After decades of public service, many retirees now find themselves struggling to make ends meet, trapped by outdated pension laws that no longer reflect today’s realities. Their growing calls for reform are a reminder that the promise of dignity in old age remains unfulfilled. One of the most pressing injustices concerns former public servants who retired before the creation of the Rwanda Medical Insurance (RAMA) scheme in 2001. Despite having served the country, they remain excluded from this essential health coverage. ALSO READ: Pension, maternity leave, medical insurance laws set for review Extending RAMA to them, through reasonable contributions, would correct a long-standing inequity and reaffirm the principle that no one who served the nation should be left behind. Equally troubling is the rule that grants surviving spouses only half of a deceased pensioner’s benefits. Losing a breadwinner is already devastating; cutting their pension by half leaves families struggling to survive. Updating this policy to grant full benefits to surviving partners would provide crucial protection and reflect modern standards of social justice. ALSO READ: Increasing pension benefits will offset effects of inflation - retirees Pensioners also face the abrupt end of family medical coverage three months after death, leaving dependents vulnerable in times of grief and need. Extending this coverage for a longer period would show compassion and align the system with Rwanda’s broader social protection goals. Another overdue reform is the regular adjustment of pensions to reflect inflation and rising living costs. Without indexation, retirees lose purchasing power year after year, eroding the value of their lifetime contributions. Finally, retirees deserve a voice in decisions that affect them. Their representation on the Board of the Rwanda Social Security Board would strengthen transparency and ensure that reforms are informed by lived experience. ALSO READ: Pensioners fault laws for denying them access to their benefits Reforming the pension system is not a favour to the elderly; it is a duty of justice and good governance. Those who built Rwanda’s present deserve a retirement defined not by struggle, but by dignity and respect.
