Stakeholders in the justice sector as well as the public have welcomed the new law portal (www.amategeko.gov.rw) arguing that it is a game changer in easing access to legal instruments online. The portal, which was officially launched on November 25 and so far consists of three segments which are laws, law reports, and judgment, and will be available and accessible to everyone. Speaking to The New Times, Innocent Muramira, a lawyer, pointed out that it is a step in the right direction adding that most of the time people face issues of not knowing the law but also access to certain legislation is not easy. “We have to remember ignorance of the law is not a defense,” he said Speaking on its’ benefit, he said that people will learn a lot from such legislation and in the long run, this will reduce court cases because people will now be aware of what laws that prohibit and the punishments given for breaking them. In addition, Muramira suggested that to make the platform more accessible, an application can be downloaded on mobile phones and that social media needs to be used to update new developments in the laws since most of the people in Rwanda use smartphones, especially the youth. Marie Louise Uwizeyimana, a court reporter, also welcomed the portal saying that it’s always good to raise awareness around laws because people need to know their limits and rights. However, she pointed out that there is still a need for other approaches in sensitising the laws from the grassroots level as well as considering people who don’t use the internet or have a proper translation of the laws. “Some of the people who commit crimes are ignorant of the laws, and they can’t read or interpret exactly what the law says and sometimes laws have different interpretations,” she said Noble Makuza Nshuti, a law student said that it is going to be easy not only for students but whoever has an interest in the law field such as researchers, legal practitioners, journalists, and others for them to access the latest information. In addition, he suggested that case laws have to be added as updates and make it easier for people who are not familiar with the jurisdiction of courts by showing the district in which cases were rendered. Benitha Usanase, who works in the private sector, pointed out that in the modern world, such a portal is a game changer arguing that more people will know their rights through published articles. Usanase concluded by suggesting more language options as well as including possible international laws and cases.
