The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at Village Urugwiro, chaired by President Paul Kagame.
According to the resolutions issued after the meeting, the Cabinet approved a Ministerial Order authorizing the release of the convicts.
The releases were granted in accordance with Rwanda’s legal framework, which outlines the conditions under which convicted persons may be considered for release or presidential pardon.
Under Law No. 027/2019 of 19 September 2019 relating to criminal procedure, the President of the
Republic has the authority to grant pardons to individuals definitively convicted by courts, either upon request or on his own initiative, after consulting the Supreme Court. A presidential pardon may remove all or part of a sentence or substitute it with a lighter penalty, and is granted at the discretion of the Head of State in the general interest of the nation.
Provisional release is granted based on clearly defined legal criteria. Individuals sentenced to up to five years in prison may qualify after serving at least one-third of their sentence, while those sentenced to more than five years must have served at least two-thirds. Inmates serving life imprisonment may only be considered for provisional release after completing at least 20 years in prison.
In addition to the time served, eligibility depends on demonstrated rehabilitation and credible assurances that the individual will reintegrate peacefully into society. Provisional release may also be granted to inmates suffering from serious or incurable illnesses, as certified by an authorized medical professional.
The Rwanda Correctional Service plays a central role in the process by preparing detailed reports on each applicant, including their identity, offense, final court judgment, time served, remaining sentence, prison conduct, and recommendations regarding release.
Authorities retain the power to revoke provisional release if the beneficiary commits a new offense, displays serious misconduct, or fails to comply with the conditions attached to the release decision.
The Cabinet’s decision underscores the continued application of Rwanda’s legal mechanisms for sentence mitigation and conditional release, while reinforcing rehabilitation and social reintegration as key pillars of the country’s justice system.