'Corruption high', says Rutaremara

As the nation marks four years of democratic governance under the elected RPF government, the Ombudsman Tito Rutaremara has decried the involvement of leaders especially those occupying lower levels of leadership in cases of corruption and abuse of office. In an interview, Rutaremara said that the number of local leaders at lower levels of governance involved in corruption cases is big compared to political leaders in high government offices like ministries. In the past four years, corruption has drastically reduced at the higher political levels of government, he said. Rutaremara said that a number of officials in the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) are at times involved in some cases of corruption. He explained that the government’s reforms, which saw ministers lose powers to award tenders, have largely helped in reducing corruption in high offices. The new law stipulates that the National Tender Board (NTB) must handle all government tenders. Rutaremara charged that in the past, ministers used to work on the tendering process and procurement, something that encouraged corruption in ministries. “In Rwanda there is that political will to fight corruption,” he said. The Ombudsman called on all Rwandans to be vigilant and report corruption cases. “Without people’s vigilance, efforts of organs charged with fighting corruption are limited.” He said his office has sensitised people to the sector level and availed toll free telephone lines on which to call and report local leaders who take bribes. In recent weeks, a number of government officials have been investigated in connection with tendering anomalies.Ends