Lawmakers call for faster oversight of cooperatives, warn of financial losses

The request was made Tuesday during a parliamentary session in which the Committee on Governance, Gender and Family Affairs presented its report to the plenary.

Committee chair Nabahire Anastase said Rwanda has a national cooperatives policy, a governing law and a dedicated regulatory body, but enforcement and follow-up remain weak.

He said those gaps have led to widespread challenges, including poor management and operational inefficiencies that ultimately affect citizens who rely on cooperatives for income.

Citing a 2024/2025 report by the Ombudsman’s office, he said governance failures in cooperatives continue to cause losses for members.

The Rwanda Cooperative Agency (RCA) has identified more than 4,200 inactive cooperatives out of about 11,000 registered nationwide, according to parliamentary findings.

Lawmakers also noted that many cooperatives go years without inspection, with some operating for more than 17 years without formal audits or technical guidance.

The Chamber of Deputies called on the Ministry of Trade and Industry to present within three months a plan to ensure timely inspections and strengthen oversight mechanisms to improve accountability and protect citizens’ investments.