A.A Conference Kigali

Janys graduated from Cambridge University and worked as a solicitor in Oxford. When her clergyman husband was called to work in Scotland she requalified in Scots law and became an advocate (Scottish barrister). She has enjoyed a lifelong practice working in the law relating to children and families. In 2007 she became Queen’s Counsel. Janys has practiced in courts at all levels in Scotland, from tribunals to the Supreme Court, and has a reputation as a leading advocate. She also sits as a part-time sheriff, that is a Scottish judge, and as an independent arbitrator in family cases. She was, for a number of years, chair of a small charity supporting a school in Zimbabwe. Until recently she was chair of the UK Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship

MUSORE GAKUNZI Valery

MUSORE GAKUNZI Valery is a Criminal law and International Human Rights Specialist Lawyer. He is also a Human right activists and member of Human Right Defenders pool of lawyers in EAC.

Valery holds a Masters in Human Rights of UCL (Belgium) 2006. He has an academic and research background and he has been training members of the Rwanda Bar Association( RBA) since quite long back. He is a member of RBA Admission and Training Committee as well as the RBA Legal Issues Committee (Commission Juridique). He is a qualified trainer of the International Criminal Law by the International Development Law Organization (IDLO). He has been a judge for more than 5 years before joining the Rwanda Bar Association in 2007 and Lecturer of International Human Rights Law and Criminal Procedure Law.Me Valery has been member of High Council of Judiciary, representing the Rwanda Bar Association. He is currently a visiting lecturer at different Universities in Rwanda of Criminal and Human rights oriented disciplines such as : Substantive Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure Law, International criminal justice system, Constitutional Law, Procedure Laws and International Human Rights Law.

Stella Murungi is the Chief Digital Officer at Rwanda's Ministry of Justice, She holds a Master of Science in Electrical and communications Engineering from the Technical University of Kaiserslautern in Germany. Stella has 10 years of experience working within the broader ICT industry with sound expertise in technology, IT project management and leading strategic partnerships. She was an ICT Strategy Advisor to the Director General of Rwanda Utility Regulatory Authority (RURA) on regional ICT policies and regulatory frameworks such as the One Network Area, cyber security and single digital market.

Stella also worked on the implementation of ICT in education policy in partnership with the Ministries of Education and ICT and worked as s Software Product Manager with Pivot Access Ltd in partnership with various institutions such as Rwanda National Police, Bank of Kigali, Microfinance, Rwanda Biomedical Center, where she was undertaking projects in governance, banking, health that were contributing to Rwanda’s Digital Transformation journey. Before joining the Ministry of Justice, she worked with Norrsken Foundation to set up their operations in Rwanda. Norrsken is a Swedish organization supporting entrepreneurs using technology to solve societal problems.

Ope Olugasa is a leading LegalTech Expert and IT Consultant dedicated to advancing legal technologies and enhancing access to justice across Africa. He holds degrees from Obafemi Awolowo University and Lagos Business School, complemented by executive education from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on AI in the Legal Industry, and certifications in Blockchains and Smart Contracts. Ope is also a graduate of the Stanford Seed Transformation Program, a prestigious business development initiative for CEOs and Founders.

Ope's expertise is frequently sought at major legal conferences, including those hosted by the Nigerian Bar Association, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), and the National Judicial Institute. His passion for social entrepreneurship and Nigeria's development drives him to empower professionals and inspire youth through innovative technology solutions. Ope Olugasa is a transformative force in Africa's legal landscape, committed to leveraging technology for progress.

Pako Moakofhi is a legal practitioner called to the bar in December 2014, admitted to practice before the courts of Botswana.

He the legal advisor to the Evangelical Fellowship of Botswana, serves as the secretary of Youth for Christ Botswana and is the deputy board secretary of Advocates Africa. Pako is dedicated to serving the body of Christ and is leading the legal advocacy for the preservation and protection of the right to religious freedom in Botswana. He advises the body of Christ on laws, policies and court rulings that affect the Christian community. He serves as a leader in his local church Bible Life Ministries and as well as in the Bible School board.

Hon. Paul Ndemo is an advocate renowned for his contribution to the nation in public service. In recognition of this service, he was awarded the Order of the Grand Warrior in 2019.

He currently serves as the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Judiciary and also the Judiciary Spokesperson. He served as Acting Chief Registrar of the Judiciary between the former and current Chief Registrar of the Judiciary.

Hon. Ndemo’s career in public service began in 2006 where he distinguished himself as an astute prosecutor handling high profile homicide and corruption cases.He steadily grew up the ranks, rising to head the Executive Secretariat in 2012 and serving in key national committees notably, the technical working group of the Presidential Rapid Response Initiative on Combating Corruption, the Task Force on the implementation of the Sexual Offences Act 2006 and the National Council on the Administration of Justice Special Committee on Reforms, among others.

In addition to his law degree, Hon. Ndemo holds a Master’s degree in International Studies. He also holds a certificate in Strategy and Security studies from the distinguished National Defence College. His leadership experience spans three decades. He has trained extensively in leadership both in Kenya and abroad.

With over seventeen years of legal, judicial, and policy experience across the Horn of Africa and broader African region, he has worked extensively at the intersection of national security, justice, and institutional reform—particularly in migration, anti-money laundering, counterterrorism, and transnational organized crime.

Serving in key roles such as Legal Advisor to the Government of Tigray, Vice President of Ethiopia’s Federal High Court, and Head of Legal Services at the Ethiopian Financial Intelligence Center, he has led major legal reforms, complex litigation, and international compliance efforts. He has collaborated with global and regional bodies like the UNODC, IGAD, and the EU, and has trained thousands across multiple countries on AML/CFT and criminal justice. His expertise is reinforced by high-level academic credentials and contributions to international legal forums, including U.S. courts and African Union initiatives.

Paneliste

Dagnachew holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in law, as well as a master’s degree in Comparative Local Development. He worked as a graduate assistant and later as a lecturer for seven years in law schools of three Ethiopian Universities. Additionally, he has been a practicing Attorney in Ethiopia for over five years.

Dagnachew has served as director of Advocates Ethiopia, an organization established by lawyers to fight for justice with a focus on religious freedom. He is one of the founding members and currently a board member of, Ethiopian Christian Lawyer’s Fellowship. Dagnachew also serves as Chancellor of the Anglican Diocese of the Horn of Africa and as a vice board chair of the Ethiopian Human Rights Defenders Center.

He worked with the legal team that significantly contributed to the legal recognition of Evangelical Churches in Ethiopia which resulted in the Establishment of the Ethiopian Council of Gospel Believer Church in 2020. Dagnachew currently serves as the Regional Advisor on FORB for AFLAME – working on issues of Freedom of Religion or Belief across Sub-Saharan Africa. Dagnachew is married and is a father of three.

Justice Dr Aimé Muyoboke Karimunda is the Rector of ILPD from 20 October 2023. Until then he was a Judge of the Supreme Court and Vice President of the Mediation Advisory Committee. He is a member of the Global Judicial Network Integrity, a member of the Advisory Board of the Rwanda Law Journal, and a member of the Judicial Education Committee. He is also a visiting Senior Lecturer at the University of Rwanda. He is a Certified Mediator with a PhD in International Criminal & Human Rights Law. He was the President of the Court of Appeal and Vice President of Rwanda High Judicial Council until April 2021. He was also the Secretary of Publicity of the East African Judges and Magistrates Association, Advisor to the Deputy Chief Justice, member of the Committee of Experts on the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), Dean of the School of Law at the Kigali Independent University and Advisor of the Minister of Health. He has published books and articles on domestic and international criminal law. He recently wrote in Jean François Boudet (eds), Justice Française et génocide des Tutsi au Rwanda, Paris, L'Harmattan, 2021.

“Me. Andrews Kananga is currently the Executive Director of the Legal Aid Forum – Rwanda, a position he has held since 2008. From 2004 – 2008, he was a Senior Legal adviser to National Semi-traditional Courts (Gacaca) that were charged with trials of people suspected of having committed Genocide in Rwanda.

In 2012, Andrews was among the three Legal experts nominated by the Ministry of Justice in Rwanda to oversee the development of a legal aid policy in Rwanda. He has contributed enormously to legal reforms in Rwanda which ushered in the legal aid policy, legal aid bill, reform of the penal code and criminal procedure code, and many more pieces of legislation that favor access to justice for the poor and vulnerable in Rwanda. Andrews is a founding member of the African Centre of Excellence for Access to Justice (ACE-AJ) and head of research in the same center.”

Kezia Azumah is a seasoned legal practitioner and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) expert with over a decade of experience in Litigation, mediation, arbitration, and legal consultancy. Based in Accra, Ghana, Kezia is a passionate advocate for enhancing access to justice through effective dispute resolution mechanisms and a gender advocate.

With an LL.M in Alternative Dispute Resolution, a Barrister at Law, Ghana School of Law, degree from the University of Ghana School of Law, degree in Management and an Executive Diploma in Mediation & Arbitration, Kezia brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the field of Law and ADR. Her core competencies include negotiation, mediation, arbitration, civil and criminal litigation, family law, and customary law.

As the Lead Consultant at Citadel Legal Consult, Kezia develops and implements Litigation and ADR strategies for legal disputes, advises clients, agencies on dispute resolution pathways, and provides mediation and arbitration services. She is also a facilitator at the Africa Centre for Collaborative Dispute Resolution.

Kezia is a dedicated advocate for women's rights and has been trained in using the Maputo Protocol for women's rights advocacy. She is a member of the Ghana Bar Association, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Ghana, and the Ghana National Association of ADR Practitioners.

Prof. Bankole Sodipo is a distinguished Nigerian legal scholar, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, with an LL.B (Hons) from the University of Ife (1985), an LL.M. from the University of Lagos (1988), and a Ph.D. in Law from Queen Mary, University of London (1995) Since being called to the Nigerian Bar in 1986, he has served as Senior Partner at G.O. Sodipo & Co. and has specialized in intellectual property, media, technology, communications, and allied rights, playing key roles in litigation, mediation, and shaping IP policy—including contributions to the Copyright Acts (1988 and 2022) and Nigeria’s IP strategy.

Academically, he is Professor and former Dean of Law at Babcock University, a visiting scholar and lecturer at institutions such as Queen Mary University of London, UCL, Pan Atlantic University, and the Nigerian Law School, and serves as founding president of the Intellectual Property Law Association of Nigeria, with extensive roles in arbitration organizations

Justice Kadigwa Gashongore is a seasoned Rwandan jurist who has served in the judiciary since 2006, notably as a judge at both the High Court and the Commercial High Court. Holding a doctorate (third‑cycle degree) in law from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, he also pursued legal studies at the University of Lubumbashi in the DRC and at the National University of Rwanda. In recognition of his extensive experience and legal acumen, he was sworn in as Vice President of the Commercial High Court on January 25, 2024.

Ms. Penina Machoka is a distinguished senior lawyer, banker, and multi-disciplinary professional with over 30 years of international and multicultural experience in leading strategy and operational excellence globally. In her career she served at the Central Bank of Kenya and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) in Vienna. She has also lectured at the United Nations System Staff College in Turin. She also held senior roles within the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in New York, serving first as a senior legal advisor and later as Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary-General for Management. Additionally, she held leadership positions for the UNDP in Malaysia and Senegal.

Penina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of Nairobi and a Master’s degree in Law from Boston University, where she was honored with the John Serino Academic Prize. She has also completed specialized training at Harvard University, Georgetown University, and the UN System Staff College in Turin, among other institutions. She is also a certified John Maxwell Leadership Coach, Speaker, and Trainer.

Ms. Machoka is an active member of Christ is the Answer Ministries (CITAM) in Kenya, where she has served in Women’s Leadership, Missions, the Choir, and Bible Study leadership. She is also a member of the United Nations Fellowship in New York, where she led the Worship Team. Deeply committed to faith and service, she regularly preaches in her village church and trains clergy in leadership. She is the Managing Partner of P.M. Machoka and Co Advocates and Executive Director of the Machu Global Leadership and Governance Center both in Nairobi, Kenya.

A consultant in the field of Justice and Rule of Law, Adeline previously worked as a lawyer at the Paris Bar. She later gained solid international experience in the areas of combating impunity and strengthening the rule of law through positions with international NGOs (ASF, ABA-ROLI), at the International Criminal Court, and as a Justice Advisor for the International Bureau of Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) at the United States Embassy in the Central African Republic.

These various experiences have strengthened her expertise in international criminal law, access to justice, and the reinforcement of the criminal justice chain in post-conflict contexts. Adeline also has expertise in coordinating legal projects, program evaluation, and training judicial actors.

She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB Hons) in English Law from Sheffield Hallam University in the United Kingdom, a Master’s degree from the University of Paris Est-Créteil, and a Master 2 from the University of Paris Ouest Nanterre.