Kabuye coming home for Xmas

One and a half months after her arrest, the Director of State Protocol, Rose Kabuye, yesterday had her bail conditions modified so that she can come back to Rwanda and report to court whenever she is needed. The development was confirmed by Justice Minister Tharcisse Karugarama yesterday evening after the ruling was made. “The International Arrest Warrant will no longer be applied, she is a free woman and she is coming home,” said Karugarama. Kabuye was arrested at the airport of Frankfurt, a German City following the controversial arrest warrants issued against her and eight other government officials following the indictments issued by French judge Jean Louis Bruguière in November 2006. Her coming home comes after recent assurances by both President Paul Kagame and most recently by Karugarama himself, that a process was underway to have her bail extended beyond French soil so that she returns home to resume her duties to the nation. “The information I have is that her initial appearance will be on January 10 next year. She will travel there on that date,” said Karugarama by telephone. He said that subsequent to the decision, Kabuye will move freely in other countries as the warrant has been quashed. “We think it is a good and right decision after this decision, the rest will follow…we believe and hope that once the process is through, she will be proven innocent because that is what she is,” added Karugarama who is also the Attorney General. Kabuye was already on bail but on condition that she could not move out of France without the judge’s permission. Her arrest sparked anger among Rwandans from different walks of life where protests have been staged almost on a daily basis, most of them staged before the German Embassy asking for her immediate unconditional release. Other protests were also condemned by different bodies including the African Union and the International Conference for the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR). Subsequent to her arrest also was the sending home of the German Ambassador to Rwanda and recalling Kigali’s representative to Berlin. Germany was largely criticised by the Government of Rwanda for neglecting Kabuye’s diplomatic status and arrest her while on State duty. She was arrested as she arrived to prepare President Paul Kagame’s visit to Frankfurt. Ends

National

Kabuye coming home for Xmas