On September 27, 2024, training for Anti-Corruption committees in various institutions and organizations took place at the Office of the Ombudsman. This training was organized by the Office of the Ombudsman to evaluate how anti-corruption measures are being implemented.

Participants in the anti-corruption committee training held this Friday, organized by the Office of the Ombudsman, had the opportunity to ask questions primarily focused on identifying areas for loopholes of corruption and how to detect them.

They stated that they returned with sufficient knowledge and are ready to put it into practice while also providing reports to the Office of the Ombudsman. They expressed confidence that by 2050, Rwanda would be among the top five countries fighting corruption.

Dr. Augustin SENDEGEYA, who oversees medical activities at King Faisal Hospital and is also the head of the Anti-Corruption Committee at that hospital, was among those attending the training. He stated, “This training comes at the right time as we embark on our responsibilities; it is an honor and allows us to understand their importance. We are ready to put our knowledge into practice and to report our activities to the Office of the Ombudsman promptly. Additionally, we are pleased that the Office of the Ombudsman has allowed us to participate in further training to enhance our understanding of loophole areas of corruption and how to report them.”

The Deputy Ombudsman in charge of preventing and fighting corruption opened the training

The Deputy Ombudsman in charge of preventing and fighting corruption stated that the committees established to prevent and fight against corruption in various sectors are meant to function effectively and demonstrate their activities.

He said, “These committees must operate and highlight where they work, particularly where they see practices that could lead to corruption. We do not send them to confront the leaders of the institutions they work in, but rather we ask them to provide us with information, we will analyze it, and use it appropriately, and they must report every six months. This is why the Office of the Ombudsman organizes this training so that they have adequate knowledge of the measures to prevent and fight  corruption.”

Law No. 54/2018 of August 13, 2018, concerning the prevention of corruption, states in Article 3 that every government institution, independent body, public agency, and international organization must establish committees to prevent and fight corruption. These committees are required to set up measures for preventing and fighting corruption and provide how they are implemented.

Since 2021, the Office of the Ombudsman has been given the authority to implement the provisions of Law No. 54/2018 of August 13, 2018, as stated in Article 3.

From 2021-2022 to the current fiscal year 2023-2024, institutions have established 1,165 anti-corruption committees, and the Office of the Ombudsman has trained 1,708 members of these committees.

Participants in the training asked various questions regarding the policy for preventing and fighting corruption