She was also the Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies in the Parliament, responsible for legal affairs and government oversight, a role she held for six years.
Mukabagwiza served as Rwanda's High Commissioner to Canada and Cuba between 2007-2013, after which she was elected as a Member of Parliament from 2013-2018, and later became one of the leaders of the Chamber of Deputies.
She is an expert in law, having studied at the University of Rwanda after completing her secondary education at Collège Saint André.
Mukabagwiza holds a Master's degree in Diplomacy from Washington International University in the United States, along with other qualifications in law. She has worked in various ministries and non-governmental organizations.
She recently took the oath to become a legal advocate and has founded her own firm, EM Pathways Legal & Advisory Ltd.
In an interview with IGIHE, this legal expert explained that becoming an advocate was something she chose to do after finishing her political career, emphasizing that it is a way to continue contributing to the country.
IGIHE: How did you transition to becoming an advocate?
Mukabagwiza: I have worked in the political field, meaning I was involved in a career where I had to step into the job market. I thought that I could be more useful by focusing on issues directly related to justice.
First of all, I am a lawyer. I studied law and later added other qualifications in this field, and with the experience I have, I felt it would help me continue my mission of serving the people.
A lawyer helps a citizen or an institution, but for our purposes, let's focus on helping the people. It's about advocating for justice and explaining the law to the public.
So, as someone trained in law and having taken part in justice-related duties, representing the people, I have a lot of information on what the citizens need.
I felt that moving into this profession would be beneficial, because a lawyer is not focused on their personal gain but on helping others legally.
Indeed, it is a profession that can sustain you and your family, but most importantly, a lawyer works with the justice system to ensure that justice is effectively delivered to the people as they need it. This is what led me to this profession.
Having served as Minister of Justice and Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, what core values do you bring to your ongoing service to the citizens?
I believe the values I had then are still the same as those I carry now. As a leader, it's about fighting for the truth, advocating for justice, and being aware of the issues so that, in addition to what I already knew, I can continue sharing those insights with different bodies, whether governmental or partners, to find solutions.
I feel a responsibility to highlight what needs improvement, support what is going well to further build on it, and also help expand the boundaries.
The profession I've entered into shouldn't be inward-looking. We should be like people in the world, in the region, and what's happening should concern us.
We shouldn't be people confined to just our country; as members of the EAC, we should expand our knowledge of how lawyers in the region work and how they practice.
I also come to learn because your knowledge is never enough. There are others with more experience in this profession, and I will learn from them, observe them, and sometimes follow how cases are being handled, how lawyers are advocating, to truly master this profession in the proper way.
I respect justice, both in front of the people, the Rwandan society, and the judges, because in our duties and oaths, we commit to respecting our profession and those we work with.
How do you think efforts should be prioritized?
I am an arbitratior, and I completed my training in June 2025. Looking at the issues within the justice system, the number of cases continues to increase rather than decrease. The problem here is that Rwandans still have numerous cases to settle.
Among the people, there are still disputes, but there is also the issue of some cases not being resolved quickly.
A person loses a case, and it is quite evident, but they continue to take the case to higher courts. This is an issue that has been ongoing, but it is good that the justice policy has begun to address these issues before they go to court.
People can be helped to meet and resolve their issues without wasting time or money, but at the same time, we need to educate them to avoid grudges.
What do you mean by holding grudges?
When one person says, "I will deal with you," that's where the gap grows. These are the problems that can cause people to drift apart in different ways.
There are cases that arise within families, between neighbors, or between friends.
Many people end up in court with someone they were very close to, especially when there is a disagreement over money lent, a partnership in a business, or other issues. These are things that show how close people were but then became divided.
What should be done in such cases?
I think that in our role as people responsible for justice and those who defend the law, we should put more effort into resolving these issues because the person comes to you, seeking advice.
That means, first, you can advise the person not to take the case to court, suggesting they should resolve it with the other party, whether they are right or wrong.
So, I believe the contribution I can bring is to work with others who joined this career before me, and together, we can look at ways to reduce the conflicts between people who are involved in legal disputes.
In your oath, you pledge not to defend an unjust case. What types of cases would you consider unjust and choose not to defend?
Some people come to court with false claims. When a person tells you their issue and you listen to them, sometimes you can immediately tell that they are not telling the truth.
For example, you might find that the person claiming someone has stolen from them is the one who actually took the property, but they are saying they were robbed.
At that point, you can give them advice, rather than going to court and defending something that isn't true. It's important to make them realize the truth.
If all lawyers gave clients this type of advice before they started, there would be fewer cases in the courts because you would have already shown them that they cannot win.
There is also the case where someone may admit they did something wrong but still want you to represent them as if they hadn't done anything wrong. In such cases, it's important to know the truth and advise them accordingly. Maybe you can help them reduce their penalties due to the circumstances, but the truth should always be part of the conversation.
For that person, if they want to pursue a case knowing they are wrong, you are not helping build the unity we want for Rwandans. It would not be in the interest of justice, and their actions might lead to an unfair verdict that could hurt them even more in the future.
How do you view a woman in justice today?
A woman, as she was created and how she stands, if she uses the gifts given to her by God well, with the kind heart she has to love people and be compassionate, she should be honest in justice, stand for the truth, and not back down. This would make her trustworthy.
Because of her compassion, she listens and acts quickly. I'm not saying that men don't have these qualities; there are men who possess them, and they build these qualities based on their character and relationships.
So, a woman, using these values, continues to develop herself, becoming an honest person, and helping the justice system in many ways. However, the world we live in is tainted. This doesn't mean that all women are flawless.
What advice would you give to those who have taken the oath, practicing and aspiring advocates?
This profession is a good one. It is a profession that gives you dignity as a lawyer, sustains you if you do it well, and helps the government, especially the justice sector.
My advice is that those in the profession should do it well and bring value to themselves and to the profession.
To do this, one must speak the truth, provide good counsel, and go before the court to represent a person you've read about, prepared for, and know that what you are asking for on behalf of the client is legitimate.
It is about recognizing the issues in the case you are handling and sharing them with others, without revealing the secrets of the person you represent, because lawyers are prohibited from doing that.
A lawyer is not just someone who goes before the court. They assist in many different ways: by drafting contracts, advising people, conducting research on a specific issue, offering consultations, and many other things.
Being a lawyer requires thinking ahead. For example, you might ask, 'This issue brought to me today, if it involved 10 or 100 people, what kind of problem would it cause in the country?'
Then, you think that maybe the law should be revised, or a new law might come into existence, and then you seek advice from the relevant bodies.
What has been the most memorable experience for you throughout your career?
I can't say there is something I specifically miss because, in all the responsibilities I have taken, I am a person who is close to the people and cares about them.
I believe the responsibilities I have carried have always brought me closer to the people, requiring me to protect them.
They asked me to gather the thoughts I encountered, which would build or support a particular program. Even now, I see that my role is to continue getting closer to the people and helping them. I don't miss these duties because they complement each other.
IGIHE
