The Nyarugenge Central Prison under construction in Mageragere Sector, Nyarugenge District will be ready next year, the Minister for Internal Security, Sheikh Musa Fazil Harerimana, has said.

Harerimana was yesterday appearing before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Unity, Human Rights and fight against Genocide, to explain various issues raised by the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) in its latest report released in October last year.

The committee is currently following up the implementation of recommendations highlighted in the NCHR report on state of prisons, particularly, regarding the welfare of the detainees.

"Despite the delay in completion, works are in the final stages and I am sure by next year, Mageragere prison will be ready to receive inmates,” Harerimana said.

The minister added that funds for the completion of the prison will be allocated in the next financial year starting July.

The new prison, once complete, will also accommodate inmates from Gasabo prison located in Kimironko Sector.

The reassurance comes weeks after a recent National Leadership retreat raised concerns over delays in the completion of the prison.

Last week, the lawmakers visited Gasabo prison and expressed dissatisfaction with the state of infrastructure at the correctional facility.

MPs told The New Times that Gasabo Prison was in a worse state compared to the rest of the prisons they had visited. Other prisons visited include; Nsinda, Kibungo, Rusizi, and Cyangugu, among others.

"A portion of the total budget for the completion of Nyarugenge/Mageragere prison will be used to renovate Gasabo prison,” Harerimana said.

He said that after the construction of Mageragere prison, Kimironko prison will be turned into a women correctional facility and transit centre for minors and international inmates.

The new prison is expected to accommodate about 1,000 inmates, according to Harerimana. The government plans to have a women’s prison in every province.