“Technology and Human Rights: Advancing Access to Justice, Accountability and Digital Inclusion in Rwanda’s Hybrid Legal System.”






Rounds are adjudicated by judges, senior advocates, and legal scholars, with a distinguished panel presiding over the Grand Finale at the Supreme Court.
Judge
She is a Judge of the High Court in Rwanda since 2012 until now and served in different lower Intermediate Courts for seven years. She also served as a member of the Executive Council of the East African Judges and Magistrates Association in 2015. She holds a Post graduate Diploma in Legal practice from the Institute of Legal Practice and Development, holds a masters’ degree in Public International Law from the Kigali Independent University and holds a certificate of graduation from the Oak Seed Executive Leadership Course from the Institute for National Transformation.
Judge
He is the Chief Technical Advisor at the Ministry of Justice in Rwanda and a Trainer at the Institute of Legal Practice and Development in Rwanda, where he teaches the Principles and Procedures of the Common Law. He is also a Lecturer at the University of Kigali, where he teaches Constitutional Law, Legal Research, and Technology Law. He was also a Senior Fellow at the Center for Law and Innovation at the Certa Foundation, having previously been its founding Associate Director. His distinguished career includes roles at renowned institutions such as the Harvard Berkman Klein Center, the Harvard Radcliffe Institute, and the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights in Germany. Additionally, Michael has collaborated with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in Kenya, Meta Platforms & Sama, World Bank and the African Development Bank via the APLA Project. Notably, he represented the Rwandan government during the COP27 negotiations.
He holds an LL.M. from Harvard Law School, an LL.B. from Strathmore University in Kenya and a Legal Practice Diploma from the Institute of Legal Practice and Development in Rwanda.
Judge
He is the Registrar of the Appeal Tribunal for Refugees and Applicants for Refugee Status of the Republic of Rwanda. He is an accomplished international lawyer and public servant with over a decade of professional experience spanning government, international organisations, academia and civil society. Prior to his appointment, he served as an Associate Protection Officer at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), where he led legal and asylum initiatives and contributed to strategic litigation, policy development and refugee protection in Rwanda. He also served as a Senior Legal Advisor at the National Public Prosecution Authority and as a lecturer of law at different Universities in Rwanda.
Kalinda holds a Master of Laws from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University (USA), a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Rwanda, and a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Institute of Legal Practice and Development (ILPD), Rwanda.
Judge
She is a Senior Advocate of the Rwanda Bar Association, Lecturer at the Institute of Legal Practice and Development (ILPD), and an accredited Court Mediator specializing in commercial law, ADR, regional integration, labour law, and corporate practice. She holds an LL.M. in Regional Integration and East African Community Law (TGCL), a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (ILPD), a Bachelor of Laws (University of Kigali), and a Bachelor's in Environmental Health Sciences (University of Rwanda). An active EALS member serving on its Cross-Border Practice and Environmental Law Committees, she is also a published researcher on regional integration, governance, labour law, gender equality, migration, and human rights.
Judge
He is a practicing advocate and member of the Rwanda Bar Association and East African law society (EALS), mostly litigating civil and criminal matters. He is also an Accredited Annexed Court Mediator. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Education, a Bachelor's degree in Law (LLB), and a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (DLP), and LLM candidate in International Economics and Business Law He is further certified in Edward Mediation, Pre-Bargaining and Victim-Offender Mediation, and ICDL Digital Competence.Having previously served as a teacher and remains deeply committed to promoting legal education and mentoring the next generation of legal professionals through initiatives such as moot court competitions.
Judge
He is a seasoned expert in human rights and reparations with over a decade of experience in the field. His distinguished career in promoting human rights across Africa includes his role as a Human Rights Officer with the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office/MONUSCO, where he played a key role in efforts to end cycles of violence and impunity while promoting respect for human rights. Additionally, Dr. Baiye has been deeply engaged with the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, contributing to judicial initiatives to tackle human rights violations throughout the continent. His expertise also encompasses the International Criminal Justice system. During his tenure with the International Criminal Court (ICC), he significantly influenced the court’s approach to addressing past injustices and ensuring accountability for severe crimes. Dr. Baiye currently works as a Senior Policy Consultant at the Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights (iPeace) in Kigali, Rwanda. Dr. Baiye has made notable academic contributions to the protection and promotion of human rights in Africa, with a particular focus on safeguarding Indigenous Peoples’ rights. He recently obtained his Doctor of Laws in International Human Rights Law from the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law at the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Judge
She is a lecturer of law, legal practitioner, and gender justice advocate based in Rwanda. She holds a Master's degree in Public International Law and has extensive experience in legal research, legal training, public speaking, and human rights advocacy. She is passionate about mentoring the next generation of legal professionals and advancing justice through education, research, and advocacy.
Judge
Evaristus Ntani Ngoran is a Cameroonian international lawyer and human rights practitioner serving as Human Rights Officer and Programme Lead at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), within the UN Resident Coordinator's Office in Kigali, Rwanda. He supports Rwanda's engagement with its international human rights obligations and leads the mainstreaming of human rights across the UN Country Team, including through targeted capacity-building to institutions on human rights accountability.
Before Rwanda, he served with OHCHR's Regional Office for Central Africa in Yaoundé, working across ten countries on democratic governance and human rights, and trained several UN peacekeeping officers from across Africa at the Alioune Blondin Bey Peacekeeping Academy in Bamako, Mali. He began his human rights career as a Legal Associate at the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights in Arusha, Tanzania, drafting briefs and communications before Africa's highest human rights tribunal.
Beyond the UN system, he has supported the work of several governments across the continent on governance, human rights and peacebuilding, engaging in various capacities across think tanks, law firms and other institutions in the region.
He holds an LLB, a BA in Political Science and Administration, a Master's in Business, Corporate and Finance Law, an LLM in Human Rights and Development, and an LLM in International Corporate Governance at the University of East London. He is fully bilingual in English and French.
Judge
She is an in-House expert in corporate-business law , a Lecturer of laws and a Financial literary consultant. Practicing legal advisor to several financial institutions.
Judge
He is a prominent criminal defense lawyer with over 19 years of experience in legal practice. He is a former member of the High Council of Judiciary, a former member of the Rwanda Bar Association Council, a member of the East African Law Society (EALS), and a Trainer at the Institute of Legal Practice and Development (ILPD).
Judge
Louis is Rwandan advocate, he works at Kigali attorneys as a senior partner, before Joining the private practice in 2018, He served as public Prosecutor at the Rwanda National Prosecution Authority since 2011 up to 2017 where he has been involved in many cases related to prosecution of economic crimes, and others criminal cases before domestic courts in Rwanda.
He is a researcher fellow and Author for the Rwanda Londa report at PIN (Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, which basically works on policy issues related to Internet governance in the African Continent)
Louis is also an East African fellow at Media Legal Defence Initiative (a UK based Ngos’which trained lawyers to advance digital rights and Technology law through strategic litigation and provide support and legal assistance to journalists, bloggers and independent Media ), where he was a 2016 Fellow.
He has a particular interest in Human and Constitutional Rights with a special focus on Freedom of expression and Digital rights, Tech & ICT law, and Fintech
He is also an accredited mediator and an Associate Arbitrator at Kigali International Arbitration Centre.
Judge
Chief Convener: Liberian Law Students Association- Rwanda
LL.M Candidate/LL.B (Hons.). Award winning Negotiator. Former Mooter (National &International competitions).
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