Rwanda: Kagame names new Justice Minister.

By Maniraguha Ferdinand

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda has on this Friday, 17^th September named  as  new justice Minister and Attorney General, Dr Ugirashebuja Emmanuel who replaces Johnston Busingye.

Busingye was kicked out from the government by the end of August and he was appointed as Rwandan envoy to the United Kingdom.

Dr Ugirashebuja, 45  was appointed Judge of Appeal by the Summit of the EAC Heads of State in November 2013 and subsequently, appointed the Judge President of the EACJ in June 2014 where he served seven years.

Ugirashebuja taught law in University of Rwanda, University of Edinburgh, and at the University of Dar es Salaam. He  served as  Dean of the Law School, University of Rwanda. He then served as a member of the Superior Council of Judiciary and member of the Supreme Council of Prosecution.

He comes into the justice Ministry when Rwandan prisons are overpopulated due to the high number of inmates, compared to the capacity of prisons.

Last year the Upper House urged government to consider decongesting prisons’ facilities by applying amnesty to those who are eligible, expanding prisons facilities, introducing electronic ankle monitors for those who are accused of committing minor crimes, among others.