Dr. Iyamuremye Augustine
Rwanda’s senate has this morning interviewed seven commissioners that were proposed by the cabinet yesterday to support lawmakers in amendment of constitutional.
“We sat an interview before the senate political committee. If they find that we qualify for the job, the plenary will confirm us,” says Augustine Iyamuremye, the proposed chairman of the commission.
Iyamuremye is a former member of parliament and a veterinarian who has accumulated expertise in Rwandan politics and now chairman of Rwanda Elders Advisory Council.
Usta Kayitesi, PhD in law and the Principle for University of Rwanda, College of Arts and Social Sciences, is deputy chair of the commission that will have four months renewable tenure, reporting to the lower chamber.
Members of the commission include John Mirenge, a lawyer and the Chief Executive Officer of Rwandair Ltd who also was once Chairman and CEO of Crystal Ventures before heading the national utility then called ELECTROGAZ.
Evode Uwizeyimana, a lawyer and vice chairman of Rwanda Law Reform Commission, will bring to the commission expertise from his office’s routine job of law reviewing.
From Rwanda Law Reform Commission, Loyce Bamwine, Manager in charge of legal research and reform and Beata Mukeshimana, Head of Department of law research reform and revision will join the team.
Also in this commission is Aimable Havugiyaremye, the Principle of Nyanza based Institute of Legal Practice and Development.
“The cabinet made a wise decision. Our commission is made of people who have know-how in law review,” says Mukeshimana.
Proposed in a law that was initiated by the parliament, the commission will respond to over four million petitions from Rwandans demanding for constitutional amendment, especially the legality of scrapping off of presidential term limits.
In the petitions, over four million Rwandans said they want President Paul Kagame to run beyond 2017, yet his legal and last term ends then.
After voting in fourvour of the petitions, the parliament passed a law providing for the creation of a commission to study and advise on the amendment. The law the parliament initiated provided that the commission should include at least two lawyers, and 30% female commissioners.
Upon approval by the Senate, the commissioners who will be based in Kigali will take an oath in front of the President of Supreme court, and then take a leave from their current employment.
“My country invested a lot in me and gave me capacity to work on Rwandans’ aspirations. I cannot take it for granted,” Says Kayitesi.
The senate reserves the right to reject or pass any proposed name.
Dr. Usta Kaitesi
John Mirenge
Loyce Bamwine
Aimable Havugiyaremye
Beata Mukeshimana
Evode Uwizeyimana