Rwanda’s early justice system and the penalties to the offenders

The practice of punishing individuals who break the law is not new; there are bad people in every community, which is why there must be regulations that are followed and enforced.

Even in the foundation of the country of Rwanda, the kings who took part in the foundation established rules, that were brutally enforced when broken

King Cyilima Rugwe is the one who gave the proper orientation to Rwanda’s justice system, in three Councils namely the Family Council, the Mediator Council and the Gacaca Council, in addition to the Royal Council which was appointed by Gihanga Ngomijana

There were several forms of punishment, including forgiveness. Forgiveness was also a penalty for those who had been found guilty of a crime but begged for it and seemed deserving of it. once he received a pardon he was told to follow the rules and obey.

Another was retribution. it was used to be one of the lightest punishments in Rwanda’s justice system, and it was also given to a person guilty of a crime.

In accordance with human capabilities, some retributions included cows, wine barrels, sheep, goats, baskets of vegetables, agricultural work, etc.

Among the higher punishments that were given was also confiscation, which was given to those who disobeyed kings and chiefs or any other important person in the country who had much properties

The person who suffered this penalty was stripped and deprived of all that had been granted to him, including the livestock that had been given to him by the territories that he was assigned to command and items from his family, leaving him with nothing.

Gukomwa was a severe preliminary punishment in Rwandan justice, given for serious crimes. Expropriation refers to the deprivation of rights to anything in the country. Don’t go near the water source that others draw from, don’t go to the gathering place etc.

Being isolated from the family or perhaps the country was a terrible punishment as well. The last of the harsh crimes has its precursor in this punishment.This punishment served as a precursor to the last harsh crime.

If a person disobeyed the king, or even disobeyed the family, he was killed and became a sorceress, and he was not valued among others.

When a person was isolated, his descendants could return to Rwanda. When the dynasty of leader or king who isolated him removed, but there were times when it was not possible for his descendants to return.

The death penalty was another severe penalty for crimes, and it could only be imposed by the King’s Assembly. When someone was found guilty of betraying their nation and their king, they  sentenced to death

These punishments in the Rwandan justice system were given according to the crime a person was accused of and the level in which trial took place, because each level gave its own punishments.

it was even appealed to. The family assembly alone imposed all punishments except death, and its decisions were not subject to appeal.