President Paul Kagame has pardoned 32 convicts and approved the release of 2,017 prisoners on parole following the resolutions of an October 18 Cabinet meeting.
Among those pardoned is former Minister of State for Culture, Edouard Bamporiki, who was convicted of fraud and abuse of authority in 2023.
His sentence stemmed from accepting bribes to facilitate the reopening of a closed alcohol factory and securing the release of a businessman’s wife.
Also pardoned is Retired Commissioner General Emmanuel Gasana, a former Governor of Eastern Province, who had been sentenced to two and a half years for using his position to solicit illegal benefits.
Other notable individuals granted clemency include Christian Rwankunda, former Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Infrastructure, and Eric Serubibi, ex-Director General of the Rwanda Housing Authority, both convicted of mismanaging public funds during a 2018 government building purchase.
The pardon list also includes several inmates from various correctional facilities across Rwanda.