The Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) was established on September 13, 2001, by Law No. 39/2001, with the mandate to oversee the regulation of various public utilities. Including but not limited to the telecommunications network and telecommunications services, electricity, water, waste removal from residential and commercial properties, gas extraction and distribution, and transportation of goods and people.
For the purpose of establishing the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) and defining its mission and functioning, this Law has been superseded by Law no. 09/2013. With the authority granted by this Act, RURA is charged with regulating:
- Internet and other audiovisual information and communication technologies.
- Postal services.
- Renewable and nonrenewable energy.
- Industrial gases, pipelines, and storage facilities.
- Transportation of persons and goods.
- Radiation protection and other public utilities, as deemed necessary.
Financial and administrative independence for the Authority’s mission fulfillment is also provided by the same law.
The shift to a less carbon-intensive and more sustainable energy system is based on renewables such as solar, wind, hydro, biofuels, and others.
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Renewables have developed quickly in recent years, spurred by regulatory assistance and sharp cost reductions for solar photovoltaics and wind generation in particular. The electricity industry remains the brightest spot for renewables with the high rise of solar photovoltaics and wind in recent years, building on the already large contribution of hydropower. While important, the contribution of renewables in the transportation and heating sectors is still crucial to the energy revolution, as electricity only accounts for a fifth of worldwide energy use. The Authority is a key intermediary among policymakers, licensed service providers, and end users. The Authority is accountable to the Prime Minister’s Office and works in tandem with the relevant ministries to carry out its mandate.
The statute that established RURA is just one of several legal and regulatory instruments that aid the agency in carrying out its mandated duties throughout the various industries it oversees. In a similar spirit, the Authority’s mandate is to promote and safeguard consumers’ interests and rights in regulated areas while maintaining a level playing field for businesses.
The authority is tasked with the following in order to control public utilities as outlined in Law No. 09/2013 of 01/03/2013:
- To establish protocols for carrying out existing rules and regulations.
- To make sure they’re following the rules set forth by the regulatory bodies of the regulated industries.
- To protect the public’s best interests and provide uninterrupted service from appropriately licensed providers.
- To defend users’ interests by implementing actions likely to assure effective, sound, and fair competition.
- To safeguard and advance purchaser interests.
- To ensure that low-income, rural, and disadvantaged customers have equal access to regulated services.
- To encourage the productive growth of regulated industries in line with government economic and financial policy.
- Promoting and protecting the rights and obligations of consumers and service providers.
- Issuing permits and licenses necessary for regulated sectors, in accordance with the relevant laws.
- Monitoring and ensuring compliance by the regulated networks in line with their licenses and permits.
- Conducting investigations, including inspections of service delivery sites.
- Imposing administrative sanctions for violations of laws and regulations.
- Facilitating the settlement of disputes relating to regulated services.
- Issuing directives to the regulated service provider, and regulating tariffs.
Joint efforts between countries
In this globalization landscape, RURA understood that it cannot achieve its objectives without creating strong collaborations with regional and international organizations. There are a lot of them, and they have helped it succeed so far by funding a variety of projects to increase its capabilities.
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC), and the Powering Progress Project. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), are just some of the international organizations with which RURA has established fruitful relationships.
It has also established working relationships with sister regulators like UCC, EWURA, TCRA, CCK, ERC, ERA, etc. It is a member of several regional and international organizations, such as the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the Caribbean Transport Organization (CTO), and the European Regional Aviation Authority (ERA).
