutions. The report was presented to parliament on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
Data shows that admissions rose from 3,886 in 2020/2021 to 7,461 in 2023/2024, reflecting gaps in preventive measures and oversight.
Uwamariya Veneranda, chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Social Affairs, acknowledged the surge but said recent interventions are showing promise. “While admissions have increased sharply, the new measures are starting to yield results,” she said.
The report also flagged high recidivism. Between 2020 and 2024, 5,025 individuals underwent multiple training cycles, ranging from two to twelve times, due to repeated offenses. Experts cite weak follow-up, poor reintegration support, and inadequate analysis of underlying causes.
Overall, 19,700 people displayed behaviors that endangered communities. Of these, 11,200 were successfully reintegrated into families after rehabilitation, including 924 women and 1,135 children.
To prevent repeat offenses, 11,478 received vocational and technical training in construction, masonry, tailoring, agriculture, hairdressing, cooking, and electrical work. Nearly 80% of trained participants secured employment, while 251 children were reintegrated into primary education.
The Parliamentary Committee has called on the Ministry of Youth and Arts Development to report within six months on programs supporting youth leaving correctional facilities, ensuring they remain on a productive path.
Correctional facilities provide psychosocial counseling, healthcare, general education, and vocational training (TVET), in coordination with multiple agencies, particularly the National Rehabilitation Service (NRS), established in 2017.
