Cabinet grants parole to over 600 prisoners

KIGALI - The cabinet meeting Wednesday approved the release of 649 prisoners who had served a quarter of their sentences and had shown good behaviour. They include those detained in both civilian and military prisons. The Minister of Internal Security, Musa Fazil Harerimana, said that over 3000 prisoners had applied for parole but only 649 were approved after screening. In a telephone interview yesterday, Harerimana said that the screening of those who applied for parole is done but a team of prosecutors in partnership with prison wardens. He said that parole does not apply to Genocide convicts and most of those put on parole were charged with petty crimes. The Cabinet also appointed Rwanda’s Special Representative to the ICTR, Alloys Mutabingwa, as the new Deputy Secretary General of the East African Community. It also sacked the Chairperson of the National Land Commission, Vincent Ngarambe, as well as the Director General of the commission, Eugène Rurangwa. Others appointed in the Ministry of East African Community include Harriet Gakwaya who was appointed the Director of Finance and Internal Management, Aimé Uwase was appointed Planning and Research Expert while Catherine K. Gashegu was appointed Programme and Coordination Expert. Other appointments made during the meeting were mostly in the justice sector and they include the head of prosecution in Gasabo district Alain Bernard Mukuralinda who was appointed as Senior Prosecutor. Gaspard Rudatinya and Béatrice Ntawangundi were appointed Prosecution supervisers for the Intermediate level. Their team includes Budengeri Boniface, Uwimana Ziyada, Nkikabahizi François, Munyampundu Anaclet and Mme Nyiramucyo Dorothée. Those named Prosecutors for the Primary Court include Jocelyne Kaligirwa, Christine Kayirebwa, Ibtisam Jeanine Uwiragiye, Eric Gatete, Godefroid Kayinamura, Aline Gahamanyi and Honorine Nyirambonwa. The Cabinet also appointed other experts in different ministries and in the Ministry of Youth Colette Mukandoli was appointed the Education and Skills Development Expert; Jean Marie Rwendeye will serve as the expert on Youth Economic Affairs, Assiata Sall Rwabutogo was appointed expert in charge of Monitoring and Evaluation while Jean Serge Polisi is the new expert for Youth Mobilisation. The cabinet also appointed Personal Assistants to different Cabinet Ministers. Ends