Today is International Day of Universal Access to Information and six years since Rwanda enacted the Access to Information Law (AIL). The country was the 11th in Africa and the 94th globally to adopt an Access to Information Law. The law enables the public and journalists to access information possessed by the public and some private institutions. It also recognises the right to access to information, the procedures for accessing information, and compliance related issues. The law should make it easier for anyone to access information from concerned institutions. Regardless of the existence of this law, and some portals designed to ease the accessibility of information such as www.sobanukirwa.rw , it is largely still difficult to access information from public officials. Many journalists have complained that their inquiries for information have largely gone unanswered. This is despite the Ombudsman’s Office going as far as publishing a list of individuals in charge of providing information in public institutions. Indeed, a mini survey by Saturday Times within the media fraternity unearthed a few issues. Felix Fiston Habineza, a news editor at Royal FM, says that for the law to be effective, it needs to be widely explained to government institutions, and particularly local authorities. “The information that journalists seek is for public interest yet some institutions are very reluctant to release it,” he said, adding that Rwandans also need to be sensitised about their rights as far as access to information is concerned. While Article 14 and 15 of the Access to Information Law requires all private organisations to appoint an information officer to deal with information requests, most journalists say they find that most of the officers were not well-trained or equipped with the tools to handle their jobs. The law defines the procedures for accessing information. For instance, any individual or a group of persons can apply for information with no fees required, except some postage and paper charges. According to Chairperson of Transparency International Rwanda, Marie Immaculée Ingabire, institutions are well aware of the law but mostly ignore it on purpose. But Ingabire, who is also a board member of the Rwanda Media Commission, a self-regulatory body for Rwandan media practitioners, also noted that those seeking information were sometimes not assertive enough either. “At RMC, we haven’t received any case of a journalist suing anyone for not giving them information. Journalists should be the first to make it work but also the civil society is responsible to help raise awareness about laws,” she said. The Executive Secretaryof Rwanda Civil Society Platform, Jean Bosco Nyemazi, said they just started working in hand with parliament in filing laws and there is a hope that the partnership will extend to the Ministry of Justice to raise public awareness on the law. Meanwhile, a mini survey conducted among media practitioners showed the following institutions as the best and worst when it comes to providing information. Best information providers: Ministry of Justice Ministry of Foreign Affairs National Electoral Commission Rwanda Civil Society Platform Transparency International Rwanda Worst at information provision: Rwanda Social Security Board Rwanda Investigation Bureau Ministry of Health Rwanda Development Board RwandAir editor@newtimesrwanda.com
