Political parties in the country have been urged to adopt more innovative ways of operation to keep pace with the country’s fast-evolving development vision. ALSO READ: Political parties urged to strengthen grassroots presence The call was made on Tuesday, September 30 during a meeting that brought together 11 political parties and officials from Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) and the Office of the Ombudsman. The meeting’s discussions focused on the role of political organisations in strengthening good governance, transparency, accountability, and inter-party cooperation. The dialogue was guided by the findings of the 2024 Rwanda Governance Scorecard (RGS), which measures progress across key pillars of governance. Published annually, the RGS is a national index that provides data on governance and informs policy and decision-making. It contributes to contextualised knowledge about the country’s social, economic, and political governance. ALSO READ: How will political parties share seats in Rwanda’s lower house of Parliament? In its latest findings of the 11th edition, the scorecard highlighted performance in the anti-corruption, transparency, and accountability pillar. The pillar, measured by four indicators and 21 variables, registered an overall score of 86.65 per cent. Accountability scored 86.36 per cent, incidence of corruption stood at 86.56 per cent, anti-corruption at 77.60 per cent, and transparency at 96.07 per cent. Although the results remain high, the overall performance dropped from 88.97 per cent in the 10th edition, representing a 2.32 per cent decline. Speaking at the meeting, RGB Chief Executive Officer, Doris Uwicyeza Picard, called on political parties to rethink their role. “When people talk about politics, it is often understood as competing for power, fighting for positions, or opposing those in government,” she said. “But in Rwanda, shaped by our history, political parties carry a deeper meaning. They are platforms for dialogue and idea-sharing, where citizens’ concerns are addressed.” She added that good governance requires collaboration and dialogue at all leadership levels. ALSO READ: Political parties denounce EU Parliament resolution on Ingabire case Upholding anti-corruption and accountability The Office of the Ombudsman also reminded parties to comply with laws regulating political organisations, particularly on transparency and accountability. Jeanne d’Arc Mwiseneza, the Director of the Declaration of Assets Unit at the Ombudsman’s Office, noted that as of September 30, the final deadline for asset declaration, nine political parties had declared their assets, while two had not. “All political parties have now established committees in charge of asset declaration. However, as of today, two out of the 11 parties have yet to declare their assets, despite the deadline.” Mwiseneza said. She also commended progress in financial audits, with most parties now hiring professional accountants to strengthen accountability. ALSO READ: Political parties denounce sanctions on Rwanda over DR Congo crisis Following the discussions, political leaders pledged to re-examine how their parties operate on a daily basis. Balinda Rutebuka of the Liberal Party (PL) said the exchange was needed, urging fellow politicians to be intentional about making meaningful changes. He also called for improvements in the design of RGS. Instead of relying primarily on quantitative data, Rutebuka suggested incorporating more qualitative insights from citizens across the country. “Beyond the numbers, the research should capture detailed feedback from participants. What do they really expect us to do differently? That way, we can build on their voices rather than just analysing statistics and trying to guess what they mean,” he said.
