GASABO - A Member of Parliament has been found guilty of Genocide and sentenced to life in prison. Nirere Beatrice, who represented the Rwandese Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) in the 80-member Parliament, was convicted by a Gacaca court of Giporoso, in Gasabo district, five months into her new term.

The lawmaker has for some time been under the spotlight after witnesses in the Kigali suburb mentioned her as being a prominent member of the Interahamwe militia which spearheaded the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis.

Former militia members accused Nirere of distributing uniforms and other equipment to bands of Interahamwe killers.

The court also found her guilty of setting up and supervising a roadblock at a place popularly known as "Escalier” near her house.

Thousands of Roadblocks were set up all over the country during the Genocide to sort out people on ethnic basis. All those found to be Tutsis were killed.

The court was told that Nirere, who was a Sous-Prefet (deputy Governor) in the former Byumba Prefecture in charge of social affairs, fled the advancing RPF troops in 1993 and moved to Kanombe, Kigali.

Witnesses said that because of her political position, the lawmaker wielded a lot of influence among the militia members.

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