Rwanda 2003 (rev. 2010)

The Rwandan State is an independent, sovereign, democratic, social and secular Republic;

The principle governing the Republic is "government of the people, by the people and for the people".

All the power derives from the people.

No group of Rwandan people or an individual can vest in themselves the exercise of power.

National sovereignty belongs to rwandans who shall exercise it directly by way of referendum or through their representatives.

The Territory of Rwanda is divided into administrative entities determined by an Organic Law which determines their number, their boundaries and their organisation

A Law shall determine the organisation and the functioning of those entities.

The Capital of the Republic of Rwanda is the City of Kigali.

A Law shall determine the organization and functioning of the City of Kigali.

The Capital can, by Law, be transferred elsewhere within Rwanda.

The national language is Kinyarwanda.

The official languages are Kinyarwanda, French and English.

The national symbols of Rwanda are the flag, the motto, the seal and the national anthem.

The national flag is made up of three colours: green, yellow and blue.

The flag comprises the following colours from the bottom to the top: a green strip, followed by a yellow strip both of which cover half the flag. The upper half is blue and bears on its right hand side the image of the sun with its rays of golden yellow. The sun and its rays are separated by a blue ring.

A Law shall determine the characteristics, significance, usage and ceremonials of the national flag.

The motto of the Republic is: UNITY, WORK, PATRIOTISM.

The Seal of the Republic is made up of a circular green rope with a green knot at the base, bearing on its upper part, the imprints "REPUBULIKA Y'U RWANDA". At the bottom of the knot is the motto of the Republic: "UBUMWE, UMURIMO, GUKUNDA IGIHUGU". All these inscriptions are in black against a yellow background.

The Seal of the Republic also bears the following ideograms: the sun with its rays, a stem of sorghum and a branch of a coffee tree, a basket, a blue wheel with teeth and two shields one on the right and one on the left.

The characteristics, significance, usage and protection of the Seal shall be determined by a Law.

The national anthem is "RWANDA NZIZA".

The characteristics and ceremonies of the National Anthem shall be determined by a Law.

Every person has a right to nationality.

Dual nationality is permitted.

No person may be deprived of Rwandan nationality of origin.

No person shall be arbitrarily deprived of his or her nationality or of the right to change nationality.

Rwandans or their descendants who were deprived of their nationality between 1st November 1959 and 31 December 1994 by reason of acquisition of foreign nationalities automatically reacquire Rwandan nationality if they return to settle in Rwanda.

All persons originating from Rwanda and their descendants shall, upon their request, be entitled to Rwandan nationality.

The conditions of acquisition, retention, enjoyment and deprivation of Rwandan nationality shall be determined by an Organic Law.

Suffrage is universal and equal for all citizens.

Suffrage is direct or indirect and secret, unless the Constitution or another Law provides otherwise.

All Rwandan citizens of both sexes who fulfil the requirements provided for by the law have the right to vote and to be elected.

A Law shall determine the conditions and modalities for the conduct of elections.

The State of Rwanda commits itself to conform to the following fundamental principles and to promote and enforce the respect thereof:

1. fighting the ideology of genocide and all its manifestations;
2. Integration of ethnic communities
   eradication of ethnic, regional and other divisions and promotion of national unity;
3. equitable sharing of power;
4. building a state governed by the rule of law, a pluralistic democratic government, equality of all Rwandans and between women and men reflected by ensuring that women are granted at least thirty per cent of posts in decision making organs;
5. building a State committed to promoting social welfare and establishing appropriate mechanisms for ensuring social justice;
6. the constant quest for solutions through dialogue and consensus.

The human person is sacred and inviolable.

The State and all public administration organs have the absolute obligation to respect protect and defend him or her.

All Rwandans are born and remain free and equal in rights and duties.

Discrimination of whatever kind based on, inter alia, ethnic origin, tribe, clan, colour, sex, region, social origin, religion or faith, opinion, economic status, culture, language, social status, physical or mental disability or any other form of discrimination is prohibited and punishable by Law.

Every person has the right to life. No person shall be arbitrarily deprived of life.

The crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes are not subject to prescriptive period.

Revisionism, negationism and trivialisation of genocide are punishable by the Law.

The State shall, within the limits of its capacity, take special measures for the welfare of the survivors who were rendered destitute by genocide against the Tutsi committed in Rwanda from October 1st , 1990 to December 31st , 1994, the disabled, the indigent and the elderly as well as other vulnerable groups.

Every person has the right to physical and mental integrity.

No one shall be subjected to torture, physical abuse or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

No one shall be subjected to experimentation without his/her informed consent. The modalities of such consent and experiments are determined by Law.

All human beings are equal before the law. They shall enjoy, without any discrimination, equal protection of the Law.

Criminal liability is personal. Civil liability is determined by a Law.

No one shall be imprisoned on the ground of inability to fulfil obligations arising from civil or commercial Laws.

The person's liberty is guaranteed by the State.

No one shall be subjected to prosecution, arrest, detention or punishment unless provided for by laws into force at the time the offence was committed.

The right to be informed of the nature and cause of charges and the right to defence are absolute at all levels and degrees of proceedings before administrative, judicial and all other decision making organs.

Every person accused of a crime shall be presumed innocent until his or her guilt has been conclusively proved in accordance with the law in a public and fair trial in which all the necessary guarantees for defence have been made available.

No one shall be denied the right to appear before a competent judge to hear his/her case.

No one shall be subjected to prosecution, arrest, detention or punishment on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a criminal offence under national or international law at the time it was committed.

No one shall be punished with a heavier penalty than the one that was prescribed under the Law at the time when the offence was committed.

Offences and related penalties shall be determined by an Organic Law.

No person shall be subjected to security measures except as provided for by Law, for reasons of public order and State security.

The private life, family, home or correspondence of a person shall not be subjected to arbitrary interference; his/her honour and good reputation shall be respected.

A person's home is inviolable. No search of or entry into a home may be carried out without the consent of the owner, except in circumstances and in accordance with procedures determined by Law.

Confidentiality of correspondence and communication shall not be subject to waiver except in circumstances and in accordance with procedures determined by Law.

Every Rwandan has the right to move and to circulate freely and to settle anywhere in Rwanda.

Every Rwandan has the right to leave and to return to the country.

These rights shall be restricted only by the law for reasons of public order or State security, in order to deal with a public menace or to protect persons in danger.

Every Rwandan has the right to his/her country.

No Rwandan shall be banished from the country.

The right to asylum is recognized under conditions determined by the Law.

The extradition of foreigners shall be permitted only so far as it is consistent with the Law or international conventions to which Rwanda is a party.

However, no Rwandan shall be extradited.

Civil monogamous marriage between a man and a woman is the only recognized.

However, the monogamous marriage between a man and a woman contracted outside Rwanda in accordance with the Law of the country of celebration of the marriage shall be recognized.

No person may be married without his/her free consent.

Parties to a marriage have equal rights and obligations upon and during the subsistence of their marriage and at the time of divorce.

A Law shall determine the conditions, forms and consequences of marriage.

The family, which is the natural foundation of Rwandan society, is protected by the State.

Both parents shall have the right and responsibility to bring up their children.

The State shall put in place appropriate legislation and institutions for the protection of the family, in particular mother and child in order to ensure that the family flourishes.

Every child is entitled to special measures of protection by his/her family, society and the State that are necessary, depending on the status of the child, under national and international law.

Every person has a right to private property, whether personal or owned in association with others.

Private property, whether individually or collectively owned, is inviolable.

The right to property may not be interfered with except in public interest, in circumstances and procedures determined by Law and subject to fair and prior compensation.

Private ownership of land and other rights related to land are granted by the State.

A Law specify the modalities of acquisition, transfer and use of land.

The property of the State comprises of public and private property of the central Government as well as the public and private property of decentralized local government organs.

The public property of the State is inalienable unless there has been prior transfer thereof to the private property of the State.

Every person shall respect public property.

Any act intended to cause sabotage, vandalism, corruption, embezzlement, squandering or any tampering with public property shall be punishable by Law.

Freedom of thought, opinion, conscience, religion, worship and public manifestation thereof is guaranteed by the State in accordance with conditions determined by Law.

Propagation of ethnic, regional, racial or discrimination or any other form of division shall be punishable by Law.

Freedom of press and freedom of information are recognized and guaranteed by the State.

Freedom of speech and freedom of information shall not prejudice public order and good morals, the right of every citizen to honour, good reputation and the privacy of personal and family life. It is also guaranteed so long as it does not prejudice the protection of the youth and minors.

The conditions for exercising such freedoms shall be determined by Law.

There is hereby established an independent institution known as the "Media High Council". A Law shall determine its responsibilities, organization and functioning.

Freedom of association is guaranteed and shall not require prior authorization.

Such freedom shall be exercised under conditions determined by Law.

Freedom of peaceful assembly without arms is guaranteed if it is not inconsistent with the law.

Prior authorization shall only be necessary if the Law so requires and solely in the case of assembly in the open air, in a public place or on a public road, to the extent that such is necessary in the interests of public safety, public order or public health.

Every person has the right to free choice of employment.

Persons with the same competence and ability shall have a right to equal pay for equal work without any discrimination.

The right to form trade unions for the defence and the promotion of legitimate professional interests is recognized.

Every worker may defend his/her rights through trade union action under conditions determined by Law.

Every employer has the right to join an employers' organization.

Trade unions and employers' associations have the right to enter into general or specific agreements regulating their working relations. The modalities for making these agreements shall be determined by a Law.

The right of workers' to strike is permitted and shall be exercised within the limits provided for by the Law, but the exercising of this right should not interfere with the freedom to work which is guaranteed for every individual.

Every person has the right to education.

Freedom of learning and teaching shall be guaranteed in accordance with conditions determined by law.

Primary education is compulsory. It is free in public schools.

The conditions for free primary education in schools subsidised by the Government shall be determined by an Organic Law.

The State shall have the duty to take special measures to facilitate the education of disabled people.

An Organic Law shall determine the organization of Education.

All citizens have the right and duties relating to health. The State shall have the duty of mobilizing the population for activities aimed at promoting good health and to assist in the implementation of these activities.

Every foreigner legally residing in the Republic of Rwanda shall enjoy all rights save those reserved for nationals as determined under this Constitution and other laws.

In the exercise of rights and enjoyment of freedoms, every person shall only be subjected to the limitations set by the Law in order to ensure the recognition and respect of others' rights and freedoms, good morals, public order and social welfare which characterize a democratic society.

The judiciary as the guardian of rights and freedoms of the public shall ensure respect thereof in accordance with procedures determined by Law.

All citizens have the right to participate in the government of the country, whether directly or through freely chosen representatives in accordance with the Law.

All citizens have the right of equal access to public service in accordance with their competence and abilities.

Every citizen has the duty to relate to other persons without discrimination and to maintain relations conducive to safeguarding, promoting and reinforcing mutual respect, solidarity and tolerance.

All citizens have the duty to participate, through work, in the development of the country; to safeguard peace, democracy, social justice and equality and to participate in the defence of the motherland.

A Law shall organize national service, whether civil or military.

In all circumstances, every citizen, whether civilian or military, has the duty to respect the Constitution, other Laws and regulations of the country.

He/she has the right to defy orders received from his/her superior authority if the orders constitute a serious and manifest violation of human rights and public freedoms.

Every person has a right to a clean and healthy environment.

Every person has the duty to protect, safeguard and promote the environment. The State shall ensure the protection of environment.

An Organic Law shall determine the modalities for protecting, safeguarding and promoting the environment.

Every citizen has the right to activities that promote national culture.

There is hereby established the Rwanda Academy of Language and Culture.

A Law shall determine its responsibilities, organization and functioning.

The State shall have the responsibilities to safeguard and to promote positive values based on cultural traditions and practices so long as they do not conflict with human rights, public order and good morals. The State shall equally have the responsibilities to preserve national cultural heritage as well as memorials and sites of genocide against the Tutsi.

The branches of government are the following :

1. the legislature;
2. the executive;
3. the judiciary.

The three branches are separate and independent from one another but are all complementary. Their responsibilities, organization and functioning are defined by this Constitution.

The State shall ensure that the exercise of Legislative, Executive and Judicial power is vested in people who possess the competence and integrity required to fulfil the respective responsibilities accorded to the three branches.

All authorities required by Constitution and other Laws to swear before taking office, shall take an oath in the following words:

"I, __________,

solemnly swear to the Nation that I shall:

1. remain loyal to the Republic of Rwanda;
2. uphold the Constitution and other Laws;
3. safeguard the basic individual human rights and the interests of the Rwandan people;
4. work for the consolidation of national unity;
5. diligently fulfil the responsibilities entrusted to me;
6. never use the powers conferred on me for personal ends.

Should I fail to honour this oath, may I face the rigours of the Law.

So help me God".

Executive power shall be vested in the President of the Republic and the Cabinet.

The President of the Republic and the Prime Minister shall be informed of the agenda of the sessions of each Chamber of Parliament and of its Committees.

The Prime Minister and other members of the Cabinet may attend the sessions of each Chamber of Parliament if they so wish. They take the floor whenever they request to do so.

They may, if need be, be accompanied by technical advisers of their choice.

Such technical advisers may only take part in deliberations in Standing Committees.

The Chamber of Deputies shall employ the following methods to obtain information and exercise oversight of activities of the government:

1. oral questions;
2. written questions;
3. hearings before Committees;
4. Commissions of inquiry;
5. interpellation.

An Organic Law shall determine the procedures by which Parliament obtains information and exercises oversight of government action.

In the context of obtaining information and exercising oversight of government action, members of the Senate may address oral or written questions to the Prime Minister to which he/she shall either respond in person if the questions relate to the government as a whole or to many Ministries collectively or through the Ministers responsible for the matters in question.

The Senate may, in addition, set up commissions for oversight of government action.

However, it shall not conduct interpellation or initiate a motion of no confidence.

The Chamber of Deputies may put the performance of Cabinet or of one or several members into question through a vote of no confidence.

A motion of no confidence shall only be accepted after interpellation and only on condition that the motion is signed by at least a fifth (1/5) of the members of the Chamber of Deputies in the case of a vote of no confidence against one member of the Cabinet, or by at least a third (1/3) of the members of the Chamber of Deputies if it concerns the entire Cabinet.

A motion of no confidence shall not be voted upon prior to the expiry of at least forty-eight (48) hours after its introduction and shall be adopted through a secret ballot by a majority of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Chamber of Deputies.

The conclusion of ordinary or extraordinary sessions shall be postponed to ensure the application of the provisions of this Article.

A member of the Cabinet against whom a vote of no confidence is passed shall tender his/her resignation to the President of the Republic through the Prime Minister.

When the vote of no confidence is passed against the Government, the Prime Minister shall tender the resignation of the Government to the President of the Republic.

Where a motion of no confidence is rejected, signatories to the motion shall not introduce another motion for a vote of no confidence during the same session.

The Prime Minister may, upon the proposal by the Cabinet, request the Chamber of Deputies to pass a motion on a vote of confidence either in respect of the Government programme or adoption of a bill.

The debate on the request for a vote of confidence may not take place prior to the expiry of at least three (3) full days from the time the request was submitted.

A vote on the motion of confidence may only be rejected through a secret ballot by a majority of two-thirds (2/3) of the members to the Chamber of Deputies.

In the event that the Prime Minister loses a vote of confidence, he/she shall submit the resignation of the Government to the President of the Republic, within twenty four (24) hours.

Without prejudice to the provisions Article 76 of this Constitution, the President of the Republic after consultation with the Prime Minister, both Presidents of the Chambers of Parliament and the President of the Supreme Court, may dissolve the Chamber of Deputies if there are national interests at stake.

Elections of the Deputies shall take place within a period not exceeding ninety (90) days after dissolution.

The President of the Republic shall not dissolve the Chamber of Deputies more than once during his/her term of office.

The Senate shall not be dissolved.

The Prime Minister shall, once in a session of the Parliament, inform both Chambers of Parliament in a joint session, of government activities.

The Prime Minister shall communicate decisions of the Cabinet to the Bureau of each Chamber of the Parliament within a period not exceeding eight (8) days after their approval.

During the session period, one sitting each week shall be devoted to questions by members of the Parliament addressed to the government and responses thereto.

The government shall provide the Chambers of the Parliament with all necessary explanations required concerning its management and activities.

The President of the Republic may address the Chambers of Parliament together or separately, either in person or by a message read on his/her behalf by the Prime Minister. There shall be no debate on such communication.

Should Parliament not be in session, it or one of its Chambers shall be convened specially for the purpose.

The President of the Republic shall have the right to declare war and inform the Parliament within seven (7) days. Parliament shall adopt a vote on the matter by a simple majority of the members of each Chamber.

A state of emergency and a state of siege shall be governed by the Law and declared by the President of the Republic, following a decision of the Cabinet.

A declaration of a state of siege or state of emergency must give clear reasons which justify it, specify the part of national territory to which it applies and its consequences, indicate the rights, freedoms and guarantees provided by Law which are suspended and the duration of the state of siege or state of emergency which may not exceed a period of fifteen (15) days.

The state of siege or the state of emergency cannot be extended beyond a period of fifteen (15) days without the approval of Parliament, which approval requires a majority of two-thirds (2/3) of the members of each Chamber.

During war time, when a state of siege or a state of emergency has been declared, the duration of the state of siege may by Law be extended beyond the period provided for in the previous paragraph.

The duration of a state of siege must not exceed the period strictly necessary to ensure the return of normal conditions characterised by democracy.

A declaration of a state of siege or state of emergency shall not under any circumstances violate the right to life and physical integrity of the person, the rights accorded to people by Law in relation to their status, capacity and nationality; the principle of non-retroactivity of criminal law, the right to legal defence and freedom of conscience and religion.

A declaration of a state of siege or state of emergency shall not under any circumstance affect the powers of the President of the Republic, Prime Minister, Parliament or Supreme Court nor can it modify the principles relating to the responsibility of the State and public officials provided for in this Constitution.

No elections of any kind may be held during or within a period of less than thirty days after the state of siege or state of emergency.

A state of siege cannot be declared on the entire or a part of the national territory unless the country has suffered or is about to suffer aggression by foreign states, faces grave dangers or in the case of destabilisation of the institutions established by this Constitution.

A state of emergency shall be declared on the entirety or part of the national territory when the country faces a public disaster or constitutional crisis whose gravity does not warrant the declaration of a state of siege.

During the period of a state of siege or state of emergency, the Chamber of Deputies cannot be dissolved and the Chambers of Parliament shall be recalled immediately if they are in recess.

If at the time of a declaration of a state of siege or state of emergency the Chamber of Deputies has previously been dissolved or its term has expired, the powers of Parliament relating to a state of siege or state of emergency shall be exercised by the Senate.

There is hereby established a National Public Prosecution Authority charged with the responsibility of prosecuting offences country wide.

The organisation, functioning and competence of the National Public Prosecution Authority shall be determined by an Organic Law.

A Law shall determine the statutes and the code of ethics of the prosecutors.

The National Prosecution Authority is a single institution. It shall comprise of the Office of the Prosecutor General, public prosecution at the Intermediate level and public prosecution at the Primary level.

The Office of the Prosecutor General shall be comprised of the Prosecutor General, the Deputy Prosecutor General and National Prosecutors.

The Prosecutor General and the Deputy Prosecutor General shall be appointed by Presidential Order upon approval by the Senate. The President of the Republic shall submit one candidate for each position after consultation with the Cabinet and the High Council of the National Public Prosecution Authority.

Other prosecutors shall be appointed by a Prime Minister's Order upon approval by the High Council of the National Public Prosecution Authority.

The Prosecutor General and the Deputy Prosecutor General shall be appointed for a five (5) year term renewable only once.

The Law on the statutes of Prosecutors shall determine the term of office of the Chief Intermediate Prosecutors.

The National Public Prosecution Authority shall be under the authority of the Minister in charge of Justice.

In matters relating to prosecution of offences, the Minister in charge of Justice shall determine general policy and may, for public interest, issue written instructions to the Prosecutor General to undertake or refrain from investigating and prosecuting an offence.

He/she may also, in cases of urgency and in public interest, issue written instructions to any Prosecutor to investigate and prosecute or refrain from investigating and prosecuting an offence and inform the Prosecutor General of such instructions.

Prosecutors shall be independent from parties to judicial proceedings and judges.

There is hereby established the Military Prosecution Department responsible for the prosecution of offences committed by persons subject to the jurisdiction of military courts. It shall investigate and prosecute offences before military courts.

The Military Prosecution Department is headed by the Military Prosecutor General assisted by the Deputy Military Prosecutor General.

An Organic Law shall determine the organization, jurisdiction and functioning of the military prosecution department.

There is hereby established a High Council of the National Public Prosecution Authority.

Its mission shall be to provide general policy guidelines and to ensure the smooth functioning of the Public Prosecution in the whole country.

An organic law shall determine the organisation, powers and functioning of the High Council of the National Public Prosecution Authority.

The Prosecutor General and the Deputy Prosecutor General shall take oath of office before the President of the Republic in the presence of the Members of Parliament.

Other Prosecutors shall take oath of office before the authorities specified by the Law governing them.

Public administration shall be decentralized in accordance with the provisions of the Law. Decentralized entities shall fall under the Ministry in charge of local government.

A Law shall determine decentralized local administrative entities with legal personality and administrative and financial autonomy. Such entities shall be basic foundation of community development.

Local administrative entities with legal personality shall be entitled to become members of national and international organisations which promote development through decentralisation.

A Law shall determine the organisation, the functioning and the collaboration between these organs and various other organs which have a role in the administration and development of the country. A Law shall also determine the manner in which the Government transfers powers, property and other resources to decentralized entities.

There is hereby established a "National Dialogue Council". It shall bring together the President of the Republic and representatives of councils of local administrative entities with legal personality elected by their peers. It shall be chaired by the President of the Republic and be attended by members of the Cabinet and Parliament, and such others as may be determined by the President of the Republic. The number of representatives of councils of local administrative entities with legal personality in the National Dialogue Council is determined by the President of the Republic.

The Council shall meet at least once (1) a year. It shall debate, among others, on issues relating to the state of the Nation, the state of local governments and national unity.

Resolutions of the Council shall be submitted to the concerned State institutions to enable them to improve their services to the population.

The Rwanda National Police shall exercise its authority over the entire national territory.

It shall serve the people particularly on the basis of the following principles:

1. safeguarding the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution and other laws;
2. protection of the security of people and property;
3. harmonious collaboration with the community;
4. informing the population on how it fulfils its mission;
5. accountability of the Rwanda National Police to the community.

A Law shall determine the powers, mission, organisation and functioning of the Rwanda National Police.

(Repealed by the Amendment n° 04 of 17/06/2010)

There is hereby established a National Intelligence and Security Service.

A Law shall determine the powers, mission, organisation and functioning of the National Intelligence and Security Service.

National defence is the responsibility of a professional military force known as the "Rwanda Defence Forces".

A Law shall determine the mission, organisation and powers of the Rwanda Defence Forces.

The Chief of Defence Staff shall be responsible for operations and general administration of the Rwanda Defence Forces.

The Government of Rwanda can downsize the Rwanda Defence Forces where it is deemed necessary. The Government can also discharge, demobilize or dismiss members of the Rwanda Defence Forces. A Law shall determine procedures for such actions.

The following National Commissions, Specialized Organs and National Councils with responsibility of contributing in resolving major issues facing the country are hereby established:

1. National Commissions:
   1. Human rights commission
      National Commission for Human Rights;
   2. Truth and reconciliation commission
      National Unity and Reconciliation Commission;
   3. National Commission to Fight against Genocide;
   4. National Electoral Commission;
   5. Public Service Commission.
2. Special Organs:
   1. Ombudsman
      Office of the Ombudsman;
   2. Office of the Auditor General of State Finances;
   3. Gender Monitoring Office;
   4. Chancellery for Heroes and National Orders and Decorations of Honour;
3. National Councils :
   1. National Women Council;
   2. National Youth Council;
   3. National Council of Persons with Disabilities.

When deemed necessary, a Law may establish other Commissions, Specialized Organs and other National Councils. That Law shall determine their responsibilities, organisation and functioning.

An Organic Law shall establish general provisions governing Public Institutions.

The National Commission for Human Rights is an independent national Commission especially in charge of the promotion of human rights.

The National Commission for Human Rights shall submit each year its program and activity report to both Chambers of Parliament in joint session and provide copies thereof to other State Organs as may be determined by the Law.

A Law shall determine responsibilities, organization and functioning of this Commission.

The National Unity and Reconciliation Commission is an independent national commission responsible in particular for the promotion of unity and reconciliation of Rwandans.

The National Unity and Reconciliation Commission shall submit each year its program and activity report to the President of the Republic and the Senate and provide copies thereof to other State organs as may be determined by the Law.

A Law shall determine the responsibilities, organization and functioning of this Commission.

The National Commission to Fight against Genocide is an independent national commission especially in charge of matters related to commemoration and prevention of genocide and advocacy for the cause of survivors of the genocide against the Tutsi both within and outside the country.

The National Commission to Fight against Genocide shall submit each year its program and activity report to both Chambers of Parliament in joint session and to the Cabinet and provide a copy thereof to other State organs as may be determined by the Law.

A Law shall determine the responsibilities, organization and functioning of this Commission.

The National Electoral Commission is an independent commission responsible for local, legislative, presidential elections, referendum and other elections determined by the Law.

The National Electoral Commission shall submit each year its program and activity report to the President of the Republic and provide a copy thereof to other State organs as may be determined by the Law.

A Law shall determine the responsibilities, organization and functioning of this Commission.

The Public Service Commission is an independent commission responsible for ensuring that policies, principles and laws governing Public Service recruitments and administration are adhered to and put into effect by all Government institutions. The Public Service Commission shall submit its activity report to the Parliament and the Cabinet.

A Law shall determine the responsibilities, organization and functioning of this Commission.

The Office of the Ombudsman is an independent public institution. It shall inter alia be responsible for preventing and fighting against injustice, corruption and other related crimes and receiving true declaration of assets of the persons determined by the law.

The Office of Ombudsman shall submit each year its program and activity report to the President of the Republic and both Chambers of Parliament in joint session and provide a copy thereof to other State organs as may be determined by the Law.

A Law shall determine the responsibilities, powers, organization and functioning of this Office.

The Office of the Auditor General is an independent public institution responsible for the auditing of state finances and property.

A Law shall determine the responsibilities, organisation and functioning of this Office.

Subject to the provisions of Article 79 of the Constitution, the Office of the Auditor General of State Finances shall submit each year to both Chambers of Parliament in joint session prior to the commencement of the session devoted to the examination of the budget of the following year, a complete report on the balance sheet of the State budget of the previous year. This report must indicate the manner in which the budget was utilized, unnecessary expenses which were incurred or expenses which were contrary to the law and whether there was misappropriation or general squandering of public funds.

A copy of the report shall be submitted to the President of the Republic, the Cabinet, the President of Supreme Court and the Prosecutor General.

The Parliament, after receiving the report of the Auditor General referred to in this Article shall examine it and take appropriate decisions within six (6) months.

Institutions and public officials to which a copy of the annual report of the Auditor General is addressed are obliged to implement its recommendations by taking appropriate measures as regards irregularities and other shortcomings which were disclosed.

The Parliament may request this Office to carry out a financial audit of State institutions or with regard to the use of funds provided by the State.

Gender Monitoring Office is an independent public institution.

Gender Monitoring Office shall submit each year its program and activity report to the Cabinet and provide a copy thereof to other State organs as may be determined by the Law.

A Law shall determine the responsibilities, organisation and functioning of this Office.

The Chancellery for Heroes, National Orders and Decorations of Honour is an independent public institution.

It is responsible for identifying, granting awards, honouring Rwandans and foreigners who were characterized by heroism and other acts of bravery serving as good examples.

The Chancellery for Heroes, National Orders and Decorations of Honour shall submit each year its program and activity report to the President of the Republic and provide a copy thereof to other State organs as may be determined by the Law.

A Law shall determine the responsibilities, organisation and functioning of the Chancellery.

(Repealed by the Amendment n° 04 of 17/06/2010)

The National Women Council is an independent institution in its management.

A Law shall determine the responsibilities, organization and functioning of the Council and its relationship with other State organs.

The National Youth Council is an independent institution in its management.

A Law shall determine the responsibilities, organisation, and functioning of the Council and its relationship with other State organs.

The National Council of Persons with Disabilities is an independent institution in its management.

A Law shall determine the responsibilities, organisation and functioning of the Council and its relationship with other State organs.

Repealed by the Amendment of 13/08/2008

Repealed by the Amendment of 13/08/2008

Repealed by the Amendment of 13/08/2008

Repealed by the Amendment of 13/08/2008

Repealed by the Amendment of 13/08/2008

Repealed by the Amendment of 13/08/2008

The Constitution is the supreme Law of the State.

Any law, any act which is contrary to this Constitution shall be null and void.

Laws, Orders and other regulations of public interest can only enter into force after they have been duly published in accordance with procedures determined by the law.

Ignorance of the law which has been duly published shall not be a defence.

Unwritten customary law shall remain applicable as long as it has not been replaced by written laws, is not inconsistent with the Constitution, laws, orders and regulations, and does not violate human rights, prejudice public security or good morals.

This Constitution repeals and replaces the Fundamental Law of the Republic of Rwanda governing the transitional period as amended to date.

All laws in force shall remain applicable as long as their provisions are consistent with this Constitution.

Organic laws not provided for in the Constitution as such shall be converted into ordinary laws within a period not exceeding three (3) years.

This Constitution, adopted by referendum of 26/05/2003 shall come into force on the date of its promulgation by the President of the Republic and be duly published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda.