Day After New Year’s Day in Rwanda
Rwanda’s Presidential Order lists January 2 as a public holiday called the Day after New Year’s Day. The designation applies to employees and employers in both the public and private sectors, and the Order sets a rule for holidays that fall on weekends.[1]
What the holiday means
The legal name is straightforward: this is the day after New Year’s Day. The Presidential Order lists January 2 as a public holiday, making it part of Rwanda’s New Year holiday period.[1]
Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs protocol handbook also lists January 2 as the “Day After New Year’s Day” and classifies it as a public holiday.[2]
Legal status and weekend rules
Presidential Order N° 062/01 of 19 October 2022 lists January 2 among Rwanda’s public holidays. Its scope expressly covers employees and employers in the public and private sectors.[1]
Under the Order, when a public holiday falls on a weekend, the following working day becomes a public holiday, with a special rule when two consecutive public holidays coincide with the weekend: they are compensated in one working day that follows. The Order excludes the April 7 Genocide Memorial Day from the general weekend rule.[1]
Planning your day
January 2 remains the holiday’s fixed calendar date. The legal status makes it relevant to work schedules, but the Order does not say which individual shops, banks, transport services or other businesses must close. For a particular service, check its own opening hours before making plans.[1]
The holiday’s name and legal listing support describing it as a public day off within Rwanda’s calendar. The cited sources do not establish specific foods, regional customs, public events or travel changes for January 2, so those details should not be assumed.[1][2]
Frequently asked questions
When is the Day after New Year’s Day?
It is listed on January 2 each year. If it falls on a weekend, Rwanda’s Presidential Order provides for the following working day to become a public holiday, subject to the Order’s rule for consecutive weekend holidays.[1]
Is January 2 a day off for workers?
It is a public holiday under the Presidential Order, whose scope covers employees and employers in both the public and private sectors.[1]
Will banks, shops and transport services be closed?
The Order does not specify the opening hours of individual banks, shops or transport services. Check with the provider you plan to use.[1]
Sources and references
Sources used for Public Holiday in Rwanda:
- Presidential Order N° 062/01 of 19/10/2022 on Official Mission, Delegation of Powers and Public Holidays- Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda
- The Protocol Handbook, Annex 2: Public Holidays in Rwanda- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Republic of Rwanda