Court Cases in Rwanda Increase by Over 34,000 in the Past Five Years

As justice institutions continue to implement reforms aimed at improving service delivery, new statistics from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) show a significant increase in the number of court cases handled in Rwanda over the past five years.

According to the data, Rwandan courts handled 74,513 cases in the 2020/21 fiscal year. This figure rose to 109,192 cases in the 2024/25 fiscal year, representing an increase of more than 34,000 cases in just five years. This sharp rise has raised questions about its underlying causes, its impact on the justice system, and the long-term solutions needed to address the issue.

Legal experts and social analysts link the increase in court cases to changes in social lifestyles, growing awareness of individual rights, and rising conflicts within families and society at large.

Residents interviewed by Top Africa News said that family-related disputes are among the main contributors to the growing number of civil cases in courts. Issues related to marital property, divorce, child custody, and inheritance disputes were cited as increasingly common.

Umurerwa Aimerance, a resident of Huye District, noted that modern life has made it harder for people to tolerate one another and resolve conflicts peacefully. “People today are constantly busy trying to make a living, which leaves little time to address personal issues. When conflicts arise, many choose to go straight to court instead of seeking reconciliation,” she said.

Ndayishimiye Paul, a resident of Tumba Sector, believes that changes in cultural values have also played a major role. “In the past, families played a key role in resolving marital conflicts. Today, many people no longer attend family council meetings, leaving courts as the only place to seek solutions,” he explained.

Uwamahoro Chantal, a parent from Gisagara District, pointed out that limited knowledge of laws and legal rights is another contributing factor. “Some people file cases without fully understanding what the law provides. If there were more training and public awareness campaigns on mediation and reconciliation, many court cases could be avoided,” she said.

Lawyer Me Ibambe Jean Paul explained that the increase in court cases is driven by multiple factors, including social conditions, changing mindsets, and limited awareness of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. “Many citizens believe that justice can only be obtained through the courts, yet mediation and amicable settlements can provide faster and less costly solutions,” he said.

He added that promoting a culture of dialogue and reconciliation would significantly reduce the number of cases reaching the courts, allowing the remaining ones to be handled more efficiently and transparently.

On the judicial side, the Chief Justice, Mukantaganzwa Domitile, acknowledged that internal challenges within the judiciary have also contributed to the rising number of cases. These include case backlogs from previous years and a shortage of judicial personnel in some areas. “We have faced challenges related to case backlogs and an insufficient number of judges compared to the volume of cases. However, we have taken measures such as fast-tracking case processing, adopting digital technologies, and increasing staff numbers,” she said.

NISR statistics show that in the 2024/25 fiscal year, courts handled 109,192 cases, including 26,187 civil cases, 75,903 criminal cases, and 1,496 cases related to economic crimes. During the same period, courts also handled 375 administrative cases, 3,880 commercial cases, and seven special cases.

The Ministry of Justice has announced that it is strengthening the use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to reduce court backlogs and improve access to justice.

The ministry aims to reduce the proportion of cases handled by courts by promoting out-of-court settlements, with a target of reducing court-handled cases from the current level to 25% by 2029.

Analysts believe that coordinated efforts among courts, local authorities, and civil society organizations combined with continued public education on reconciliation could significantly reduce the number of cases reaching courts in the coming years.