The development comes at a time when figures from the Ministry of Health show that, between 2020 and 2024, at least 5,925 people in Rwanda needed assisted reproductive services because they were unable to conceive naturally.
This article outlines key aspects of the new surrogacy law, including the responsibilities of both surrogate mothers and intended parents.
Surrogacy practices abroad and in Rwanda
Surrogacy is already common in many parts of Europe, Asia, and the United States. In India, for example, only legally married couples may apply, while surrogates must be between 25 and 35 years old and are only allowed to carry one pregnancy for someone else in their lifetime.
In Rwanda, the law takes a different approach. While in some countries surrogacy became commercialized, with surrogates earning between $55,000 and $100,000 depending on the country and their experience, Rwanda insists it will remain an act of compassion.
No payment is allowed beyond covering medical expenses linked to pregnancy and childbirth.
Legal framework and eligibility
The law passed on August 4, 2025, defines surrogacy as an assisted reproductive arrangement in which a surrogate mother agrees to carry a child for another person or couple and hand over the baby immediately after birth.
To qualify as a surrogate, a woman must be aged between 21 and 40, must have previously carried a pregnancy to term without complications, and must pass a medical assessment confirming she is healthy enough for another pregnancy.
The intended parents are responsible for finding their own surrogate. They must cover all medical costs throughout the pregnancy and for up to six weeks after delivery, including any complications the surrogate may face.
They are also required to respect the surrogacy contract and to accept any outcome of the pregnancy. This means that whether the child is born with a disability, is stillborn, or is of a particular sex, the intended parents must accept the circumstances.
Responsibilities of the surrogate mother
Like any pregnant woman, the surrogate is expected to safeguard her health and that of the baby. The law requires her to follow medical advice, attend regular health check-ups, and avoid any actions that might endanger the pregnancy. She must also keep the intended parents informed of her condition.
Once the baby is born, the surrogate is legally obliged to hand the child over to the intended parents and honor the terms of the agreement.
Restrictions on genetic selection
The law makes it clear that reproductive technology cannot be used to alter a person's genetic makeup or to select the sex of the baby.
In addition, sperm or embryos donated by one individual cannot be shared with more than one couple seeking assisted reproduction.
State Minister for Health, Dr. Yvan Butera, recently told Members of Parliament that infertility in Rwanda is caused by male factors in 30 percent of cases and female factors in another 30 percent. Another 30 percent of cases are due to problems affecting both partners, while 10 percent remain unexplained.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/what-you-need-to-know-about-rwanda-s-new-surrogacy-law
