Local Government of Rwanda

Ministry: Local Government

Local government is provided for by the Organic Law 2005, and it is enshrined in Chapter 1 of the constitution. The Ministry of Local Government is responsible for local government, which is in four tiers, comprising 30 districts (akarere); 416 sectors (imerenge); 2,148 cells (utugari); and 14,837 villages (imudungu). Local elections are held every five years.

The local authorities have revenue-raising powers, and derive income from property taxes and licence fees, as well as receiving regular and one-off transfers from national government. They provide public services in partnership with other agencies, which include primary health care; environmental management; water supply; waste disposal; rural electrification; promoting local economic development; town planning; and local transport.