More than 1,600 civil society organisations in Rwanda have been recorded as failing to meet legal or regulatory requirements, according to a report submitted by the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) to Parliament. The data, published by KT Press, covers local and international non-governmental organisations, foundations, and faith-based groups. These entities failed to satisfy conditions regarding registration, legal personality, operational certificates, and adherence to government directives under the unified framework established by Law No. 058/2024.
The total figure of 1,612 includes 1,453 cases classified as not meeting specific requirements and 159 local NGOs that did not apply for the mandatory compliance certificate. Local NGOs represent the largest share of non-compliance, with 905 cases in total. This includes 536 groups that failed to meet compliance certificate requirements, 210 that failed to secure legal personality, and 159 that did not harmonise their operations with the law. In contrast, 501 approvals were recorded across various processes, though the report notes these may not represent distinct organisations if entities applied for multiple approvals.
Faith-based organisations accounted for 601 cases of non-compliance. Five failed to meet legal personality requirements, while 596 did not comply with additional guidelines issued by the RGB on March 7, 2025. These guidelines require worship premises to provide 1,000 supporting members for district collaboration letters, alongside financial audits and safeguards against money laundering. The report states that legal requirements differ across civil society organisations, with international NGOs needing authorisation in their countries of origin and foundations required to demonstrate initial assets and governance structures.
Among international NGOs, 54 cases were recorded, including 27 failures for new operational certificates and 25 for renewal. Foundations recorded 52 cases where legal personality requirements were not met. The report also notes that 260 local NGO compliance applications remain under review and are not counted among those that failed. The RGB clarified that failure to meet a requirement does not automatically mean an organisation has been closed, as suspension or permanent closure are distinct regulatory outcomes. The data provides a picture of the scale of compliance work but does not establish how many organisations have permanently ceased operations.