The construction of Rwanda’s first social reintegration centre, commonly known as a "halfway home,” is nearing completion and is expected to begin operations in February 2025.

This was revealed by Minister of Justice and Attorney General Emmanuel Ugirashebuja on Thursday, December 19 during the Rwanda Bar Association’s annual conference at the Kigali Convention Centre.

A halfway home is designed to assist inmates nearing the end of their sentences to reintegrate into the community.

According to Ugirashebuja, the center will initially support 250 female inmates next year. He noted that if the initiative proves successful, similar centers would be established nationwide.

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He explained how the programme will work: "As individuals approach the end of their sentences, they will begin a reintegration journey in Halfway homes. They can go out during the day, return to the center in the evening, and engage with the community.

This interaction is intended to ease their transition and foster societal acceptance once they complete their sentences. We are expecting that this initiative will be successful.”

Therese Kubwimana, the Acting Director of Public Relations, and Media at Rwanda Correctional Services (RCS), said recently that the centre in Rwamagana District will be developed in three phases and will accommodate 2,500 inmates. The first phase will begin with 250 female inmates from regional correctional facilities.

Explaining why the pilot phase will focus on women, Kubwimana said,

"Our initial goal was to bring inmates closer to the community, and we chose to focus on women because they are often more vulnerable and play a crucial role in building families.

"By equipping them with the necessary skills, we aim to reintegrate them into society fully.”

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She added that the halfway social reintegration centre would provide inmates with the necessary tools to become productive members of society by sharpening the technical skills they acquired in correctional facilities, helping them compete in the job market upon release.

According to her, the centre, which will be the first of its kind on the continent, is part of a broader effort to enhance the successful reintegration of inmates into society.

Construction of the pilot phase began in May last year. The first phase will accommodate 250 women, the second phase 250 women and 1,000 men, and the final phase will house 1,000 men. Inmates will stay at the centre for six to 10 months.

The facility will include various amenities, such as workshop centres, dormitories, a health post, a kitchen, a multipurpose building, and a store.

Inmates will receive training in career development, entrepreneurial skills, mental health counselling, drug use prevention, and conflict resolution and management.

During inmates&039; stay at the center, they will be entitled to visits from family and friends.