President Kagame has pardoned 18 youth who were serving their respective sentences in Nyagatare juvenile Prison after displaying "good behavior and passing national examinations with very high grades,” according to the Cabinet resolution statement.

The decision was announced on Friday during an extraordinary Cabinet Meeting chaired by the President that was held at Village Urugwiro.

According to Hillary Sengabo, Spokesperson for Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS), the pardoned youth included three who passed O’level and 15 who passed Primary leaving examinations last year.

"Eight in primary passed with Division 1 and the rest were Division 2. The three youths in senior three were below Division 3,” Sengabo said.

It is the second time, President Kagame has granted prerogative of mercy to convicted minors in Nyagatare Juvenile Rehabilitation Centre who RCS facilitated to continue their education and pass primary and secondary school with high grades.

About 2 years ago, RCS, in collaboration with Rwanda Education Board (REB), authorised the young inmates to sit for examinations since the facility was launched in 2014.

The Nyagatare-based Juvenile Rehabilitation Centre accommodates children between the ages of 14 and 18 who are convicted of various crimes. It provides Primary, secondary education and vocational training to the juveniles.

The Cabinet Meeting also approved the Ministerial Order granting release on parole to 392 inmates who have fulfilled legal requirements.

Details on these inmates were not readily available by press time.

Meanwhile, the Extraordinary Cabinet Meeting also made several appointments, with former Education minister Dr. Papias Musafiri Malimba being appointed Deputy Vice Chancellor for Strategic Planning and Administration at University of Rwanda.

Musafiri was replaced by Dr. Eugene Mutimura in the Education Ministry last year.

Three Judges were also appointed in the Military High Court. They included; Maj Cyrille Sibomana, Maj Phanuel Kalibu and Capt Frederic Kayijuka.

In Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Louise Ingabire Kanyonga was appointed Head of Strategy and Competitiveness while Eugene Mutangana and Richard Kayibanda were appointed Head of Conservation Department and Registrar General (Head of Department) respectively.

Pascal Nzaramba is the new Managing Director of Rwanda Airports Company (RAC) while Isabelle Umugwaneza was appointed Deputy Managing Director in charge of Corporate Services at the same institution.

Innocent Twahirwa was appointed Managing Director of Rwanda Maintenance Fund (RMF), while Felix Gakuba was made Managing Director of Energy Development Corporation Limited (EUCL).

Gakuba replaces Emmanuel Kamanzi who is in custody over charges that include flouting tendering procedure and abuse of office.

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