EASTERN PROVINCE

NGOMA — Since the trials of Category One genocide cases started in Ngoma district last month, gacaca courts have disposed of about 151 cases, an official has said.

Talking to The New Times, Silver Ngarambe, the district Director of Good Governance, said the majority were convicted and handed different sentences including life imprisonment. He did not reveal the number of those who were convicted or acquitted.

Category 1 suspects comprise those accused of playing a leading role in the Genocide. Most of the people in this category were in leadership positions; they committed acts of particular brutality, or perpetrated acts of sexual violence during the 1994 Genocide of Tutsis.

There are about 591 cases in this category in the whole district, however Ngarambe said the number could rise as eyewitnesses and those already tried come forward with new information that implicates others. He said that most of the remaining suspects yet to be tried fled the country.

"Since most of the suspects are out of the country, we hope to have completed trying those available by March next year,” he said. 

Gacaca courts in the district completed the trial of suspects in Category Two and Three, but Ngarambe revealed that some cases may be revisited as some people who were convicted are appealing the verdicts and eyewitness also pin other culprits. 

Those in Category Two are suspects who participated in physical attacks that resulted into the death of the victim while Category Three comprises of suspects accused of terrible assaults that were not necessarily fatal.

Ends