30 July 2025 – Nyamirambo, Kigali: The Hon. Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Dr. Emmanuel UGIRASHEBUJA, accompanied by a delegation representing various United Nations agencies working in Rwanda, visited the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre in Nyamirambo. The high-level visit aimed to highlight the impact of the ADR Centre since its official launch in August 2024, and to strengthen ongoing collaboration between the Government of Rwanda and the broader United Nations system in the Justice Sector, with particular support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

During the visit, Dr. Emmanuel praised the ADR Centre as a vital instrument in delivering accessible, inclusive, and timely justice to all Rwandans. He commended UNDP for its longstanding partnership and acknowledged the broader UN system's support in advancing justice reforms that are responsive to the needs of the people.

"The ADR Centre represents a significant step toward ensuring justice that is accessible, inclusive, and timely for all," Dr. Emmanuel stated. "We are grateful to UNDP and the entire UN family for their continued support in driving justice reforms forward."

Dr. Fatmata Lovetta Sesay, UNDP Resident Representative in Rwanda, reiterated UNDP’s commitment to people-centered justice systems. She emphasized that the ADR Centre stands as a testament to the shared vision between the Government of Rwanda and its partners.

“We’re proud to partner with the Ministry of Justice to scale up this innovative model,” said Dr. Sesay, highlighting the importance of partnerships in transforming justice delivery.

ADR Centre Achievements

Since its inception, the ADR Centre has become a cornerstone of Rwanda’s efforts to promote alternative justice mechanisms. Between September 2024 and June 2025, the Centre received 151 cases, with 149 successfully resolved and 2 still pending. Additionally, 340 criminal cases were concluded through plea bargaining during this period.

More broadly, in the 2023/2024 fiscal year, a total of 12,246 cases were settled through mediation conducted by registrars and judges—a significant increase from 2022/2023, which recorded 909 mediated cases and 934 plea bargaining resolutions.

The visit concluded with a reaffirmed commitment from both the Ministry of Justice and UN partners to continue expanding the reach and impact of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, contributing to a more efficient, fair, and inclusive justice system in Rwanda.