Open Records Laws › Rwanda

Rwanda

Law No. 04/2013 Relating to Access to Information

Law No. 04/2013 Relating to Access to Information

RTI Rating: 86 (source)

Response Timeline

Initial Response
21 days
Extension
14 days
Residency Required
None

21 days from receipt of request (working days). Extension of up to 14 additional working days for complex requests or large document volumes. If request transferred to another organ, receiving organ has 7 days from original request date; transfer must occur within 2 days.

How to Submit a Request

Accepted Methods

  • {'notes': 'Written request to information officer', 'method': 'written'}
  • {'notes': 'Oral requests accepted (any means of communication)', 'method': 'oral'}
  • {'notes': 'Telephone requests accepted', 'method': 'telephone'}
  • {'notes': 'Internet/electronic submission accepted', 'method': 'electronic'}

Request may be made by any means of communication in any constitutionally acknowledged language (Kinyarwanda, French, English, Swahili). No specific form required. Information officer must assist requesters.

Required Elements

  • Personal identification
  • Description of information sought

Fees

No fee to submit request. Reproduction costs and postage charged at actual cost. Fees may be waived when public interest in disclosure outweighs cost concerns.

Fee Waivers

  • Fees waived when public interest in disclosure outweighs denial

Exemptions

  • National Security
    Information that would destabilize national security
  • Law Enforcement
    Information that would impede law enforcement or justice
  • Legal Proceedings
    Information that would obstruct actual or planned legal proceedings
  • Personal Privacy
    Individual privacy information
  • Trade Secrets
    Trade secrets and intellectual property

Strong public interest override: "A public organ or private body shall disclose information where public interest in disclosure outweighs the interest of not disclosing." Privacy exemption subject to public interest test. Law applies to public organs AND private bodies carrying out work in public interest.

Appeal Process

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3

Three-tier process: internal complaint, Office of the Ombudsman, judicial review. WEAKNESS: Ombudsman recommendations are non-binding; no clear enforcement mechanism. RTI Rating notes "absence of penalties for non-compliance" as major gap.

Sources & References