Parliament passes Bar bill

The lower chambers of Parliament yesterday anonymously approved the bill establishing the Kigali Bar Association. It’s the second time the bill instituting the umbrella association of practicing lawyers is going back to parliament, the first time members of the Bar Association rejected the bill that had been forwarded by the government requesting that paralegals be exempted from being members of the Bar. The preambles of the new bill were presented to the Parliament by Tharcisse Karugama, the Minister of Justice and State Attorney General. In his address to the House, he told lawmakers that the government decided to withdraw the initial bill to create some calm among the practitioners as it had created a lot of controversies within the justice sector. “After several consultations with all the parties in the justice sector, this new bill will come up with exceptional; lawyers of civil society, state advocates, and military advocates can now register with the Bar Association,” Karugarama said. He also added those government officials who are professionally lawyers can register with the Bar Association as members but do not have to practice until they are no longer serving in public offices. After his presentation, Members of Parliament questioned the independence of the judiciary especially the Bar Association since there will be government officials like the state attorneys who will be members of the bar. Karugarama assured MPs that the judicial sovereignty will not be affected in any way. Ends

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Parliament passes Bar bill