Brig Gen Patrick Karuretwa has officially assumed his role as President of the Military High Court, alongside other newly appointed officials for the Military High Court and Military Tribunal. The appointments, approved by the Cabinet on 9 November 2024, were formalized during a swearing-in ceremony presided over by the Right Hon. Prime Minister, Dr. Edouard Ngirente, in Kigali.
Lt Col Charles Sumanyi was sworn in as Vice President of the Military High Court, while Lt Col Gerard Muhigirwa took the position of Vice President of the Military Tribunal. The ceremony also saw the appointment of Lt Darcy Ndayishimiye and Lt Thérèse Mukasakindi as Judges in the Military High Court, as well as Capt Moses Ndoba and Lt Victor Kamanda as Judges in the Military Tribunal.
In his inaugural address, Brig Gen Karuretwa emphasized the heightened significance of justice and discipline within the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF).
“Justice is an important element in Rwandan society, but in the context of the Rwanda Defence Forces, Justice and Discipline weigh even heavier due to the nature of the mission and responsibilities of the Military because of the kind of training and means soldiers have. All these aspects make it indispensable to put more emphasis on Justice and Discipline,” he said.
“As the new President of the Military High Court, my guidance, instructions, and intentions are to put significant emphasis on Justice and Discipline so that members of the Military are not tempted to misuse the powers they have in a way that would be detrimental to Rwandan society,” he added.
In other capacities, he serves as the Director General International Military Cooperation.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ngirente commended the appointees and underscored the importance of professionalism and continuous learning in their duties. He called on them to embrace technology as a tool to enhance efficiency and improve service delivery in the military judiciary.
The ceremony was attended by a host of senior officials, including the Minister of Defence, Hon. Juvenal Marizamunda; the Minister of Justice, Dr. Emmanuel Ugirashebuja; and the Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Ines Mpambara. Key military leaders, including RDF Chief of Defence Staff, Gen MK Mubarakh; Prosecutor General Angelique Habyarimana; and Military Prosecutor General, Col Pacifique Kabanda, were also present.
This development marks a significant milestone in the reform and strengthening of Rwanda’s military judiciary, reflecting the country’s commitment to upholding justice and discipline within the armed forces while safeguarding the well-being of society at large.
