The government has increased funding for social protection in the proposed 2025/26 national budget from Rwf92.8 billion to over Rwf105 billion—an increment of more than Rwf12.2 billion, or 13 percent.

The adjustment was made to the original budget framework presented by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), following recommendations by Members of Parliament who flagged the initially proposed allocation as insufficient.

Godfrey Kabera, Minister of State for National Treasury, shared the update on Wednesday, June 18, as the parliamentary Committee on State Budget and Patrimony began reviewing the Rwf7 trillion 2025/26 budget bill.

"Funding for social protection was revised, increasing from Rwf92.8 billion to more than Rwf105 billion,” Kabera said.

MPs' push for increased support

When Parliament reviewed the budget framework paper in May, lawmakers expressed concern that a reduced social protection budget would hamper poverty reduction efforts and negatively impact welfare programmes targeting vulnerable populations.

Odette Uwamariya, Chairperson of the Budget and Patrimony Committee, welcomed the revision, saying it reflected lawmakers’ concerns.

"We had noted a cut in social protection funding. Now, we appreciate the increase of more than Rwf12 billion in the bill,” she said.

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Uwamariya emphasised that the revised budget aligns with the government’s target under the second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), which aims to lift at least 70 percent of beneficiaries of social protection programmes above the poverty line by 2028/29.

"To meet that goal, the government must continue to adequately support economically vulnerable citizens,” she said.

Agriculture budget also increased

In addition to social protection, funding for agriculture was also revised upwards—from Rwf222.3 billion in the framework paper to Rwf236.3 billion in the budget bill—an increase of Rwf14 billion or 6 percent.

Kabera said the adjustment responds to MPs’ warnings that the previously reduced budget could undermine sector growth and delay payment of arrears owed to suppliers of key farm inputs such as fertilisers and seeds.

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"We will continue working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources to ensure that pending arrears in 2024/25 are cleared,” he said.

Uwamariya also stressed the importance of increased investment in agriculture, noting its central role in delivering food security and supporting NST2 goals.

"Agriculture is expected to grow by at least 6 percent annually under NST2. To achieve this, we must ensure farmers have reliable access to seeds and fertilisers,” she said.

While the overall budget ceiling of Rwf7 trillion remains unchanged, Uwamariya said the committee is still analysing how the additional funding to social protection and agriculture will be sourced and what specific activities will be financed.