A prominent Rwandan opposition leader has moved to the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) seeking the re-establishment of her civic rights including the right to vote in the July election.

Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, a fierce critic of President Paul Kagame, wants to be granted a chance to vie as an opposition presidential candidate in this year’s polls.

In her application dated April 30, 2024, through her lawyers, Lumumba & Ayieko Advocates, Ms Ingabire is seeking orders to permit her to register a political party that she can use to vie and vote.

“That the honourable court be pleased to issue an order compelling Ms Ingabire to register a political party and participate in the July 2024 presidential elections as a candidate pending the inter-partes hearing,” she says in her application.

Rwanda’s National Election Commission (NEC) has set May 17 to May 30 as the dates for submission of prospective presidential candidates’ applications.

Ms Ingabire is worried that with each passing day, she may miss out in presenting her papers by the May 30, deadline.

She also sought orders from the EACJ to allow her to travel to the Netherlands and see her children as well as her husband who she says is ill.

“The actions of the Rwandan government in ignoring Ms Ingabire’s multiple requests for authorisation to leave the country are in breach of the fundamental and operational principles of the EAC Treaty which require partner States to adhere to the principles of human rights, the rule of law, accountability and transparency,” she says in her petition.

Ingabire left Rwanda for The Netherlands in March 1994.

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