Senate approves new Chief Justice

The Senate yesterday approved Prof. Sam Rugege as the new Chief Justice for an eight-year non-renewable term. Rugege was recently nominated to replace Aloysea Cyanzaire who concluded her term. The Senate also approved Sylvie Zainabo Kayitesi to the post of Deputy Chief Justice. Rugege has been serving as the Deputy Chief Justice while, Kayitesi was the chairperson of the Rwanda National Human Rights Commission. Speaking to The New Times, Senate vice president Bernard Makuza, who chaired the session, said that the approval of presidential nominees is in line with the senatorial obligations as stipulated in the constitution. “The Prime Minister sends resumes of the nominees to the Senate. The senatorial Standing Committee on Political Affairs reviews them, interviews the candidates and then compiles a report that it presents to the plenary,” said Makuza. The senate also approved Prof. Shyaka Anastase as the Director General of the newly created Rwanda Governance Board. Regis Gatarayiha, was confirmed as the head of Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) while Yusuf Murangwa was also given the nod to hold the post of Director General of National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda. edwin.musoni@newtimes.co.rw