Cabinet grants clemency to 1,874 prisoners and approves key laws and policies

By The Inspirer.

Cabinet, chaired by President Paul Kagame on Wednesday, 4 March 2026 at Village Urugwiro, granted clemency to 1,874 prisoners, allowing them temporary release. The decision was made in accordance with a Ministerial Order from the Ministry of Justice.

During the meeting, Cabinet approved several draft laws, including the Draft Law Governing Elections, the Draft Law on the National Human Rights Commission, and the Draft Law on Intellectual Property Trade.

It also ratified amendments to the 10 December 2020 Loan Agreement with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), including first and second additional loans for the Cooperative Program on Short-Term Livestock Markets.

Similarly, Cabinet ratified amendments to the 17 December 2021 Loan Agreement with IFAD, which includes additional loans for the Kayonza Wetlands Irrigation and Management Project, Phase 2.

The Cabinet also approved ministerial and presidential orders on a range of matters. These included the temporary release of the 1,874 prisoners, the management of government finances and assets, governance and organizational structure of the Higher Education Council, and a special statute for staff of the Intelligence Agency on financial matters.

Regulations were also approved on private industrial property, guarantees on seizure of suspected counterfeit goods, fees for intellectual property services, and the collection and distribution of royalties and other proceeds from copyrighted works.

In terms of policies, strategies, and programs, Cabinet endorsed measures to prevent and punish money laundering, terrorism financing, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. It approved the issuance of mining and quarry permits, as well as land allocation agreements with Planner Corretora de Valores S.A, Bauhaus International Rwanda Ltd, and Kivu Waterfront Limited for industrial, urban development, and investment projects.

Cabinet also approved diplomatic appointments, including Henrik Nilsson as Ambassador of Sweden to Rwanda based in Kigali, Tinyiko George Hlungwane as Ambassador of South Africa to Rwanda based in Kigali, and Juan Humberto Macias Pino as Ambassador of Cuba to Rwanda based in Kampala.

Leadership appointments were confirmed across key institutions, including the National Bank of Rwanda, the Appeals Board for Refugees, the Ministry of Local Government, the Ministry of Environment, and the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board.

Other announcements included plans to celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March 2026, Rwanda’s participation in the 70th UN Commission on the Status of Women from 9 to 19 March 2026, a three-month community welfare program led by the Ministry of Defence beginning 9 March 2026, and Rwanda hosting the International Astronautical Federation Global Climate Change Conference from 2 to 6 June 2026.