Coat of Arms of Rwanda
Home Petition A petition is a formal written instrument through which any person or group of persons exercises the right to bring a grievance, matter of public concern, or request for redress to the attention of Parliament, calling upon it to act within the scope of its constitutional authority. It is one of the most direct channels through which citizens participate in the work of Parliament, seeking relief, action, or policy consideration that falls within Parliament’s jurisdiction to grant.
Petition on the Parliament duties

Who May Petition Parliament?

Any person, group of people or organisation is entitled to petition Parliament.

Types of Petitions

Petitions submitted to Parliament fall into two categories: special petitions and public (or general) petitions. A special petition is made by an individual seeking personal relief from the State in a specific matter -- such as a pension or benefit for services rendered -- where the law provides no remedy or an inadequate one.

Submit petition
General petition

Form and content of petition

A petition, though not subject to a prescribed format, must, among others, be submitted in writing in an official language, bearing the petitioner’s signature, free from improper language, clearly stating the matter for Parliamentary consideration, specifying the relief sought within Parliament’s jurisdiction, and supported by relevant evidence.

Submit on mbaza
Petition follow-up

Petitions Presented by Deputies on Behalf of Petitioners

Unless both Chambers convene in joint sitting, the first 30 minutes of the Plenary Sitting are reserved for the presentation of petitions before the Chamber of Deputies. A Deputy who wishes to present before the Plenary Assembly a petition presented to him or her by a citizen is allotted 10-minute speaking time for that purpose.

A petition per se laid before the Plenary Assembly is not open to debate. Upon its tabling, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies forthwith refers the petition to the competent Committee, either for follow-up or for consideration within the framework of oversight of the Executive. The Committee thereafter reports to the Plenary Assembly for decision.