A total of 159 local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have lost their legal status in Rwanda after failing to meet requirements under the law governing the sector, including aligning their operations with the new legal framework.
The development was announced by the Director General of the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), Dr Doris Uwicyeza Picard, while presenting the institution’s 2025/2026 performance report and 2026/2027 action plan to a joint sitting of Parliament on November 11, 2026.
She explained that 1,134 organisations were required to update their operations to comply with Law No. 058/2024 of June 20, 2024, governing non-governmental organisations. The law replaced two previous pieces of legislation that had been in force since 2012.
Of the 1,134 organisations, 975 applied for a Compliance Certificate confirming that they had met the legal requirements.
Among those that applied, 179 have received the certificate, 536 have yet to meet the requirements, while applications from another 260 organisations are still under review.
Dr Uwicyeza said the remaining 159 organisations failed to fulfil their obligation to align their operations with the law and consequently lost their legal status.
“Those 159 organisations that failed to meet the requirements have permanently lost their legal status,” she said.
Law No. 058/2024 sets out the requirements that NGOs must fulfil to operate legally in Rwanda.
The legislation aims to improve the sector’s operations and establish mechanisms for ensuring that organisations fulfil their responsibilities transparently and in accordance with the law.
It also sets requirements for obtaining legal personality, governance, financial management, reporting and professional conduct. The law recognises umbrella organisations that bring together NGOs and abolishes the provisional certificates previously issued during the application process for legal status.
According to RGB, the law also establishes a clearer framework for cooperation between the government and NGOs in national development activities, with the aim of strengthening professionalism, accountability and oversight of their operations.
Rwanda has 2,483 NGOs, comprising 2,173 local organisations and 310 international organisations, according to the 2020 Establishment Census conducted by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR).
