University owner released from prison on presidential pardon

The former prime minister of Rwanda and owner of the now-closed Christian University of Rwanda and who was serving a three-year jail term for issuing cheques that bounced has received a presidential pardon and was immediately released.

Dr Pierre Damien Habumuremyi was serving a three-year jail sentence handed down by the intermediate court in Kigali in November 2020. He was also fined RWF892.2 million (about US$900,000). The court found him guilty of issuing worthless cheques to various people to boost the university’s performance.

“Pursuant to the powers conferred upon him, his Excellency, the President of the republic, granted pardon to Dr Pierre Damien Habumuremyi,” reads one of the resolutions from the cabinet meeting held on 13 October 2021.

During the trial, Habumuremyi admitted to issuing cheques that bounced worth RWF170 million to people on behalf of the university, according to the prosecution. However, he testified that the cheques were issued only as proof that the university could be entrusted to pay the creditors in the future and were not intended for immediate withdrawal.

The court rejected all the explanations saying that, as an educated person and former top government official, he knew that what he did was illegal and he should be held accountable for that.

Released on condition

Legal experts say that the presidential grace gives the convict the green light to get out of the prison immediately and pardons the fine. However, it does not mean that he is innocent and that he will be exempt from paying for the damage he caused.

“He will have to pay the people he owes money to,” said Maurice Munyentwari, a lawyer in Kigali.

Munyentwari said that Habumuremyi is a convict and will be deprived of some rights such as serving as a public servant. He emphasised that some rights are reinstated if a convicted criminal goes through a rehabilitation process.

Habumuremyi left the Nyarugenge prison where he had been held for the past months on 14 October. Following his release, Habumuremyi thanked President Paul Kagame for the grace and said that justice had prevailed during the trial process and while he was in prison.

“His Excellency, President of the Republic of Rwanda, thank you from the bottom of my heart and my family for the forgiveness you have granted me. Mea culpa [my fault], your excellency, the grace granted to me is greatly appreciated. I express my appreciation to the Rwandan justice system,” Habumuremyi said on Twitter.

Habumuremyi did not talk about his future but said he was still strong enough and ready to work for his country.

Speaking to Igihe.com, Habumuremyi said he had asked the head of state for forgiveness and is grateful. He said that he was ready to respect all the requirements of the law, including paying people his university owed money to.

However, former employees of the Christian University of Kigali have expressed their concern, saying they have no hope that they will ever get their money.

“I have no problem that my former employer (Habumuremyi) was released on presidential pardon, but I am not sure he will ever pay us our money because he could pay us before the university closed, but apparently used the university money for his side businesses,” said one of the former staff members who is allegedly owed 14 months’ salary.

The Christian University of Rwanda was one of three private universities that were permanently closed by the ministry of education due to their failure to meet quality standards as well as administrative and financial problems.

The other institutions are the University of Kibungo (UNIK), formerly known as INATEK, located in the eastern province, and the Indangaburezi College of Education, located in the southern province.