Rwanda’s arbitration sector continues to grow, but limited awareness among lawyers, law students, and businesspeople remains a key challenge, according to the Institute of Legal Practice and Development (ILPD).

The Rector of ILPD, Dr. Aimé Muyoboke Karimunda, made these remarks during a lecture on arbitration in commercial disputes, delivered by international arbitration expert Jackson Shaw Kern at the ILPD Kigali campus for evening students on September 17, 2026.

The lecture was organized as part of activities marking Rwanda’s Arbitration Week, which was launched on Monday.

Strengthening Knowledge of Arbitration

Dr. Muyoboke noted that although Rwanda has had a specialized arbitration institution for more than a decade, arbitration remains insufficiently understood and underutilized by many lawyers and businesspeople.

He explained that many businesses still rely primarily on traditional courts to resolve disputes because they are not sufficiently familiar with arbitration, its procedures, and its potential benefits.

The challenge, he added, extends to law students, many of whom have limited exposure to arbitration during their university studies.

“We have found that lawyers, particularly law students, do not have a sufficient understanding of arbitration. Often, they find the subject difficult and challenging to grasp. We are therefore working to make arbitration easier to understand so that legal professionals view it as standard practice, recognize it as a core subject, study it, master it, and actively utilize it.”

Dr. Muyoboke explained that the limited focus on arbitration in some university law programs makes it more difficult for students to grasp the subject when they join ILPD, particularly regarding its practical application in Rwanda and internationally.

Arbitration as an Alternative to Court Proceedings

Speaking during the lecture, Jackson Shaw Kern explained that arbitration is a dispute-resolution mechanism based on the mutual agreement of the parties involved.

Instead of taking a dispute to court, parties to a contract can agree to submit their disagreement to one or more arbitrators of their choice.

Kern likened arbitration to allowing contract parties to choose the "court" that will resolve their dispute. The selection of arbitrators can take into account their integrity, experience, and specific expertise in the subject matter of the dispute.

He highlighted several key features of arbitration, including confidentiality, flexibility, and the ability to resolve disputes more efficiently. Parties can select their arbitrators and agree on the venue for proceedings, including locations outside their home country.

According to Kern, arbitration has become an essential component of international commerce and an established mechanism for resolving commercial disputes.

“Arbitration requires agreement. The parties must have clearly agreed to it, either in a contract or through another legally recognized instrument.”

He encouraged lawyers and business managers to pay close attention to arbitration clauses when drafting contracts and to ensure they fully understand the implications of the terms to which they agree.

A properly drafted arbitration agreement, he noted, contributes to the effective and timely resolution of disputes while reducing the costs associated with lengthy litigation.

Expanding Rwanda’s Arbitration Capacity

The Kigali International Arbitration Centre (KIAC) currently has 151 arbitrators on its roster who handle arbitration matters at both domestic and international levels. However, the number of Rwandan arbitrators on the roster remains relatively low.

For ILPD, this highlights the urgent need to expand opportunities for local lawyers and other professionals to acquire practical knowledge and skills in arbitration.

KIAC reports that it has received 292 cases to date, of which 178 Arbitral Awards were concluded in Rwanda, while others were resolved through alternative dispute-resolution (ADR) mechanisms such as mediation.

These figures underscore the potential for arbitration and other ADR mechanisms to streamline commercial dispute resolution and ease the workload of commercial courts.

“Time Is Money” in Business

A student who participated in the session emphasized the importance of resolving commercial disputes promptly. 

“In business, time is money.”

The student noted that the timely resolution of disputes enables businesses to maintain momentum and resume operations rather than remaining bogged down by prolonged court battles.

Kern concluded by emphasizing that lawyers seeking to work effectively in arbitration must develop a strong foundation in the field.

He noted that arbitration is increasingly critical for resolving commercial matters and encouraged legal professionals to equip themselves with the skills required to effectively advise clients and participate in arbitration proceedings.

For ILPD, strengthening arbitration education and practical training is part of its broader commitment to developing competent legal professionals equipped to respond to the evolving needs of Rwanda’s justice system and economy.