Rwanda has made history as the first country in Sub-Saharan Africa to introduce a customized Intellectual Property (IP) course developed through a partnership between the Institute of Legal Practice and Development (ILPD) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

The course, officially launched on October 30, 2025, marks a groundbreaking step in advancing IP education and awareness in Rwanda—just over a year after the country enacted its new intellectual property law in 2024. Known as DL101ERW, the course is tailored to Rwanda’s legal, cultural, and economic context, aiming to strengthen knowledge of IP as a tool for innovation, creativity, and sustainable development.

Building Rwanda’s IP Capacity

According to Aime Karimunda Muyoboke, Rector of ILPD, the course was developed to bridge a critical knowledge gap in intellectual property.

“Many creators don’t know their rights, and even legal professionals sometimes lack the tools to interpret IP laws. Courts also face challenges due to the limited number of judges specialized in IP,” he explained. “This course will help bridge those gaps by training more people to understand and protect intellectual property.”

Muyoboke emphasized that the course is not only designed for lawyers or legal professionals but is open to artists, entrepreneurs, researchers, policymakers, and anyone interested in learning how to protect and commercialize intellectual property.

“Now that our country’s vision is anchored in a knowledge-based economy, it is vital to protect the intellectual output of Rwandans, both locally and globally,” he added.

The nine-week online programme, requiring approximately 77 hours of study, offers an in-depth overview of intellectual property law with a focus on Rwandan legislation and practice. It integrates case studies, self-assessment tools, and interactive discussions. Registration for the course is currently open and will close on December 1.

The curriculum covers essential topics including copyright, patents, trademarks, industrial designs, and geographical indications, as well as Rwanda’s integration into international IP systems administered by WIPO.

Empowering Creators and Innovators

Renowned artist and medical professional Dr. Thomas Muyombano (Tom Close) hailed the initiative as a landmark development for Rwanda’s creative industry.

“The gap in IP knowledge among artists has been huge. Many don’t know how to protect their compositions or creative works,” he said. “This course comes at the right time. It’s part of the solution and a foundation for better protection of artistic and innovative efforts.”

He further emphasized that greater awareness of intellectual property rights would enable artists and innovators to earn from their creations. “Creating music or content takes financial investment. Protecting it ensures that creators can sustain themselves from their work,” he added.

A Model for Sub-Saharan Africa

Altaye Tedla, Director of the WIPO Academy, described the course as “a training tool for Rwanda, by Rwanda,” noting that it represents the first time a Sub-Saharan African country has localized a WIPO course to suit national realities.

“This shows Rwanda’s leadership in linking education, innovation, and technology,” she said. “IP education empowers youth and women to move from imagination to market—turning ideas into opportunities.”

Tedla emphasized that digital learning platforms would make the course accessible beyond urban centers, breaking barriers of geography and connectivity, and giving Rwandans across the country access to quality IP education.

Strengthening Rwanda’s Legal Framework

Delivering a keynote speech at the launch, Minister of Justice Emmanuel Ugirashebuja underscored Rwanda’s growing commitment to intellectual property as part of its broader development agenda.

“Rwanda’s journey in intellectual property has evolved from outdated colonial laws to a modern, forward-looking legal system,” he said. “Our latest IP law, enacted in 2024, aligns with global standards and supports our Vision 2050 goal of becoming a knowledge-driven economy.”

He highlighted the role of IP protection in fostering innovation and competitiveness. “Startups, artists, and inventors thrive when they can safeguard their ideas. IP gives them the confidence to invest, attract financing, and compete globally,” he noted.

Ugirashebuja also called for more practical and inclusive IP education. “We must demystify IP. It is not just for big corporations it’s for everyone with a creative spark. This course gives Rwandans the tools to turn ideas into assets.”

IP as a Pillar of Vision 2050

As Rwanda strives to become an upper-middle-income country by 2035 and a high-income, knowledge-based economy by 2050, innovation, creativity, and competitiveness are at the heart of this transformation. Experts agree that robust intellectual property systems are crucial to empowering creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs to benefit from their ideas.

Sandrine Umutoni, Minister of State in charge of Youth and Arts, emphasized that strengthening IP is not only a legal imperative but a national development strategy.

“For the past two years, our ministry has been studying the creative economy, and every discussion leads to one truth: without a strong IP protection system, we cannot achieve our goals,” she said.

Umutoni noted that while Rwanda’s legal framework is strong, enforcement remains a challenge. “The framework exists, but how do we implement it? Visibility should not replace fair compensation,” she said, stressing that intellectual work deserves to be valued financially just like any other service.

She added that despite existing collection management organizations, royalty payments remain inconsistent. The ministry is therefore focusing on awareness campaigns and IP education for both creators and consumers.

Commitment Across Institutions

Justice Kadigwa Gashongore, Vice President of the Commercial High Court, reaffirmed the judiciary’s readiness to uphold IP rights.

“Since the establishment of commercial courts in 2008, we have seen increased awareness of business rights. The government’s commitment to updating laws, including the 2024 IP law, shows its dedication to protecting intellectual property,” she said.

However, he called for more capacity-building for judges and awareness among creators and the business community. he cited a landmark case involving Kina Music, where the court ruled in favor of an IP owner even though their rights were not registered demonstrating Rwanda’s commitment to upholding IP protections.

Richard Kayibanda, Chief Licensing Officer at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), noted that many Rwandans unknowingly hold valuable IP that remains unprotected. “People have ideas and creations being used by others for profit simply because they are unaware that their rights exist,” he said.

He explained that while copyrights are automatically protected, industrial property—such as patents and trademarks—requires registration. “Improved IP registration rates stimulate innovation, attract investment, and support our goal of a knowledge-based economy,” he added.

A Call to Action

Hon. Prudence Sebahizi, Minister of Trade and Commerce, concluded by stressing the importance of building awareness, strengthening institutions, and training specialized professionals in IP.

He said, “Intellectual property is key for innovation and business growth. We must build awareness, strengthen institutions, & train specialized lawyers to protect ideas, artists, and entrepreneurs locally, continentally, and globally.”