Local government entities have nearly doubled their internally generated revenue, reaching over Frw98 billion in 2025, Minister of Local Government Dominique Habimana has announced.
Speaking on Monday, March 23, 2026, at a high-level meeting bringing together central and local government leaders at the Rwanda Military Academy in Gako, Bugesera District, Habimana said the milestone reflects steady progress under Rwanda’s decentralization policy.
“Revenue collected by local governments increased from Frw48.2 billion in 2016 to Frw98.5 billion in 2025—effectively doubling over the past decade,” he said.
The minister highlighted broader gains in governance and service delivery, noting that local governments now provide 232 services directly to citizens. Public participation in governance has also reached 88.4% in 2025, underscoring growing citizen involvement in decision-making processes.
He attributed part of the progress to the adoption of digital solutions, which have improved efficiency and access to services. Citizen satisfaction rose from 70.9% in 2017 to 76.5% in 2024, though he acknowledged that performance still falls short of expectations.
“Technology continues to support better service delivery, but more effort is needed to meet the standards we aspire to,” he added.
Across Rwanda, citizens are increasingly engaged in shaping development priorities through platforms such as community assemblies, performance contracts (Imihigo), and community work (Umuganda).
While commending the progress, Habimana pointed to persistent gaps, including delays in service delivery, slow response to citizen complaints, and the need for closer monitoring of development projects.
He called on local leaders to sustain the momentum while addressing remaining bottlenecks to ensure more efficient, citizen-centered service delivery.
