The President

Prof. Sam RUGEGE

An organic law determines the procedure for the nomination of the President of the Supreme Court.

The Vice-President

KAYITESI Sylvie Zaïnabo

The Vice-President of the Supreme Court is appointed according to the same procedure as the one provided for the appointment of the President of the Supreme Court.

The Judges

The organic law determines that the Judges of the Supreme Court are elected by the Senate with the absolute majority on recommendation of the President of the Republic and two (2) candidates are proposed per post after consultation of the Cabinet and the Superior Council of the Judiciary.

These Judges of the supreme Court have various intellectual backgrounds different. They have also occupied different responsibility positions in Rwanda and elsewhere.

I. Mugenzi Louis Marie

He was born in 1954 in Nyamabuye in the former Cyangugu Province. He has had a B.A. degre/e in Law since 1983.

He occupied various positions of responsibility:

Since 2003 to date, Judge to the Supreme Court,

 1999-2003, Vice-President of the Supreme Court and President of the Council of the State,

 1990 - 1999, The Prosecuting Attorney to Supreme Court,

 1987-1990, General Secretary of the Ministry of the Justice,

 1986-1987, Attorney General,

 1975-1979 and 1984-1986, Assistant Public Prosecutor. He also attended refresher courses and training abroad:

 1989, study trip in USA (Administration of Courts and Tribunals)

 1992, Advanced training in France (Organization and Functioning of Jurisdictions especially the Court of Appeals)

 1998, Refresher course in Belgium (Management of the Public Prosecutor’s Department).

II. MUTASHYA Jean Baptiste

He was born in Butare in 1954. From 1974-1979, he got his B.A. degree in Law at the National University of Rwanda (NUR).

He occupied various positions:

 Since 2003 to date: Judge to the Supreme Court

 From1996 to 2003: Advisor to the Supreme Court, section Constitutional Court

 From 1987 to 1996: Advisor to the Supreme Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court

 From 1983 to 1987: Advisor to the Court of Appeal of Ruhengeri

From 1979 to 1983: Assistant Public Prosecutor.

III. NYIRINKWAYA Immaculée

She was born in July 1958. She did her academic studies at the University of Law, Economics and Social Studies of Paris II-Assas, where she got a B.A degree in Law in 1981 and an M.A degree in Business Law in1982.

After her M.A. degree, she spent some months learning the language in England; she also pursued her postgraduate studies in the same university and obtained a diploma in Specialized Higher Studies in Insurance Law (DESS).

She occupied various positions:

Since 2002, she has been a Judge to the Supreme Court

In 1996, she was appointed Judge to the Supreme Court of Appeal before being on secondment as Director of the National Center of Judicial Training

 From 1995 to 1996, Head of the Legal Department at the National Insurance Company of Rwanda

 1989 to 1994, Employee at the National Insurance Company Zurich-France,

 1988, Employee at the legal service of the Entreprise Committee of Air France

 1988 to 1987, Employee at an insurance brokerage office, New Insurance Organisation,

1985-1986: Used in a cabinet of brokerage in insurances, the New organization of insurances,

1982 to 1983, Training course in various institutions (National Bank of Burundi, Group of the National Insurance Companies of Paris)

IV. MUKANYUNDO Patricie

She was born in Cyabingo-Ruhengeri in 1956. She did her university studies in the School of Law at NUR from 1985 to 1989.

She participated in seminars on" Family Planning, Rural Development, Woman Entrepreneurship, Woman and Child Rights, Surveys on human rights, Prevention of industrial accidents, Symposium on Gacaca jurisdictions and conflicts at NUR, Development and follow-up of implementation of projects, human rights, sexual violence against women, the situation of trials at ICTR.

She occupied various positions:

 1998 to 2000, Observer of genocide trials in the LIPRODHOR

 1997 to 1997, Private Jurist,

 1991 to 1994, Jurist in CSR,

 1980 to 1985, Social worker of development of Ngoma in Butare

 1978 to 1980, Training Assistant in Nutrition in Ruhengeri,

 1977 to 1978, Social worker in the Center of Development and Continuous Training of Cyumba in Byumba.

V. HAVUGIYAREMYE Julien

He was born in 1949 in Nyanza. He did his studies from1971 to 1972 at the Official University of Burundi, from 1972 to 1974, at the National University of Zaire in Kinshasa in the Law school.

He occupied various positions:

 Since 2003 to date, Judge to the Supreme Court

 1999, Director of Legal affairs and Human Rights in the Prime Minister’s Services,

 From1989 to 1999, First Councilor of Rwandan Embassy in Zaire,

 From 1981 to 1986, Director of Legal Affairs in MINAFFET,

 From1979 to 1981, Chief of Division at the Directorate of Legal Affairs in MINAFFET,

 1978 to 1979, Administrative Secretary at the Direction of Legal Affairs in MINAFFET

VI. KAYITESI RUSERA Emily

She got her Master’s degree in Private law of Business in the University of Paris II (Assas), from1982 to 1983.

From1980 to 1982, B.A. degree in Law, University of Legal and Political Sciences of Paris VIII.

From 1978-1980, Diploma in General Studies of Law (DEUG), University Jean-Moulin, Lyon II.

Kayitesi occupied various positions of responsibility:

 Since 2003, she has been a Judge to the Supreme Court

 Since 2008, she has also been a Judge to the East African Court of Justice of Arusha in Tanzania

 1994-2000, Deputy at the national Assembly of Rwanda

 2002-2003, In charge of the Regional Program of UNIFEM in Kigali

 2001, Consulting barrister - the Bar of Kigali,

 1984-1992, Legal adviser to the Ministry of Planning and Reconstruction in Kinshasa in DRC Additionally:

 1998-2002, Commissioner in charge of Women Promotion, RPF,

 1999-2000, Chairperson of the Forum for Parliamentarian Rwandan Women.

VII. HATANGIMBABAZI Fabien

Hatangimbabazi Fabien was born in 1953 in Rutongo-Kigali Ngali. He did his academic studies and got his B.A. degree from NUR in the School of Law from 1974 to 1978.

He has also made numerous research works, including the Statute of the Widow in Rwandan Law, the situation of trials and sentences as regards genocide, report on a series of seminars of reflection on trials of genocide, lexicon of legal terms.

He occupied various positions:

 2003 to date, Judge to the Supreme Court,

 1997 to 1999, Employee of the Association of Lawyers without borders,

 1989 to 1994, Director of Administrative and Legal Affairs in MINAFFET,

 1984 to 1989, Prosecuting Attorney at the Public Prosecutor’s Department to the Court of Appeal of Ruhengeri,

 1983 to 1984, Magistrate Inspector of Courts and Tribunals in MINIJUST,

 1982 to 1983, Vice-President of the Court of Appeal of Kigali,

 1979 to 1982, Legal Assistant to the Court of Appeal of Kigali,

 1978 to 1979, Assistant Public Prosecutor of Gitarama.

VIII. 15. KANYANGE Fidélité

Kanyange Fidélité was born in Burundi in 1962. She did her undergraduate studies from 1986 to 1988 and got her B.A. degree in Law from the School of Law at the University of Burundi.

She also worked in several domains in Burundi and in Rwanda:

 Judge in the Supreme Court from 2003 to date,

 Lawyer to the Bar of Kigali from 1997 to 2003,

 In charge of the Legal Department in BCR in 1997,

 Judge to the High Instance of Bujumbura in 1991,

Judge to the High Instance of Gitega in 1991,

Legal advisor to the Ministry of Public Service in Burundi from 1989 to 1991.

IX. MUKAMULISA Marie Thérèse

Mrs. Mukamulisa was born in Kigali on June 29, 1965. She did her studies at UNR, the School of Law from 1986 to 1990. She specialized in Common Law at the University of Moncton in Canada from 1991 to 1993.

Mukamulisa participated in many training sessions, seminars and conferences abroad and in Rwanda on various themes such" Gender, Peace and Development, Conflict resolution and NGOs management, Legal Statute of the Rwandan woman, self-financing of women’s NGOs, human rights and gender issues, etc..

She also made numerous publications including" Efficiency of Law on Development, rights and obligations the Development, Respective rights and duties of spouses in Rwandan Law, Report on work placement at BNR".

She also occupied various positions:

 Commissioner at the National Legal and Constitutional Commission

 Secretary Executive in CCOAIB 3. Top RPF Leadership.

 Chief of the Legal Service in the SONARWA

 Visiting Lecturer at UNR

 Accountant Cashier at the Agricultural Survey and Statistics Project.

X. MUKANDAMAGE Marie Josée

Mukandamage Marie-Josée was born in Gitarama, on 16/08/1963. from1983-1987, she did law and obtained a B.A. degree in law from the National university of Rwanda (NUR).

 She occupied various positions:

 Since July 2009 to date, Judge of the Supreme Court.

 From 2004 to July 2009, Vice-President of the High Court,

 From1999 to December 2003, Vice-President of the Supreme Court and President of the General Accounting Office,

 From1995 to 1999, Director in charge of Legal Affairs and Human rights in the Prime Minister’s Office,

 From1992-1994, Director in charge of the Staff and Management in the Prime Minister’s Office,

 From1989-1992, Legal adviser and attorney of the Savings Bank of Rwanda (CER),

 From 1987-1988, Legal adviser of the Company of International Transportation in Rwanda (STIR), Other responsibilities:

 President of the Board of Directors of the Social Fund of Rwanda;

 President of SERUKA (Non-profit making association), Association for the promotion of Rwandan women for her effective involvement to the socioeconomic and political development of her country,

 Member of the Legal Commission of FAPREP, Group of Associations from Nursery Schools in Rwanda,

 Member of the Conflict Resolution Committee of the group of Associations for the socioeconomic and cultural promotion of Rwandan women, PRO-FEMME/TWESE HAMWE.

XI. MUNYANGERI NGANGO Innocent

Munyangeri Ngango was born on 11/10/1960 in Nyamitaba in DRC. From 1994 to 1997, he did law at the National university of the Rwanda(NUR) and obtained a B.A. degree in Law.

From 1991 to 1994, he was at the University of Lubumbashi / Law school and obtained an Associate Degree in Law.

He occupied various positions:

 July 2009 to date, Judge in the Supreme Court

 July 2009 - August 2008, President of the seconded Chamber of the High Court / Nyanza;

June 2006 - August 2008, President of the seconded Chamber of the High Court / Rusizi;

 April 2005 - June 2006, Judge of the High Court / Nyanza;

 July 2004 - April 2005, President of the Court of Province of Cyangugu, March 2001 - July 2004, President of the Court of First Instance of Butare,

 November 1999 - March 2001, Vice - President of the Court of First Instance of Ruhengeri

 July 1997 - November 1999: Senior staff in charge of the Humanitarian International Law and the diffusion of fundamental principles of the Red Cross in the C.I.C.R/Rwanda.

XII. RUGABIRWA Ruben

Rugabirwa was born in Bijombo in DRC, on 15/10/1962. From 1984 to 1989, he studied in Louvanium University of Kinshasa and got his B.A. degree in Law. He occupied various positions:

 2006 to date, Judge to the Supreme Court,

 From 2005 to 2006, President of the seconded Chamber of the High Court of Musanze,

 From 2004 to 2005, Consultant in MINIJUST,

 In 2004, Advisor to the Supreme Court, Department of Courts and Tribunals, President (acting) of that Department, appointed to the Supreme Court of Appeals,

 From1994 to 1996, Chief of Division of the relations with the judicial services at MINIJUST and institutional relations.


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