The task ahead of Rwanda’s new prosecutor general

An impromptu senate session has approved Richard Muhumuza as the new Prosecutor General. Muhumuza’s name was suggested by President Kagame during an earlier cabinet meeting this mid September

The session held on Wednesday September 18 also approved Agnes Mukagashugi as the new Deputy Prosecutor General.

Muhumuza replaces Martin Ngoga, while Mukagashugi takes over from Alphonse Hitiyaremye. Hitiyaremye’s recent Supreme Court Judge nomination was delayed by the session because he is away on official work.

Muhumuza faces a challenging task as he assumes office. Research on the justice sector in Rwanda, indicates that cases were delayed due to too much work piled on the prosecutors, however the prosecutors have been divided into cluster working groups as part of the solutions to have these cases finalized and ensuring that a good job is done in each case.

The prosecution office has early on assured Rwandans that it will ensure that there won’t be any more pending justice cases sitting on the shelves, now that all the awaiting cases from 2004 have been resolved.

Among other tasks, Muhumuza will continue pursuing cases genocide fugitives who are scattered all over the world especially in France, Belgium and the UK; and dealing with the UN residual court in Arusha to finalise with the cases that need to be transferred to Rwanda for trail

Both Muhumuza and Mukagashugi have been senior prosecutors at the National Public Prosecution Authority.

The Senate also approved the appointment of Charles Kaliwabo, formerly the spokesperson of the Judiciary, to the position of President of the High Court, a seat that has been vacant since Justice Minister Johnston Busingye moved to EAC principle judge a year ago.

Emmanuel Kamere was appointed president of the Commercial Court, with Fanfan Rwanyindo Kayirangwa as his deputy. Gakwaya Gatete Benoit and Gakwaya Justin were approved as Supreme Court Judge.

The task ahead of Rwanda’s new prosecutor general