Journalists have right to access Public information

By: Andrew Kareba

The access to information bill seeks to promote public participation in democratic and development processes where government and private bodies should provide to journalists public information in possession by those bodies.

The Minister of Information Musoni Protais while presenting to the Chamber of Deputies announced the development.
Musoni was defending the long awaited bill on free access to public documents and other relevant information to the media upon request.

He also emphasized that in order to promote greater accountability by all public office holders, the media and all members of the public must enjoy the rights and freedoms enshrined under the constitution.

All public organs have to facilitate and encourage the disclosure of information, promptly and at the lowest reasonable cost where necessary, he elaborated.

However, he told the lawmakers that “Exempt information” may be withheld by a public organ or certain classes of private bodies in case release of such information is believed to cause harm to the national security, involve the unnecessary invasion of privacy of an individual or damage a public organ’s position.

Hon. Theobald Mporanyi presented that every public organ shall take steps in accordance with requirements to provide information at regular intervals through media with no charge.

Hon. Marie Rose Mureshyankwano wondered whether access to reasonable information will be charged for and not be considered as corruption.

Minister Musoni said, offences and penalties shall be provided by the Ombudsman’s office.

Without reasonable cause for refusing a request for access on information, bad faith in denying a request for information or knowingly give incorrect, incomplete or misleading information, he says.

Fines will range from One hundred thousand (Frw 100.000) to three hundred thousand Rwandan Francs (Frw300, 000) before the Ombudsman’s office while before the court, it will range from One hundred thousand (Rwf 100,000) to five hundred thousand Rwandan francs (Rwf