In 2025, Rwanda’s Ombudsman analyzed 555 cases, resolving 90% without finding evidence of injustice, according to the Office’s annual report.
Of these, 39 cases were referred to the Supreme Court for review, while 16 were settled through mediation. Family disputes were the most common, totaling 383 cases, followed by criminal (110), commercial (31), labor (17), and administrative (14) cases.
Many family cases involved land rights, inheritance, property division after marriage, and public auction processes. Ombudsman Madeleine Nirere noted that most appeals stem from citizens’ dissatisfaction with court procedures rather than legal errors.
She emphasized that mediation is a valuable tool to resolve disputes and show citizens that not every issue requires a court case.
