Hansards — the official verbatim records of parliamentary proceedings — are available for both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies on the Parliament’s official website under the Resources section. They provide a complete and authoritative account of what was said during Plenary Sittings. Research publications by the Senate, bills, annual reports tabled by national institutions, and other statutory documents are also accessible through the website.

In addition to the legislative and oversight functions exercised jointly with the Chamber of Deputies, the Senate is vested with the following exclusive constitutional mandates, as provided under the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda:

• Monitoring the application of the fundamental principles enshrined in Article 10 of the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda, including: the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide; the fight against genocide denial, revisionism, and ideology; the eradication of discrimination and divisionism based on ethnicity, region, or any other ground; the promotion of national unity; equitable power-sharing; the building of a State governed by the rule of law; and the constant quest for solutions through dialogue and consensus;

• Supervising the functioning of political organisations;

• Approving the appointment, as provided under Article 86 of the Constitution, of the President, Vice President, and Judges of the Supreme Court; the President and Vice President of the High Court and of the Commercial High Court; the Prosecutor General and Deputy Prosecutor General; Chairpersons and Members of National Commissions; the Ombudsman and Deputies; the Auditor General of State Finances and the Deputy Auditor General; Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives to International Organisations; Provincial Governors; and heads of public institutions and parastatal organisations possessing legal personality; and

• Furnishing a formal advisory opinion to the Chamber of Deputies on the State finance bill, prior to its final adoption by that Chamber.

Yes. The Parliamentary Library is a public resource open to students, researchers, academics, journalists, and all other members of the public. The Library holds a broad range of materials on legislation, public policy, parliamentary proceedings, and national history, and provides reference services to support research and civic education. The Library is open Monday to Friday, from 09h00 to 17h00. Librarians are on hand to assist visitors in locating materials and navigating the Library’s collections.

Parliament is currently in its fifth legislative term (2024–2029). The Chamber of Deputies is led by the Rt. Hon. Kazarwa Gertrude, who assumed office as Speaker on 14 August 2024. The Senate is presided over by the Rt. Hon. Dr. Kalinda François-Xavier, who has served as President of the Senate since 26 September 2024.

Each Member of Parliament is constitutionally and institutionally obliged to maintain regular contact with the communities within their constituency or area of representation. This representative function is discharged through the following mechanisms:

• Field visits: Each Member of Parliament is entitled to two days per month dedicated to community visits. During such visits, the Member consults with residents, assesses the status of public service delivery and Government programme implementation, and identifies challenges faced by the population. Concerns identified at the local level are channelled into Parliament’s national processes with a view to seeking collective and strategic solutions;

• Umuganda: At the end of each month, Members of Parliament participate in Umuganda — Rwanda’s nationally recognised home-grown community work initiative — joining local communities in communal labour. Upon the conclusion of the community work, Members engage residents in open public dialogue on government programmes, national development priorities, and matters of public concern; and

• Open days: Each Chamber may organise open days for the purpose of promoting public understanding of the role and work of Parliament, fostering civic education, and strengthening the relationship of trust between Parliament and the citizens it represents. Open days may include guided tours, exhibitions, interactions with Members of Parliament, and observation of Committee or Plenary proceedings.

Parliament of Rwanda hosts several cross-party forums and networks that advance specific legislative and policy priorities:

• The Rwanda Women Parliamentary Forum (FFRP): a cross-party caucus of women and men MPs committed to advancing gender equality and gender-responsive laws;

• The Anti-Genocide Parliamentary Forum (AGPF – Rwanda): dedicated to preventing and punishing genocide in all its manifestations;

• The African Parliamentarians’ Network against Corruption – Rwanda (APNAC-Rwanda): part of a network operating across more than 21 African countries;

• The Network of Rwandan Parliamentarians on Population and Development (RPRPD); and

• The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Rwanda Branch (CPA Rwanda): a branch of CPA International, promoting parliamentary democracy and cooperation across the Commonwealth.

The Parliament of Rwanda is the national legislative institution made up of two chambers: the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. It represents the people of Rwanda, passes laws, and oversees the actions of the Executive.

Each Chamber of Parliament holds three ordinary sessions per calendar year, each of two months’ duration, commencing on the following dates:

• The first session commences on 5 October;

• The second session commences on 5 February; and

• The third session commences on 5 June.

The Plenary Assembly of the Chamber of Deputies ordinarily sits between 15h00 and 18h00 on weekdays. Standing Committees ordinarily convene between 09h00 and 12h00. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies may, respectively, convene the Plenary Assembly in extraordinary session between ordinary sessions, on the grounds set out in the applicable organic law. Standing Committees continue to carry out their activities, including oversight field visits, during inter-session periods.

Parliament has three main functions: representing the population, making laws, and overseeing government action. Through these responsibilities, it helps promote accountability, democracy, and good governance in Rwanda.

In the exercise of its constitutional oversight mandate, Parliament holds the Executive to account through the following formal mechanisms, as provided under the organic laws governing the functioning of each Chamber:

• Oral questions: Deputies or Senators formally require Members of Cabinet to furnish oral explanations before a Plenary Sitting;

• Written questions: Deputies or Senators submit formal written questions requiring a written response from the relevant Member of Cabinet;

• Committee hearings: Members of Cabinet are invited to appear before a Standing Committee to provide detailed explanations on a designated matter;

• Commissions of inquiry: Temporary commissions established to investigate specific matters relating to the activities and functioning of the Government; and

• Interpellation (Chamber of Deputies only): Where the Plenary Assembly determines that malpractices identified in the report of a Commission of Inquiry are substantiated, the Prime Minister or the Member of Cabinet concerned may be required to appear before the Plenary Assembly to furnish explanations. Debate on the interpellation is concluded by a vote either to discharge the matter or to admit a motion of no confidence, which, if carried, compels the resignation of the Member of Cabinet or, where it concerns the Cabinet collectively, of the Prime Minister.