Rwanda’s limited number of publishing houses is affecting the availability and quality of books on the market, with some authors choosing to publish their work independently rather than use professional editing and publishing services, according to Inteko y’Umuco.
Ambassador Robert Masozera, Chairperson of Inteko y’Umuco, said the shortage of publishing companies was contributing to a small supply of books, some of which contain errors and do not meet expected quality standards.
He made the remarks on Thursday, November 5, 2026, during the exhibition of National Library Services 2026 and a training session on book publishing.
“One area where we are still lagging behind is book publishing. Publishing houses are still few, which also means that the number of books available on the market remains low,” Masozera said.
He said Inteko y’Umuco continues to organise training activities to encourage people to write and produce books that meet quality standards.
Masozera also expressed concern that some writers bypass publishing houses and handle the entire process themselves. This can leave manuscripts without sufficient professional editing and preparation before publication, increasing the likelihood of errors in the finished books.
Tuyishime Françoise, Executive Director of Bridge Vision publishing house, said books produced without professional publishing support can lack the quality and originality expected of published works.
She explained that publishing houses help authors improve their manuscripts, correct errors and prepare books for publication to professional standards.
However, the industry faces challenges that make it difficult for publishing companies to expand their operations. Tuyishime cited limited sales, a small readership and low participation by institutions, including schools, in purchasing books.
She said the shortage of publishing houses and high service costs also discourage some writers from seeking professional assistance.
Young author Patrick Nzabonimpa said the fees charged for editing, production, printing and promotion can be difficult for emerging writers to afford.
Figures from Inteko y’Umuco show that National Library Services currently holds 5,000 printed books, managed through the KOHA library management system. Readers can also use the Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) to search for books available in the collection.
