The Rwanda Bar Association members have re-elected Moise Nkundabarashi as its president for another three-year term. He has assured members of his commitment to further developing the association and building on previous accomplishments. The elections, held on January 31, 2025, saw Nkundabarashi secure 875 votes out of 880 and also saw six other council members elected to serve alongside him for the next three years. Nkundabarashi expressed gratitude to his fellow lawyers for trusting him and the newly elected governing council with another term. He emphasized the importance of continuity, stating, “We can build upon what we have achieved in the past three years.” ALSO READ: Nkundabarashi, President of Rwanda Bar Association, on his agenda Key achievements in the previous term During his first term, Nkundabarashi and his team focused on ensuring financial sustainability for the Rwanda Bar Association. “Over the past three years, we have continued investment plans to make the Bar a self-reliant organization. We have invested approximately Rwf900 million in the Rwanda National Investment Trust,” he said. This investment, he explained, was meant to sustain projects such as the medical insurance and pension schemes without placing additional financial burdens on lawyers. Another achievement was increasing the salaries of employees in the Bar Association’s secretariat. “These employees had gone nearly a decade without a pay rise, and we addressed that,” he said. In terms of pro bono services, Nkundabarashi highlighted the association’s contributions to access to justice. “Each year, we provide legal representation for 5,000-10,000 vulnerable individuals. We believe this is a crucial service in ensuring justice for all,” he said. ALSO READ: Pro bono services: Did you know you can get legal representation in Rwanda, free of charge? He also noted progress in decentralizing legal services. “Previously, access to lawyers was concentrated in Kigali. Now, we have an increasing number of lawyers serving in cities such as Musanze, Nyagatare, Rubavu, Huye, and Rusizi. This allows citizens to access legal services without having to travel to the capital.” Plans for the new term Nkundabarashi outlined his vision for the next three years. “We will continue fulfilling our core mission of regulating the legal profession and providing legal representation. However, we also recognize our role in the socio-economic transformation of the country,” he said. He emphasized the importance of expanding the Bar Association’s contributions beyond justice. “We aspire to be an institution that thinks big. While justice remains our core mandate, we also want to contribute to the country’s broader socio-economic development.” Nkundabarashi reaffirmed the association’s commitment to sustaining the pension and medical schemes introduced during his previous term. “Currently, we have four retired lawyers receiving monthly support and medical coverage. At retirement, financial security for medical expenses becomes crucial, and we are dedicated to sustaining this initiative. Additionally, we continue to seek external funding to support these programmes beyond members. contributions.” The newly elected council Alongside Nkundabarashi, six council members were elected, including Jordan Ndahayo, Phocas Rutembesa, Delphine Mukakarangwa, Fatuma Mukabibi and Olivier Rwamasirabo, and Alice Umulisa. According to Nkundabarashi together, they will work to strengthen the association and address key challenges facing the legal profession in Rwanda. Who is Moise Nkundabarashi? Born in 1981 in Burundi, Nkundabarashi is a Rwandan lawyer with a distinguished career in the legal profession. He studied at the former National University of Rwanda in Butare from 2005 to 2008 and joined the Rwanda Bar Association in 2010 as a sole practitioner. In 2014, he became a partner at Trust Law Chambers in the Department of Litigation and Dispute Resolution. In 2017, he obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Institute of Legal Practice and Development (ILPD). He has been a member of the East African Law Society since 2014. Nkundabarashi’s leadership experience includes serving as a council member of the Rwanda Bar Association in 2016 before being elected as its president in 2021. Notably, he was part of the team that prepared the Muse Report, titled “A Foreseeable Genocide in Rwanda and the Role of France.”
