Hundreds of inmates in Rwanda are set to benefit from a new reintegration model, as the country’s half-way homes are being upgraded into centres that provide vocational skills, counselling, and family support aimed at helping former inmates return to society with confidence and dignity. ALSO READ: Halfway homes: Justice should be corrective and not retributive The first centre, based in Muhazi Sector, Rwamagana District, was inaugurated on September 3 by the Minister of Interior, Dr Vincent Biruta. It is the first of several planned facilities. According to Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS), the centre complements the existing correctional system but focuses specifically on inmates nearing the end of their sentences. It is part of a broader vision to help former offenders reintegrate as law-abiding citizens capable of contributing to national development. “The programme equips inmates with practical skills and social support before their release,” said RCS Commissioner General Evariste Murenzi. “It includes strengthening vocational skills that the inmates had learned while in correctional facilities, entrepreneurship training and links with private sector partners, civic education, and access to government programmes,” he added. ALSO READ: Judiciary to focus on ADR, speedy, accessible justice in new year Murenzi also explained that inmates will receive mental health counselling, take part in reconciliation sessions with victims’ families, and join outreach initiatives to educate young people about the dangers of crime. “These measures address the anxiety, depression, and uncertainty that many prisoners face as they approach release,” CG Murenzi added. “By answering questions such as ‘Where will I go?’ and ‘How will those I wronged perceive me?’, the centre is expected to significantly reduce reoffending.” Currently, the facility hosts 250 female inmates nearing release. They will later be joined by another 250 women and 2,000 men, bringing its full capacity to 2,500. The centre is being constructed in three phases: Phase One provides accommodation for women and housing for RCS staff; Phase Two will add facilities for men and shared services; and Phase Three will introduce recreational areas and landscaping. For many inmates, the project has already brought hope. Christine Tuyiringire, who has seven months left to serve, said: “When you are in prison, your mind is confined. Here, it feels like being outside. We even get to visit our families. I’ve found sewing machines here, so I can continue improving my tailoring and one day make beautiful clothes at home.” Another inmate, Jeannette Mukaniyonshuti, said the centre helps reduce the stigma prisoners face. ALSO READ: Chief Justice says 80% of disputes could be handled through ADR “This gives us the right to visit our homes and prepare for challenges awaiting us, so nothing will take us by surprise. It will also help us reconnect with victims, ask forgiveness, and return to our families with confidence and new skills,” she said. Speaking at the inauguration, Dr Vincent Biruta, Minister of Interior, said the government will assess the impact of the centre before rolling out similar facilities across the country with the support of partners. He tasked them to be ambassadors of a crime free neighbourhood once they finish their sentences; live in harmony within communities; and pioneer a developmental transformation within their families. The Minister of Interior, urged inmates to set an example as the first cohort. “Your conduct must be exemplary. There are no walls here like before. This symbolises greater freedom, but it must not be an excuse to break the rules. The example you set will determine how this programme develops,” he told them. He praised RCS for advancing the country’s rehabilitation agenda and thanked the initiative’s partners: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Sterling Foundation for their support in building the facility.
