Rwandan member of opposition Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza broke her silence following the decision by the High Court in Rwanda to deny her rehabilitation.
This was through a ruling in a case in which she was seeking to be cleared and exonerated in order to restore all her rights as a citizen.
Ingabire through a statement on 13th March 2024 expressed her disappointment in light of the High Court’s decision not to grant her rehabilitation through the ruling.
“This verdict arrives at a critical moment, as Rwanda prepares for the legislative and presidential elections scheduled for July 2024, elections in which I hoped to participate as a candidate, advocating for change and democracy,” read part of the statement.
The opposition leader and vocal critic of President Paul Kagame‘s government in her statement indicated that the refusal of her rehabilitation was not merely a personal setback.
She further voiced her concerns claiming that the denial was a clear indication of the broader issues facing her country, issues that Rwandan human rights organizations and development partners have long criticized.
“It underscores the prevailing concerns about the independence of the judiciary, the restriction of political rights and the suppression of alternative voices in Rwanda. Today’s decision is a stark reminder of the barriers to political participation and the urgent need for reform in our country’s governance,” she added.
Ingabire Found Guilty and Jailed
Victoire’s row with President Kagame can be dated back to 2010 when she was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Rwandan Supreme court in a politically motivated judicial proceeding.
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She had just returned to Rwanda from exile in The Netherlands in 2010 to run for presidency when she was jailed and later found guilty of conspiracy to undermine an established government and cause insurrections.
The prosecution also found her guilty of denying and minimizing the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
However, she filed an appeal to the African court on Human and People’s rights which cleared her and held that the country violated her rights to freedom of expression as well as to adequate defense.
Ingabire was released in 2018 after President Kagame commuted her prison sentence of 15 years through a presidential grace after eight years of imprisonment, five of which she spent in isolated confinement.
Seeks Rehabilitation
Following her release, she filed a case through her lawyer Gatera Gashabana in November 2023 seeking to be cleared of her criminal record, based on her conduct over the five years since her release.
However, the Court has since ruled against her as she went on to oppose the ruling saying that the court’s decision is a missed opportunity for Rwanda to take meaningful strides toward establishing a genuine democracy.
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“It not only impacts my ability to contribute to Rwanda’s political landscape but also restricts the Rwandan people’s capacity to explore diverse political perspectives,” she lamented.
Victoire further stated that despite the decision, her resolve will remain unshaken, adding that she is committed to continuing with the struggle for the establishment of genuine democracy in Rwanda, advocating for respect for human rights and the rule of law.
She is the founder and chair of the Development and Liberty for All (DALFA-Umurinzi) political party, which is yet to be registered in Rwanda. It aims to strive for the rule of law and sustainable development that benefits every Rwandan.
Ingabire was looking forward to dethroning President Kagame from his seat who had in September 2023 declared his intention to seek a fourth term in the upcoming 2024 presidential election.
This decision could extend his tenure to a quarter of a century in power, having assumed the presidency in 2000.
A constitutional amendment in 2015 that effectively altered term limits meant the President became eligible for an additional decade in office.
