Rwanda Recognized Globally for Excellence in Government Services

Dubai UAE, 4 February 2026 - Rwanda has been awarded global recognition as the country achieving the best improvements in government services, announced by the Rwandan Embassy in the UAE. The award was presented at the GovTech Prize 2026 during the World Government Summit (WGS) in Dubai, UAE. The award-winning initiative is the IremboGov platform, developed by the Irembo company, which has significantly enhanced citizens’ access to government services through digital technology. The Rwandan Ambassador to the UAE, John Mirenge, accepted the award on behalf of the government, alongside Estelle Kayitesi, Director General for Policy and Partnerships at Irembo. The WGS, established in 2013, convenes government leaders, sector experts, and the private sector to address governance challenges and explore emerging technologies for effective service delivery. The 2026 summit brought together participants from 150 countries. The GovTech Prize honors government agencies that innovatively improve service delivery through technology. Over the past decade, thousands of applications from 126 countries have competed for this recognition. Since its launch in 2015, IremboGov now offers over 240 services, enabling citizens to access government services remotely, without physically visiting offices. Monthly, the platform processes over 500,000 requests, with 80% of services paid electronically. Rwanda’s digital government expansion is supported by growing internet and mobile access. According to the National Institute of Statistics (NISR), over 12 million Rwandans own and use phones, and nine million access the internet, while in 2024, approximately 680 government services were available digitally. This recognition underscores Rwanda’s leadership in leveraging technology for citizen-centric governance.