President Paul Kagame has granted pardons to several high-profile figures, including Edouard Bamporiki, the former State Minister for Culture, and retired Commissioner General Emmanuel Gasana, as part of a larger clemency initiative that saw the release of hundreds of convicts.
Among those freed are Aloys Rusizana, a prominent businessman, and Eric Serubibi, the former head of the Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA), both of whom had been convicted of corruption-related offenses
Bamporiki, sentenced in January 2023 to five years in prison and fined Rwf30 million, was convicted of abusing his office for personal gain. He had solicited and accepted bribes in exchange for using his influence in government matters. His public admission of guilt during the trial led to a reduced sentence, though his case attracted widespread attention, especially due to the fact that he was placed under house arrest during the legal proceedings.
Emmanuel Gasana, the former Inspector General of Rwanda National Police and later Governor of both the Eastern and Southern Provinces, had a distinguished career in Rwanda’s security sector. In 2022, he was convicted of abusing his office for personal enrichment. Despite his significant contributions to national security, his conviction underscored the government’s firm stance on holding public officials accountable for misconduct. His release, facilitated by the presidential pardon, brings an end to his legal challenges, although his return to public service remains uncertain.
Also pardoned was Aloys Rusizana, a businessman involved in a corruption scandal that implicated him in tax evasion and the misuse of public funds alongside Eric Serubibi, the former head of the Rwanda Housing Authority. Both Rusizana and Serubibi had been serving sentences for financial mismanagement in sectors critical to Rwanda’s development.
The clemency initiative is part of Rwanda’s broader efforts to rehabilitate offenders and reintegrate them into society. While Bamporiki, Gasana, Rusizana, and Serubibi have been released, their corruption convictions serve as a reminder of the high ethical standards expected of Rwanda’s public officials and business leaders.