The Ombudsman, Tito Rutaremara, is expected to present his annual report to both chambers of Parliament today. According to the Parliamentary Communications Director in the Chamber of Deputies, Augustin Habimana, Rutaremara will be presenting his 2007 report. After presenting the report, the Ombudsman will also present his office’s plan for 2008. Habimana said. Pundits say that the ombudsman’s report may touch on some cases which were highlighted in the previous Audit General’s report that exposed great misuse and misallocation of taxpayer’s money. This will be the fourth report the Ombudsman has presented to Parliament since his office was established in 2003. Previous reports of the Ombudsman left lawmakers dumbfounded for some abnormal or unexpected cases existing in the society. However, MPs have always complained that the Ombudsman’s reports are very brief and do not provide them with in-depth details; unlike other government officials, the Ombudsman has managed to escape MPs’ wrath by convincing them that the law does not compel him to publicise the names and some statistics of cases involving top government officials. Rutaremara’s term of office was expected to end last year but the cabinet meeting re-appointed him and the Senate also approved an extension of one year.Ends
