KIGALI - Ten countries will converge in Kigali today to kick-start a 3-day conference and celebrations to mark 200 years since the first Ombudsman’s office was established, The New Times reports.

The conference will discuss how to increase the perfomance of these institutions whose attributions are to promote the human rights and to fight corruption and other related offences.

Briefing reporters yesterday, Rwanda’s Ombudsman, Tito Rutaremara, said that Rwanda was requested by the Swedish Ombudsman to host the prestigious conference shortly after referring  Ethiopia here for lessons.

"Ethiopia had requested Sweden to host them as they learn how the Ombudsman’s office operates but the Swedish Ombudsman referred them (Ethiopia) to instead pick lessons from Rwanda. Maybe that’s why we were chosen,”he said.

The conference, that will be officially opened by President Paul Kagame will discuss how those institutions can improve in several areas of cooperation.

Rutaremara said that the conference will be attended by the Ombudsman from Sweden,Namibia,Mauritius,Mali,Burkina Faso,Burundi,Uganda,Tanzania and Kenya. 

By press time, Malawi, Ethiopia and Ghana were yet to confirm attendence.

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