Inmates at Nyarugenge Correctional Facility took part in joyful celebrations to mark the end-of-year festive season, organized through a partnership between the Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS) and its partners.
The event was held on Monday, December 22, 2025, and brought together officials from RCS, the Ministry of Justice, and Ikiraro Nyarwanda, a civil society organization that promotes access to justice.
The celebrations were aimed at spreading joy among inmates and reaffirming that they continue to enjoy fundamental rights like other citizens.
The celebrations, held at Mageragere Prison, featured cultural entertainment by a dance troupe invited from outside the facility.
Videos shared on social media showed lively performances, including journalist Fatakumavuta engaging the audience as the master of ceremonies.
Women and children inmates were given special consideration during the event, in recognition of the unique challenges they face while in custody.
Female inmates often receive fewer family visits than men, a situation that can lead to emotional distress, loss of hope, and social isolation.
Charity Wibabara, Director of the International Justice Department at the Ministry of Justice, urged families with relatives detained at Mageragere to maintain regular visits, noting that such support plays a critical role in restoring hope and dignity.
“It has been observed that when men come into conflict with the law, their wives, children, and relatives continue to visit them. However, when women are imprisoned, their husbands often do not visit them, yet these women remain mothers of the nation,” she said.
Nyarugenge Correctional Facility currently accommodates 10,624 inmates, including 1,299 women, among whom 114 are living with their children.
Speaking on behalf of the inmates, their representative expressed gratitude to the Government of Rwanda, led by President Paul Kagame, emphasizing that accountability remains essential to maintaining justice and social order.
“No one would wish to live in a country where crimes go unpunished. No one would accept a society where children are abused without consequences, where theft goes unaddressed, or where drug trafficking is ignored,” the representative said.
He added that inmates value justice and do not consider themselves resentful, but instead appreciate the various justice and rehabilitation programs currently in place.
The representative also requested the Ministry of Justice to convey their message to the President of the Republic, expressing a desire for a presidential visit, while commending the recent visit by the Chief Justice, Domitille Mukantaganzwa.
Rwanda’s correctional system has undergone reforms aimed at shifting from punishment alone to a more rehabilitative approach, with greater emphasis on behavior change, reintegration, and respect for human dignity.
