Rwanda: Compassion or Con? Inside Kigali's Fake Hospital Appeals

Rwanda: Compassion or Con? Inside Kigali's Fake Hospital Appeals

On a weekday afternoon in Kigali's city centre, it is not unusual to encounter someone clutching a photograph of a sick child, weaving through pedestrians, markets, salons, and parking lots.

Compassion or con? Inside Kigali’s fake hospital appeals

On a weekday afternoon in Kigali’s city centre, it is not unusual to encounter someone clutching a photograph of a sick child, weaving through pedestrians, markets, salons, and parking lots. The appeal is often urgent and emotional: a patient in need of treatment, a hospital bill that must be settled, a life hanging in the balance. These individuals are increasingly seen collecting money in public spaces while claiming the funds are meant to sup…