The Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has revealed that more than Rwf 190 million worth of school property, including food supplied to students, has been embezzled over the past three years. Those implicated include school administrators and teachers.
This information was shared by the RIB spokesperson, Dr. Murangira B. Thierry, while presenting the latest findings on misuse of school resources.
The stolen items include school funds, food supplies for students, computers, laboratory equipment, paper, books, chairs, tables, construction materials and other educational resources.
According to Dr. Murangira, the total value of what has been confirmed stolen exceeds Rwf 190.7 million. Misused school funds alone amount to Rwf 82,768,479, representing 43.4 percent of the losses. Student food stolen accounts for 14 percent, valued at Rwf 26,715,675. Other school items represent 42.59 percent of the losses, valued at Rwf 81,218,075.
From 2023 to 2025, RIB conducted investigations into 149 cases involving 297 suspects. Forty cases were recorded in 2023, 52 in 2024 and 57 cases so far in 2025.
Those under investigation include 72 education employees, such as headteachers, teachers, and discipline officers, 28 accountants, 51 cooks, 61 school security guards, 66 burglars, and 19 students.
The Eastern Province recorded the highest number of cases at 30.07 percent, followed by the Southern Province with 23.5 percent, the Western Province with 16.9 percent, the Northern Province with 13.7 percent, and the City of Kigali with 13 percent.
Kayonza and Gasabo districts had the highest number of individual cases, each with 11. Rusizi district followed with nine cases, while Nyanza and Nyagatare registered eight each.
Almost half of the cases investigated, meaning 73 out of 149, are related to food intended for students.
Dr. Murangira stated that RIB will not tolerate any school staff member who engages in misappropriation of student resources. He emphasized that school property is crucial for improving the future of students and national development.
He said it is shameful for a person called an educator to be involved in stealing food intended for the children they are responsible for raising.
He added that such acts cause malnutrition among students and hinder the quality of learning due to a lack of materials. For schools and government, this results in financial losses and reduced trust in educational leadership.
RIB also called on traders who buy stolen school goods to report these crimes, warning that those caught purchasing such items will be prosecuted as accomplices.
