Aimable Havugiyaremye (in blue suit) is Rwanda’s new Prosecutor General
A cabinet meeting chaired by President Paul Kagame on Thursday made new changes in key institutions, with Jean Bosco Mutangana, who was the Prosecutor General and his Deputy Agnes Mukagashugi dropped from the National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA).
Aimable Havugiyaremye, who until yesterday was the chairperson of the Rwanda Law Reform Commission (RLRC), was named the new Prosecutor General and he will be deputised by Angelique Habyarimana.
Havugiyaremye has been the head of the institution charged with drafting and revising laws in the country since 2017. Prior to that, he was the acting rector of the Institute of Legal Practice and Development (ILPD).
The seasoned legal expert who boasts of a PhD in the interpretation of laws was the Deputy Chairperson of RLRC before heading the same institution. He also served as a Principal State Attorney before. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Law from the University of Pretoria in South Africa.
He was also a lecturer at the then National University of Rwanda (NUR) where he also earned his bachelor’s degree.
Meanwhile, it is not yet clear why Mutangana and Mukagashugi were dropped but the NPPA has in recent months been in the spotlight for failing to sufficiently prosecute cases related to sexual violence and statutory rape cases, though it is not yet clear if that is the reason behind their sacking.
Mutangana has been in the post for three years, having replaced Richard Muhumuza who was appointed a Supreme Court Judge.
Among other appointments, Lt. Gen Frank Mushyo Kamanzi who recently completed his tour as Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), was appointed the new Ambassador to the Russian Federation while Ernest Rwamucyo, who was Rwanda’s High Commissioner to India was named Rwanda’s Ambassador to Japan.
Rwamucyo replaces Venantie Sebudandi in Tokyo.
Ambassador Jacqueline Mukangira will replace Rwamucyo in New Delhi as the High Commissioner to India. Nkurunziza Valens was appointed as the Vice President of the Commercial High Court. He was a Judge in the high court.
In other decisions, the cabinet approved a Ministerial Order granting provisional release of Col. Dr Etienne Uwimana, who was a Doctor at Rwanda Military Hospital as well as a Prime Minister’s order dismissing Esther Batamuriza, who was Director of Administration and Finance in the Rwanda Cooperative Agency from Public Service due to gross misconduct.
