The National Forensic Institute (RFI) has announced that starting in January 2026, it will begin conducting DNA tests for girls who become pregnant between six and eight weeks, in order to identify the perpetrators early and ensure timely justice.
This process will use a method known as Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). A blood sample from the pregnant girl and cheek swabs from the suspected man will be collected. The DNA from both will be analyzed to determine whether the man is the biological father.
This approach is different from the current practice, where in cases of rape resulting in pregnancy, officials must either wait 12 weeks to consider a legal abortion (if approved by relevant authorities), or wait until the child is born to conduct DNA testing.
The new system is expected to reduce cases where girls are impregnated but fail to get justice. In 2024, 22,454 teenage pregnancies were recorded, up from 22,055 in 2023. Most of the victims were under 17. Data from the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (2023) shows that: 16,650 young mothers were aged 18–19, 5,354 were aged 14–17, 51 were under 14 years old.
Despite these alarming figures, most perpetrators go unpunished. In 2023/2024, prosecutors received over 3,625 complaints, but only 1,613 were taken to court. Of those, 1,711 people were convicted, while 911 were acquitted. For example, in the Eastern Province alone, 8,801 teenage pregnancies were reported in 2023, but by mid-2024, only 70 suspects had been arrested.
This gap between rising cases and few convictions is what prompted the introduction of early DNA testing, according to RFI Director Dr. Charles Karangwa.
Dr. Karangwa explained that the tests will help identify the father early in pregnancy, without harming the mother or the unborn child. This will enable investigators to quickly determine whether a suspect is responsible, speeding up both investigations and the justice process.
Regarding costs, the government of Rwanda is expected to cover the expenses of tests conducted for criminal investigations, through the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB). However, if someone seeks the service privately, they will bear the cost themselves.
The tests are guided by Rwanda’s penal code on child defilement and the 2023 Presidential Order that established the RFI. Rwanda does not yet have a specific law governing DNA, but a draft law is awaiting approval by Parliament. RFI further emphasized that all forensic evidence handling procedures including collection, preservation, and presentation in court will continue to follow established legal standards.