CHAMPION OF JUSTICE

Advocating for democracy, human rights, and reconciliation among Rwandans through resilience and unwavering commitment.Ms Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza is a politician committed to advocating for genuine reconciliation among Rwandans, the establishment of democracy, the respect for human rights and the rule of law, as well as development for all in Rwanda. Victoire was arrested in 2010 and sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Rwandan Supreme court in a politically motivated judicial proceeding in 2012. Her appeal to the African court on Human and People’s rights cleared her in 2017 and held that Rwanda violated her rights to freedom of expression as well as to adequate defence. Victoire was released by presidential grace in 2018 after eight years of imprisonment, five of which she spent in isolated confinement.

The presidential pardon granted to Victoire stipulates that she may leave Rwanda with permission from the Ministry of Justice. However, her repeated requests to visit her family in The Netherlands have so far been met with nothing but silence. Thus Victoire cannot leave Rwanda. Moreover her closest supporters have mysteriously been killed, disappeared or arbitrarily arrested in Rwanda. Despite everything she has been through, Victoire is still committed to her quest for democracy and development for all in Rwanda.

Victoire has been recognised for her bravery and dedication to democracy and her outstanding efforts for the defence of freedom and human rights. She was nominated for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 2012. Victoire received the 2019 International Human Rights Award from Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de España and was awarded the 2024 Liberal International Prize for Freedom.

HER JOURNEY

Ms Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza was in the Netherlands studying business management and economy when the genocide against Tusti took place in Rwanda in 1994. After the genocide, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) took power but over time failed to deliver genuine democracy, respect for human rights, and the rule of law in Rwanda. In 1998, Victoire joined the Republican Rally for Democracy in Rwanda (RDR). During the same year the RDR formed an alliance with the Forces de Résistance pour la Démocratie (FRD) that was led by former Rwandan prime minister, the late Faustin Twagiramungu. The fusion of both parties formed the “Union des Forces Démocratiques Rwandaises (UFDR).

Victoire was elected president of the Republican Rally for Democracy during the party's congress held in Bonn in 2000. In 2006, three political organisations namely the FRD, RDR and Alliance Démocratique Rwandaise (ADR-Isangano) merged to form “les Forces Démocratiques Unifiées” (FDU-Inkingi). In 2008, FDU-Inkingi made a decision to participate in the Rwandan presidential elections scheduled for August 2010. As Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza was President of the movement, she returned to Rwanda in January 2010, to register FDU Inkingi and to present her presidential candidacy. Upon her arrival, she was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Rwandan Supreme court in a politically motivated judicial proceeding.

Her appeal to the African court on Human and People’s rights cleared her and held that Rwanda violated her rights to freedom of expression as well as to adequate defence. Victoire was released under conditions in 2018 by presidential grace after eight years of imprisonment, five of which she spent in isolated confinement. In 2019, Victoire resigned from the FDU and founded the Development and Liberty for All (DALFA-Umurinzi) political party. Her party is yet to be registered in Rwanda. It aims to strive for the rule of law and sustainable development that benefits every Rwandan. Since her release from prison, Victoire has been advocating for governance reform in Rwanda through holding inclusive dialogue.

The Development and Liberty for All (DALFA) is a political party whose aim is to address social inequalities and promote social equity , grounded in the spirit of liberalism. The party upholds the values of individual freedom, equality before the law,and participatory governance. DALFA strongly believes that true development cannot occur without Democracy. Through its actions and advocacy,DALFA works to create a just and inclusive society where every citizen enjoys equal opportunities and freedoms, ensuring that liberal democracy and development go hand in hand for a better future in Rwanda.

DALFA-UMURINZI

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