Anti-Corruption Help Desk

What is corruption as per the 2018 Rwanda’s law on fighting against corruption ?

Any act performed or caused to be performed in public organs, private institutions, civil society and international organizations operating or wishing to operate in Rwanda, which is aimed at soliciting, receiving or offering an illicit benefit in order to unlawfully obtain illicit enrichment or a given favor of sexual nature to unlawfully render a service or carry out an activity whether carried on by himself or herself or through another person.

Corruption is reflected in the following acts :
a) to solicit, accept or offer illegal benefit ;
b) to solicit, promise or offer sexual favors ;
c) to make a decision based on favoritism, friendship, hatred, acquaintances or nepotism ;
d) influence peddling ;
e) to illicit enrichment ;
f) embezzlement ;
g) to use public property for unintended purposes ;
h) to misuse property of public interest ;
i) illegal exemption ;
j) to demand or receive undue or excessive money ;
k) abuse of functions ;
l) appropriation of unlawful favors.

Corruption can take many forms, and can include behaviours like :

• public servants demanding or taking money or favours in exchange for services,
• politicians misusing public money or granting public jobs or contracts to their sponsors, friends and families,
• corporations bribing officials to get lucrative deals

Corruption can happen anywhere

in business, government, the courts, the media, and in civil society, as well as across all sectors from health and education to infrastructure and sports.

Corruption can involve anyone

politicians, government officials, public servants, business people or members of the public.