Members of Parliament have urged the Ministry of Justice to address delays in criminal proceedings, particularly cases where suspects remain in temporary detention for extended periods without being brought to trial.
The concern was raised during discussions between Minister of Justice and Attorney General Dr. Emmanuel Ugirashebuja and the Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, as lawmakers assessed progress in implementing Rwanda’s 2022 Criminal Justice Policy.
While MPs acknowledged improvements made in the justice sector, they said delays in resolving some cases continue to raise concerns about access to timely justice.
MP Mukabunani Christine specifically highlighted the issue of suspects whose 30-day temporary detention periods are repeatedly extended, leaving some individuals in custody for years before their cases are concluded.
“Someone can spend two years in prison while still being described as being under 30-day temporary detention,” she said, warning that prolonged extensions could undermine the principle of fair justice.
The Minister told lawmakers that the 2022 Criminal Justice Policy has contributed to reducing case backlogs, improving judicial efficiency and easing pressure on correctional facilities.
According to Dr. Ugirashebuja, the backlog of cases has declined from 62% to 42% since the policy was introduced, although it remains above the government’s target of reducing it to 30% by 2029 under the second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2).
He added that prison congestion has also decreased from 144.5% before the policy was introduced to 97.5%.
However, the Minister acknowledged that implementation still faces challenges, including limited financial resources and insufficient numbers of prosecutors, judges and other justice sector personnel.
“The first challenge is capacity, as some interventions require significant financial resources. The number of people implementing this policy has not increased significantly,” Dr. Ugirashebuja said.
Lawmakers also pointed to gaps in digital skills among some justice sector actors and users of electronic justice systems, saying these may affect efforts to deliver faster and more accessible justice.
The Ministry of Justice said continued reforms under the policy are expected to help Rwanda meet its goal of reducing case backlogs and improving efficiency within the justice system.
