{Bernard Ntaganda, an advocate and founder of Imberakuri political organization has announced that he will go on a hunger strike and will shift his residence to the headquarters of Rwanda Bar Association, protesting the Bar’s refusal to readmit him. }
Three years after his release, Ntaganda has been denied rejoining Rwanda Bar Association claiming he should not be disbarred citing a precedent where other suspended advocates in 2011 were readmitted.
Ntaganda was in 2011 sentenced to for four years having been found guilty of threatening national security, divisionism, collaborating with insurgents intending to destabilize national security and illegal demonstrations.
After his release he sought to rejoin Rwanda Bar Association which rejected his appeal because he had been convicted and served for more than six months in jail.
However; Ntaganda claims to be right to return to the bar association after his release. “How come a person can be barred from rejoining his profession because he has not worked for four years yet other lawyers who had been suspended in 2011 rejoined the same career,” reads part of the statement he has released.
Ntaganda claims are based on the decision of Rwanda Bar Association of 7th July 2011 which suspended 112 lawyers including him (Ntaganda) over unpaid contribution in the association but readmitted later.
IGIHE has tried to talk the Rwanda Bar Association officials but the efforts were futile.
Article 6 of the law Nº 83/2013 of 11/09/2013 establishing Rwanda Bar Association in Rwanda indicates that no person can become a court advocate or execute similar tasks if he has been convicted and served six months or beyond in prison.
Other requirements include holding at least a bachelor’s degree in law or holding a certificate from ILPD, passing the exam to join Rwanda Bar Association, free of genocide ideology, genocide involvement or related crimes.
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