Rwanda's Office of the Ombudsman has referred 11 senior political figures to the Rwanda Investigation Bureau for investigation after they failed to declare the sources of their wealth as required by law. Chief Ombudsman Madeleine Umubyeyi disclosed the cases on Thursday while presenting the office's 2025-2026 activity report and plans to Parliament. The law requires senior public officials, members of Parliament, heads of institutions and political party leaders to declare their assets and explain their sources of wealth.
Umubyeyi told lawmakers that the office had identified cases in which companies or bank accounts were registered in other people's names, while the individuals under scrutiny were the actual owners or controlled the funds. She noted that some of the assets that had not been declared included plots of land. Beyond the 11 people in political parties, the office identified 15 people in other institutions who had also failed to declare their sources of wealth and were subjected to various legal penalties.
The Ombudsman's Office plans to audit 6,900 people this financial year out of about 22,000 scheduled for scrutiny. The exercise will prioritise individuals considered to face a higher risk of corruption or misappropriation of public assets. Umubyeyi explained that people whose assets are under scrutiny may be required to demonstrate how they acquired them, describing this as a reversal of the burden of proof.
During her parliamentary presentation, Umubyeyi also said the office had returned more than Rwf100 million to the national treasury from funds allocated to staff salaries during the 2025-2026 financial year. This disclosure followed a question from Senator Charles Muligande, who noted that the office had inspected only five districts despite reporting budget constraints. Umubyeyi explained that the returned funds were mainly unspent salary allocations rather than money intended for the office's core activities, partly because some positions were occupied by acting officials who might not qualify for the full salary and benefits budgeted for those posts.
The Ombudsman's Office also saves money by cooperating with other public institutions. For example, when a ministry requests training and covers the associated costs, the office can avoid spending funds it had allocated for the same activity. The office's presentation highlighted its investigations into unexplained wealth and the budget constraints it faces as it prepares to expand scrutiny of public officials and others subject to asset-declaration requirements.