Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Rwanda: High-impact investigative journalism celebrates success

19/12/2023

An innovative investigative training programme for Rwandan journalists has resulted in the publication of 15 impactful stories which have prompted widespread changes in the country.

One report into overcrowding in prisons accelerated judicial reform whilst an investigation into the safety of meat led to a public inquiry. A further investigation exposed how a multi-million pound irrigation scheme in Rwanda risks failure after money went missing.

These stories not only contribute to a more informed public but also serve as a testament to the effectiveness of empowering journalists with the necessary skills and resources. Here are some of the success stories in more detail.

Investigative journalist John-Allan Namu leads a training session

Overcrowding in Rwandan prisons

Fulgence Niyonagize, a freelance journalist at Pax Press, delved into the issue of overcrowding in Rwandan prisons which ranks the second highest in the world after the United States.

Fulgences investigation revealed that a major contributing factor is the practice of detention without trial. The report also shed light on the broader societal impact by exposing the economic repercussions faced by the families of those incarcerated.

In response to the expos , the judiciary pledged to expedite crucial judicial reforms aimed at addressing the overcrowding crisis. One significant proposal involves providing alternative sentences to imprisonment, especially in cases where the offender poses no serious risk to the public and is amenable to rehabilitative or therapeutic interventions.

I developed a profound understanding of the pivotal role that investigative stories play in identifying solutions in society

Emmanuel Dushimimana Ngabo

Safety of meat consumed by the public Its a testament to the impact of quality journalism training that the Rwandan government opened a public inquiry into the safety of meat for public consumption after an investigation by Emmanuel Dushimimana Ngabo, a journalist at Isangano Community Radio in Rwanda.

I developed a profound understanding of the pivotal role that investigative stories play in identifying solutions for our society, says Emmanuel, who credits Thomson Foundation for providing him with advanced skills in investigative reporting.

After the publication of his groundbreaking story into claims that farmers were using HIV medication (ARVs) to fatten animals, the Rwandan parliament launched a public inquiry on October 17, 2023.

Ministers including the ministers of trade and local government were summoned to address the pressing issues raised in Emmanuel's report with parliament actively seeking solutions to ensure the safety of publicly available meat.

The training opened up many opportunities for me to enhance my skills

Nadine Umuhoza

Future of irrigation scheme I have gained more knowledge in investigative storytelling, says Nadine Umuhoza, a journalist at Bridge Rwanda Magazine. Her story showed how a multi-million irrigation scheme in Rwanda risked failure after millions of francs meant for the maintenance of irrigation equipment went missing, jeopardising the livelihoods of numerous farmers.

This training opened up many opportunities for me to enhance my skills because I was also selected to attend a training on investigating financial environmental crimes in Naivasha, Kenya, she adds. I am grateful to Legal Aid Forum, Thomson Foundation, and the US Embassy in Rwanda for their support, which has motivated me to focus my work on investigative stories projects.

First-class training The year-long programme run by Thomson Foundation and our local partner The Legal Aid Forum was supported by the US Embassy in Rwanda. It equipped journalists with robust investigative journalism skills and a comprehensive understanding of the profession, enabling them to produce public interest, reliable, impartial, and wide-reaching content.

The objective of the training was to ensure this cohort of Rwandan journalists began to familiarise themselves with the basic principles of investigative journalism, says John-Allan Namu, a renowned Kenya-based investigative journalist who was the lead trainer.

John-Allan Namu

The training was not highly technical, rather, it focused on ensuring that journalists have a more complete understanding of their profession and its evolving role in the public space, he adds.

To encourage collaboration among journalists, the programme provided story production grants, creating opportunities to address the most pressing issues facing Rwanda.

Crucially, the programme also extended free legal support to journalists working in the country, ensuring they receive assistance in the event of legal challenges or prosecution relating to their work. It's hoped this commitment will contribute to fostering an environment where journalists can fearlessly pursue investigative journalism.

Global exposure for outstanding journalists The selection of Fulgence Niyonagize, Emmanuel Dushimimana Ngabo, and Yvonne Mutatsineza to attend this year's Global Investigative Journalism Conference in Sweden is a testament to their outstanding work and the success of the programme in identifying and nurturing talent.

The programme also showcases the potential for transformative change when media professionals are equipped with the right skills and knowledge to tackle complex issues. The impact of these investigative stories is expected to resonate not only locally, but also on a broader scale, contributing to the global conversation on responsible journalism.

More great journalism

Investigative journalism exposes new scandals

Backing brave journalism in challenging places

Yara El Murr is Young Journalist of the Year 2023

Berna Namata Editorial Associate

Berna is Thomson Foundations Rwanda and Central Africa specialist.

Ex
LINK: http://www.thomsonfoundation.org/latest/rwanda-high-impact-investigati...
See more stories from thompsonfoundation

Most recent headlines

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

04/08/2026

Dalet Announces Commercial Availability of Dalia, Bringing Media-Aware Agentic AI to Enterprise Productions

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...

04/07/2026

Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in Dolby Cinemas Across Japan, Presented in Dolby Atmos and Dolby ...

April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...

01/06/2026

Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026

January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026 Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...

02/05/2026

Dalet Flex LTS Delivers Smarter Search, Faster Editing, and an AI-Ready Foundation for Modern Media

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...

01/05/2026

NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to Integrate Dolby's Full Suite of Premium Picture and Sound Innovations

January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...

23/04/2026

NAB Honors Rob Lowe and John Tesh With Hall of Fame Induction

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

23/04/2026

Roku, Samsung Dominate CTV Platform Market in U.S.

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

23/04/2026

G&D and VuWall Strengthen International Sales Team

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

23/04/2026

The 2026 NAB Show Reports More than 58,000 Attendees

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

23/04/2026

SmallHD Monitor Overlay License for Hi-5 and Hi-5 SX deli...

Partnership between ARRI and SmallHD brings new Hi-5 license Configurable monitor overlays adapt to individual working styles Supported by SmallHD monitors ru...

23/04/2026

Jeff Cronenweth ASC Sheds Light on Tron Ares with Astera

Lighting Master Cronenweth ASC brings a unique look to each grid world with the help of Astera Jeff Cronenweth on the set of Disney's TRON: ARES. Photo by...

23/04/2026

ZEISS Supreme Primes Shine in Star-Driven Short Dr Sam

DP Chloe Smolkin ( The Late Show, Kidz Bop ) joins director Danielle Beckmann and writer/actor Raji Ahsan behind the camera for the heartfelt short comedy Dr...

23/04/2026

Apply now to join the 2026 Producer Delegation to TIFF: The Market

Apply now to join the 2026 Producer Delegation to TIFF: The Market 23 April 2026 Screen Australia, in partnership with Ontario Creates, has opened application...

22/04/2026

Live From NAB 2026: Solid State Logics Berny Carpenter on Expanding System T With Virtual DSP, Cloud Workflows

Solid State Logic is advancing its System T platform with a stronger focus on IP...

22/04/2026

Live From NAB 2026: Dolbys Giles Baker on the Growth of Dolby OptiView, Immersive Vision and Audio for Live Sports

From immersive audio to live streaming, Dolby Laboratories is focused on the fut...

22/04/2026

Live From NAB 2026: Blackmagic Design's Bob Caniglia on Implementing Cinematic Looks in Live Broadcasts

Shallow depth-of-field cameras have taken the industry by storm. Its debut a han...

22/04/2026

NAB 2026: Eastern Kentucky University deploys campus-wide ST 2110 network with Riedel and Bridge Digital

Riedel Communications (Booth C4908) announced that Eastern Kentucky University (...

22/04/2026

SportsTechBuzz at NAB 2026, Day 4: Live Reports From the Show Floor in Vegas

The NAB Show is in full swing, and the SVG and SVG Europe editorial teams are chasing down the hottest stories from all over the Las Vegas Convention Center. He...

22/04/2026

NAB 2026: Blackmagic Design Announces URSA Cine 12K LF 100G

Blackmagic Design has announced the URSA Cine 12K LF 100G, a new model in the URSA Cine family adding 100G Ethernet for SMPTE 2110 live production output up to ...

22/04/2026

Live From NAB 2026: NEPs Martin Stewart Talks 40 Years, the NEP Platform, and Scaling for FIFA World Cup

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, NEP is leaning into hybrid production with the...

22/04/2026

Live From NAB 2026: NEPs Dan Murphy on NEP Platform, TFC, and the Shift to Software-Defined Workflows

NEP VP, Platform Dan Murphy sits down at the 2026 NAB Show to unpack what NEP P...

22/04/2026

Spotify and WNBA's New York Liberty Bring Basketball and Music Together With New Partnership

Spotify and the New York Liberty are teaming up to give music and basketball fan...

22/04/2026

The story of the Focusrite ISA preamp

New 20-minute documentary explores iconic design The Focusrite Room in Mesa, Arizona, where John Aquilino hosts the Studio Console 005. In 2025, Focusrite co...

22/04/2026

EverSync SP-10 wireless from Cloudvocal

Offers compact wireless solution for pedalboards Taiwanese audio brand Cloudvocal have announced the availability of a new pedalboard-friendly wireless syst...

22/04/2026

Arturia release Augmented Persia

Latest hybrid sampling/synthesis instrument arrives Arturia's Augmented series offerings rely on a mixture of sampling and synthesis, allowing users to ...

22/04/2026

Acustica Audio launch Salt 2

Combines three distinct analogue EQ emulations The latest addition to Acustica Audio's ever-expanding collection of analogue-emulation plug-ins combines...

22/04/2026

Analog Empire: Bass & Lead from Melda Production

Final instalment in vintage-inspired instrument series Analog Empire: Bass & Lead marks the final instalment in Melda Production's vintage hardware-insp...

22/04/2026

Strymon reveal the Canoga

Fuzz pedal joins all-analogue Series A line Given that Strymons reputation was built on unapologetically digital pedals, it was a little surprising to see t...

22/04/2026

SBS names shortlisted brands for 2026 SBS Media Sustainability Challenge

SBS names shortlisted brands for 2026 SBS Media Sustainability Challenge 22 April, 2026 Media releases National broadcaster also releases its second annual...

22/04/2026

The Frequency That Decides the Fight

Why Low Band Electronic Warfare Matters...

22/04/2026

Polish national football team play-off games top monthly programme list

The nation unites around football team's World Cup dream Warsaw, Poland, 20.04.26: Nielsen, a global leader in audience measurement, data, and media intell...

22/04/2026

Nielsen and the Polish Organisation of Advertisers announce strategic partnership to elevate marketing standards in Poland

Warsaw, Poland, 22.04.26: Nielsen, a global leader in audience measurement, data...

22/04/2026

Nielsen helps New Zealand brands expand internationally with greater clarity and confidence

New market intelligence offering gives businesses a clearer view of local consum...

22/04/2026

Glookast Unveils New UX, YouTube and Social Media Connectors, Premiere Panel, Cinnafilm Tachyon Plugin and More at NAB

Glookast Unveils New UX, YouTube and Social Media Connectors, Premiere Panel, Ci...

22/04/2026

Lightcraft Technology to Preview Spark Story at NAB 2026 with Interactive Previs Experience

Lightcraft Technology to Preview Spark Story at NAB 2026 with Interactive Previs...

22/04/2026

Bolin Demos New PTZ Cameras and Controller at 2026 NAB Show

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

22/04/2026

Anchor Audio Launches Beacon 3

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

22/04/2026

FCC Grants WSWB TV License Transfer to Sinclair

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

22/04/2026

Telemundo Puerto Rico Streaming Channel Launches On Prime Video

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

22/04/2026

Chyron Announces PRIME Translate

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

22/04/2026

TV Tech Announces Winners of Best of Show Awards at 2026 NAB Show

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

22/04/2026

VEON's Banglalink to Bring Starlink Mobile to Customers in Bangladesh

22 Apr 2026 VEON's Banglalink to Bring Starlink Mobile to Customers in Bangladesh Bangladesh becomes the third market where VEON and Starlink Mobile partne...

22/04/2026

FIRST LOOK FOR NEW U DRAMA SERIES HIT POINT

U have unveiled exclusive first-look images for their six-part police thriller Hit Point, starring Nick Blood (Day of the Jackal) and BAFTA nominee Saffron Hock...

22/04/2026

UKTV Highlights: Saturday May 9th -15th 2026

What can I watch on UKTV and stream on U this week? This week on UKTV and the free streaming service U, viewers can watch a range of new and returning programm...

22/04/2026

Sky announces fifth year of WNT Fund with 30,000 bursary supporting players and grassroots football

Wednesday 22 April 2026 Sky announces fifth year of WNT Fund with 30,000 bursa...

22/04/2026

This Earth Day, Discover the Sustainable Productions Behind Our Films and Series

Back to All News This Earth Day, Discover the Sustainable Productions Behind Our Films and Series Emma Stewart, Ph.D. Netflix Sustainability Officer Enterta...

22/04/2026

Retail Media Standards Are Expanding Into Commerce Media - Here's Why That Matters for Measurement

The move from Retail Media to Commerce Media is about broadening the scope of th...

22/04/2026

Dolby and BMW Bring Dolby Atmos to the BMW 7 Series, Expanding Immersive Audio Across Future Models

April 22 2026, 07:00 (PDT) Dolby and BMW Bring Dolby Atmos to the BMW 7 Series,...

22/04/2026

RT Licenses Stolen Sister to Pushkin

RT Documentary On One 7-part series breaks US market for first time RT Programme Sales has announced its first deal with a US distribution partner for its 7-...