A family dispute turned violent, resulting in Godereva Mukakibibi fatally striking her husband with a wooden stick. Mukakibibi received a 10-year sentence at Ngoma Women Correctional Facility for this crime.

While incarcerated, she grappled with the burden of her husband’s death, tormented by regret and guilt daily.

"Both my family and my husband’s family despised me; the thought of life post-punishment filled me with remorse and disgrace; I wished to remain in prison forever.”

While serving her sentence, she participated in a rehabilitation programme within the prison. Mukakibibi is among the 5,160 individuals who took part in a 15-week holistic peace-building initiative across four prisons, facilitated by Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS), Interpeace, Prison Fellowship, and other supporting partners.

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The initiative focuses on helping inmates confront their past actions, and reinforcing community capacity for social cohesion and reconciliation through societal trauma healing.

Mukakibibi said: "My perspective on life has changed and given me hope for a better future. I thought about committing suicide five times, but now I am grateful for the opportunity to confront my past and work towards healing and reconciliation. I am determined to make amends for my actions and become a productive member of society once again. I believe that with the skills I have learned here, I can build a better life for myself and contribute positively to my community.”

Mukakibibi has graduated from the tailoring class, acquiring valuable skills that will assist her in reintegrating into society after completing her sentence in seven months.

The inmates receive training in tailoring, nail technology, salon and crafts making, among other skills. These products are then displayed and sold in a workshop outlet within the prison. The inmate receives a certain percentage of the money made from the products, which is then submitted to the canteen for the beneficiary—for their wellbeing during their time—instead of giving them cash directly.

Edith Mukabutera is another inmate convicted of genocide crimes at Ngoma Women Correctional Facility. During the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, her sister hid a Tutsi, but she (Mukabutera) called Interahamwe and told them where the person was hiding, who was then killed.

During the Gacaca Courts, Mukabutera was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in prison. For years, she denied any involvement in the crime until Mvura Nkuvure’s sociotherapy discussions. Eventually, she acknowledged the crime she committed and asked for forgiveness from the victim’s family.

"My heart is free, I am reborn, and Mvura Nkuvure has lifted the weight of denying my actions,” she said.

She is part of the prisoners’ group, creating handcrafted items such as baskets, bowls, and bags.

Purpose

Offering emotional support and guidance, and a source of livelihood, to incarcerated women promotes personal development and a hopeful mind-set, according to Rwanda Correctional Service.

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SP Janet Bugingo, Division Manager of Correction at RCS, said, "We are helping them rebuild their lives, and working towards a more effective and humane justice system that prioritises rehabilitation over punishment.”

Bugingo added that the programme has shown promising results in reducing re-offense rates among female inmates and promoting a sense of community and support within the prison.

"When an inmate, mostly women, finishes her sentence and re-enters society, she is better equipped to reintegrate and thrive; this ultimately leads to a decrease in repeat offenses because most of the inmates we receive have committed crimes due to not having jobs. With programmes like Mvura Nkuvure, they can gain skills and confidence to pursue legitimate employment opportunities.”

In prisons, the majority of inmates engage in vocational training programmes and counselling sessions to get ready for their life post-release. And, as per Rwanda Correctional Services (RCS), it is crucial for families of inmates to visit them as it significantly aids in their successful reintegration into society.

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"Visiting an inmate gives a sense of connection and belonging, which are crucial for their rehabilitation and successful reintegration into society, reducing their chances of reoffending. We call upon host families to visit inmates and support the available efforts of rehabilitation and integration,” Bugingo said.

As part of the trauma healing programme, Interpeace collaborates with RCS to rehabilitate and reintegrate genocide perpetrators into their communities. With over 20,000 individuals set to be released in the near future, Interpeace aids RCS in creating a national curriculum for prisoner rehabilitation and reintegration.

Interpeace has also introduced healing dialogues inside the prisons, targeting those who are about to complete their sentences, to prepare them for life after prison, said Frank Kayitare, Country Director of Interpeace.

Interpeace reinforces community capacity for social cohesion and reconciliation through societal trauma healing approaches in communities and prisons and will expand to all 30 districts to foster unity and reconciliation among Rwandans.

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Officially initiated in 2005, the Mvura Nkuvure (Heal me, I heal you) programme—a community-based sociotherapy—was taken to Ngoma Women’s Correctional Facility in 2020. Since then, it has reached over 12,000 people. In 2023, over 5,000 people, including 352 inmates, benefited from the healing dialogues inside prisons in Ngoma, Nyagatare, Nyamagabe, Musanze, and Nyabihu.