President Paul Kagame, high ranking officials and the newly sworn in judges
The newly established Court of Appeal in Rwanda reflects the country’s plan to provide quick justice, President Kagame said on Wednesday.
He was presiding over the swearing-in-ceremony of 17 Judges in the newly established Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, High Court and Commercial High Court.
The new Court of Appeal will limit the work log in the Supreme Court, cutting the time a case spends in court.
The Court will also hear proceedings in criminal matters as well as proceedings in civil matters, which are appealable.
The Supreme Court, as well as being the final court of appeal, remains the highest court in the hierarchy of judiciary in Rwanda.
Aimé Muyoboke Karimunda was sworn-in as President of the new Court of Appeal, while Marie Thérèse Mukamulisa was swon-in as his Vice President.
In the Supreme Court, former Chief Justice and Ombudsman Aloysie Cyanzayire was appointed Judge.
At the High Court, Xavier Ndahayo was sworn-in as its President while Bernadette Kanzayire, the former deputy ombudsman was sworn-in as his Vice President.
On the newly established Court of Appeal, President Kagame said that it comes in to ensure that Rwandans get justice in shortest delays.
“This court will ensure that justice is served in the shortest delays. This is what Rwandans want our justice system to be defined by. Because we know that justice delayed is justice denied,” Kagame said.
Newly sworn in judges share light moments
With its establishment, Kagame said: “The Supreme Court will now focus on upholding the Constitution and ensuring the laws of our country are in line with the Constitution.”
The President said that for the past 20 years, his government has been transforming the Justice System, and results have been impressively declared in several global reports.
“The fair justice system in Rwanda is what gives confidence to citizens and foreign investors to work knowing their rights will be respected and everyone will be held accountable by the law,” the President said.
By 2012, it took at least 66 months for a case to start being heard in the Supreme Court which has since been reduced to 20 months.
In the high court, this has dropped from 11 months to three months in the same period, as a result of judicial reforms.
Speaking while presiding over the swearing-in ceremony at the Parliamentary building in the capital Kigali, Kagame said that: “Our justice system should not be subject to corruption and the rulings of judges should not be influenced and should always be impartial.”
Below is a list of Judges who sworn-in:
Supreme Court
Ms. Cyanzayire Aloysie: Judge
Court of Appeal
Mr. Karimunda Muyoboke Aimé: President
Ms. Mukamulisa Marie Thérèse: Vice-President
Ms. Mukanyundo Patricie: Judge
Ms. Kanyange Fidelité: Judge
Ms. Mukandamage Marie Josée: Judge
Mr. Rugabirwa Ruben: Judge
Mr. Munyangeri Ngango Innocent: Judge
Mr. Gakwaya Justin: Judge
Mr. Hitiyaremye Alphonse: Judge
Mr. Ngagi Munyamfura Alphonse: Judge
Ms. Nyirandabaruta Murorunkwere Agnès: Judge
Mr. Muhumuza Richard: Judge
Mr. Kaliwabo Munyantore Charles: Judge
High Court
Mr. Ndahayo Xavier: President
Ms. Kanzayire Bernadette: Vice – President
Commercial High Court
Ms. Rutazana Angeline: Vice-President
