MP Theobald Mporanyi’s may lose his immunity after the Gacaca Court of Ngoma Sector passed a verdict that placed him in Category 1 of the masterminds of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

According to the Deputy Prosecutor General, Alphonse Hitimana, the MP’s case had not reached prosecution by yesterday.

"I have heard about the lawmaker’s case but we haven’t received any communication from the National Gacaca Jurisdiction. Upon receiving his case we will immediately write to Parliament requesting for his immunity to be lifted, so that it can pave way for our investigations,” said Hitimana.

The legislator was accused of torturing Tutsi students at the National University of Rwanda during the period leading to the Genocide, and inciting people to kill through a radio announcement aired on the National radio.

According to the law, Members of Parliament cannot be prosecuted unless their immunity is lifted.

Those that fall into Category 1 in Gacaca are the planners, organisers, instigators, supervisors of the Genocide, former leaders at the national, provincial or district levels, within political parties, army, religious denominations or militia.

Also in this category includes well-known murderers who distinguished themselves because of the zeal that characterised them in the killings and people who committed rape or acts of sexual.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament in Charge of Administration, Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo, said that Parliament will act according to the procedures when the right time comes.

"There is a procedure for investigating a person with immunity. The prosecution and parliament will have to go through the procedure.

So far, there has not been any form of communication from the Prosecution regarding Mporanyi’s immunity. If it comes, we will act accordingly,” he said.

The lawmaker denies all the charges.
If Mporanyi’s immunity is lifted, he will be the third lawmaker to lose it.

Former lawmaker, Beatrice Nirere, lost her immunity a few days in the House. She was prosecuted and sentenced to life imprisonment for having masterminded and led massacres during the Genocide.

MP Bikoro Munyanganizi, this year, lost his immunity to be investigated for tax evasion.

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