Welcome to Rwanda Forensic Institute (RFI)
RFI delivers specialized forensic science services to support justice administration, public safety, health, security, and institutional excellence. Through its multidisciplinary domains of intervention, the Institute provides scientific expertise, technical analysis, medico-legal support, quality systems strengthening, and professional capacity development in line with national needs and international standards.
Our Domains of Intervention
Forensic Biology
Forensic Biology focuses on the scientific examination of biological materials for human identification and evidential analysis. This domain supports justice processes through DNA analysis, biological trace examination, kinship testing, Biothreat laboratory testing and other specialized applications involving human and non-human biological evidence.
Forensic Chemistry
Forensic Chemistry provides scientific analysis of chemical substances and related materials relevant to criminal, civil, public health, and regulatory investigations. It covers areas such as toxicology, drugs and controlled substances, environmental and food-related contaminants, chemical traces, poisons, and other analytical chemistry applications in forensic practice.
Forensic Physics / Pattern Analysis
Forensic Physics / Pattern Analysis deals with the examination and interpretation of physical patterns and comparative evidence. This domain includes biometrics, multimedia forensics, questioned documents, ballistics, toolmarks, fingerprints, footwear and tire marks, bloodstain pattern analysis, and other pattern-based forensic examinations that assist in reconstructing events and linking evidence.
Forensic Engineering
Forensic Engineering applies scientific and technical expertise to the examination of digital, electronic, mechanical, structural, and specialized engineered systems. It covers digital forensics, data recovery, network and mobile device analysis, accident investigation, fire and explosion analysis, materials examination, and other engineering-related forensic inquiries.
Forensic Medicine
Forensic Medicine provides medico-legal services through the scientific examination of persons, human remains, and medical evidence relevant to legal and investigative processes. This domain includes clinical forensic medicine, postmortem examination, forensic pathology, forensic imaging, anthropology, odontology, and related medico-legal support services.
Quality Management
Forensic Quality Management ensures that RFI services are delivered within robust quality systems that promote competence, consistency, traceability, impartiality, and continuous improvement. This domain supports quality assurance, standardization, compliance, accreditation readiness, risk management, and the strengthening of institutional systems across all forensic disciplines.
Center of Excellence (CoE)
The Center of Excellence serves as RFI’s platform for professional training, research and development, innovation, consultancy, continuous professional development, and scientific engagement. It strengthens forensic capacity, promotes knowledge generation, supports institutional growth, and positions RFI as a reference hub for forensic science advancement in Rwanda and beyond.
Core Services
Explore our comprehensive forensic science capabilities
Biology/DNA Forensic Service
The Biology scientists conduct several types of serological examinations on evidentiary materials, including the identification of blood, semen,… Learn More
Drug & Chemistry Service
The Drugs and Chemistry is one among the units belong to Chemistry Division. Its responsibility is to chemically examine either qualitatively or quantitatively the physical evidence... Learn More
Forensic Toxicology Service
Forensic toxicology and Blood alcohol services refer to the use of scientific methods to detect and analyze drugs, chemicals, alcohols and other toxins in biological samples,… Learn More
Digital Forensic Service
Digital Forensics Unit overall function is to identify, preserve, acquire and analyze all electronic devices related to all cyber-enabled offences reported so as to collect digital evidence… Learn More
Microbiology Forensic Service
Forensic Microbiology is a new scientific discipline established in order to strengthen the law enforcement response especially in a bioterrorism event and other related criminal… Learn More
Ballistics and Physical Service
The Ballistics section conducts many types of firearms examinations: whether a questioned bullet or cartridge case was fired from a suspect firearm; the caliber and type of firearm… Learn More
Questioned Document And Finger Print Service
This service deals with examination of suspected counterfeit documents which includes Bank Notes,… Learn More
Forensic Legal Medecine Service
Rwanda Forensic Laboratory provides a service of Forensic Medicine with the following purpose: to provide a point of law, used as piece of circumstantial evidence… Learn More
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