Judiciary gets Euro 35m support fund

The Ministry of Justice Wednesday received Euro 35m financial support to be distributed within different judicial institutions in the country. The money pooled together as a judicial support package comes from Rwanda’s different development partners. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between these donors and the Minister of Finance. The judicial institutions that will benefit from this grant include the Ministry of Justice, National Police, National Public Prosecution Authority, Supreme Court, Human Rights Commission, National Unity and Reconciliation Commission, Office of the Ombudsman and Military Courts. Minister of Justice Tharcisse Karugarama said the money will be allocated to the national budget and the Ministry of Finance will be in charge of disbursing it to different judicial institutions in accordance with their budget line. “Before this coordination, each department had to apply for its own financial support, which would in turn make the general evaluation hard,” he explained. Speaking at the signing of agreement, the head of European Commission Dr. David Macrae said that the support they are offering seeks to contribute in a more effective way to Rwanda’s development. “The justice sector forms a very important aspect of good governance in the country,” Ambassador Macrae said. Other donor representatives expressed commitment to supporting the sector which is of great importance following the atrocities that befell this country in 1994. It is rewarding to have a partner with vision, strategy and seriousness like Rwanda,” said the Germany’s representative. Apart from European Commission, other signing partners included Germany, Netherlands, United States and Belgium among others. Ends