Photo: Jacques NIYIGENA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0Road accident compensation in Rwanda and the Special Guarantee Fund
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Who is entitled and who pays
Entitled: the person injured or whose property is damaged, and the beneficiaries of a person killed, in an insured or an uninsured accident (article 3). Compensation for insured accidents is paid by the insurer; for uninsured accidents by the compensation authority (article 9) (Law n° 029/2025).
The Special Guarantee Fund (Ikigega Cyihariye cy'Ingoboka) compensates victims when the vehicle could not be identified or the liable person had no compulsory insurance (SGF). It is funded by 10% of compulsory motor third-party premiums and 5% of tourism revenues from national parks (article 11).
What the law pays
| Victim | Compensation | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Injured person | Medical and pharmaceutical costs, transport, rehabilitation, prostheses and orthoses, other expenses (backed by an electronic invoice) | 4 |
| Temporary disability | Lost income from the date work stopped to the date a doctor certifies recovery | 5 |
| Permanent disability | Economic loss, pain and suffering, aesthetic damage, loss of opportunity to marry, loss of career opportunities | 6 |
| Family of a person killed | Funeral costs, economic loss, moral damage | 7 |
| Property damage | An amount equal to the damage sustained | 8 |
| No proof of pre-accident income | Calculated at 3,000 Frw per day | 12(2) |
Source: Law n° 029/2025. A Minister's Order sets the rates and calculation methods (article 12(4)).
Deadlines for an uninsured accident
| Rule | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Report to the traffic police or the sector administration | 7 days from the accident or from when the claimant learns of it |
| Report a motor vehicle accident to the compensation authority | 2 years from the accident |
| Report an accident caused by an animal to the compensation authority | 2 months |
Outside these deadlines the Fund does not pay, except in force majeure (article 9(2)–(3)). For an insured accident, also follow the insurer's claim rules: see your rights as a policyholder.
What changed
The 2025 law repealed Law n° 41/2001 on compensation of victims of motor vehicle accidents and Law n° 26/2011 on damage caused by animals (article 17). Claim files received before it came into force are processed within six months under the old laws (article 15). An uninsured vehicle that caused an accident is impounded until its owner repays the Fund (article 13).
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Frequently asked questions
Who pays if I am injured by an uninsured motorcycle in Rwanda?
The Special Guarantee Fund, which then recovers the money from the owner (Law n° 029/2025, articles 9 and 10). Report the accident within 7 days to the traffic police or the sector, and to the Fund within 2 years.
What is the minimum compensation per day in Rwanda?
When the victim cannot prove income, compensation is calculated at 3,000 Frw per day (Law n° 029/2025, article 12).
How do I contact the Special Guarantee Fund?
Hotline 1045, info@ikigega.rw, HIGIRO House, KG 201 Street, Gasabo, Kigali (SGF website).
Sources
- Law n° 029/2025 of 20/10/2025 on accident compensation — Official Gazette n° Special of 21/10/2025 (Special Guarantee Fund copy)
- Parliament of Rwanda — The Chamber of Deputies passes the law on compensation for accident victims (18 September 2025)
- Special Guarantee Fund (Ikigega Cyihariye cy'Ingoboka) — official website: compensation of victims of unidentified or uninsured vehicles, hotline 1045