The number of court cases involving crimes that affect families and the wider Rwandan society increased by 12% during the 2025/26 judicial year, according to a report from Rwanda’s Judiciary.
The report shows that courts received 13,998 cases involving such crimes in 2025/26, compared with 12,443 cases recorded in the previous judicial year.
Among the crimes recorded, cases related to drug offences and gender-based violence also increased, raising concerns about crimes that directly affect the safety and well-being of families.
Drug-related cases rose by 6%, from 5,590 cases in 2024/25 to 5,979 cases in 2025/26. Most of these cases involved people accused of possessing, using, producing, cultivating, transporting, storing or selling illegal drugs.
However, the biggest increase was recorded in gender-based violence cases, which rose by 35%. The number increased from 3,887 cases in 2024/25 to 5,231 cases in 2025/26.
Harassment between spouses was the most common offence in this category, with 1,218 cases recorded. It was followed by cases involving forced sexual intercourse, which stood at 412, while 26 cases involved adultery.
The report also shows an increase in crimes affecting the country's economy. Such cases rose by 10%, from 942 in 2024/25 to 1,036 cases in 2025/26.
Among these economic crimes, embezzlement of public or other property accounted for 470 cases, while 385 cases involved requesting, receiving or giving bribes.
Cases related to genocide and genocide-related crimes also increased by 8%, reaching 919 cases in 2025/26 from 849 cases in the previous year.
The report, however, shows that not all categories of crime increased. Cases involving human trafficking fell by 100%, from two cases in 2024/25 to none in 2025/26. Cases involving children also decreased by 29%, from 1,173 to 833.
Overall, the figures show that crimes affecting families remain a major concern, with the 12% increase in cases being driven in part by the rise in gender-based violence and drug-related offences.
The increase in gender-based violence is particularly significant because many of the reported offences occur within relationships or households, making the issue not only a legal concern but also a serious social and family-protection issue.
The Judiciary says its statistics provide an important picture of the cases reaching courts and can help stakeholders understand areas where stronger prevention and intervention efforts are needed.
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