NCHR announced this in a statement yesterday following a visit in Nyanza Prison where Mugesera is serving his sentence.
The Commission says that after learning through the media of Mugesera’s human rights concerns, including access to medical care, access to legal counsel, proper nutrition and family visits, NCHR visited and met him physically and discussed on each of the human rights issues he was concerned about in the presence of his lawyer, Felix Rudakemwa.
Visit outcomes
According to the statement, the Commission established that contrary to the allegation of alleged denial of access to health services, including eight missed appointment with ophthalmologists at King Faysal hospital (between March 2016 to present) as well as other missed appointments with his internal medical doctor, Mugesera received medical treatment at King Faysal on the said date.
“The Commission also established that Mugesera is treated like any other prisoners at the facility health centre; and received medical treatment 8 times between June 2017 to date as it is the practice that all cases are first treated in the facility’s health centre before being referred to hospitals in accordance with referral procedure. This is not based on the patient’s wish but when the service provider finds appropriate based on the case,” the statement reads.
The Statement says that on the allegation of denied contact with his family and lawyer, the Commission established through the prison visit registry of between June 16 and 24 December 2017, Mugesera was visited 13 times by family, relatives and friends.
The same records show that for the period from 4th May 2016 to 29th December 2017 Mugesera had 28 meetings with his lawyer.
“Regarding the frequency and duration of the visits, the Commission found that existing national guidelines that allow one visit per week were properly followed,” the statement reads in part.
“Among other things, the Commission recommended that Rwanda Correctional Services (RCS) avails private facilities that can allow private conversation between inmates and their lawyers; that RCS conduct awareness campaigns to inmates regarding prison rules and guidelines, including visit regulations; to provide Mr Mugesera with dietary nutrition recommended by his doctor and to respect follow up appointments with his medical doctors,” the statement reads.
The visit was also conducted in all prison’s cells where non-Rwandan prisoners and Rwandans transferred from other countries are accommodated where they established that their well-being is maintained.
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