The figures are contained in a report by the National Public Service Commission, presented to both chambers of Parliament on October 21, 2026.

The report also highlights the intense competition for government jobs. Of the 469,532 people who applied for positions in the public service during the year, only 2,512 were recruited, representing just 0.54% of all applicants.

The commission identified several challenges in public service management, including failure to perform assigned duties, abandoning jobs, unauthorised absence and the misuse of public resources.

386 public servants faced disciplinary action

A total of 386 public servants faced disciplinary measures during the financial year, with 123 losing their jobs.

Among the other employees, 91 received reprimands, while 88 were suspended without pay for three months. Another 53 were suspended for one month without pay, 21 received severe reprimands and 10 were suspended for two months without pay.

Failure to fulfil official duties was the most frequently reported offence, affecting 113 employees. Another 58 were reported for abandoning their jobs, while 46 faced cases involving the misuse or misappropriation of public resources.

The report also recorded 34 cases of employees being absent from work without permission.

However, the commission noted that the figures were based on reports from only 61 of the 112 public institutions expected to submit disciplinary records. The remaining 51 institutions did not submit reports, meaning the actual number of cases could be higher.

Employment disputes cost government millions

The report shows that government institutions were ordered to pay Rwf83,120,435 after losing employment-related court cases.

Of that amount, Rwf68.3 million was awarded as compensation to employees, while Rwf14.8 million covered payments workers were entitled to receive but had not been given, forcing them to seek justice through the courts.

Government institutions also won court cases worth Rwf26.3 million, including cases dismissed by the courts, lawyers’ fees and other legal costs.

That figure represents a significant increase from the Rwf8.2 million government institutions recovered through successful cases in the 2024/2025 financial year.

Commission urges institutions to resolve disputes early

The commission says better management of public servants and stronger compliance with employment laws are needed to reduce workplace conflicts and prevent government institutions from incurring avoidable legal costs.

It has urged the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Public Service and Labour to establish clear procedures encouraging public institutions to resolve employment disputes through mediation and mutual agreement before taking them to court.

The commission has also called for regular training of public institution managers to help them understand employment laws and their responsibilities when managing staff.

It says improving workplace management and following the law could help prevent misconduct, reduce disputes between employees and their employers, and save public money that would otherwise be spent on court cases.