The team from Judiciary has been at the Institute of Legal Practice and Development for a month to examine over a thousand cases submitted to the Court of Appeal on grounds of injustice. The retreat was concluded by the Deputy Chief Justice Mukamulisa Marie Therese on Friday, September 2, 2022.

In his remarks, the Acting Rector of ILPD, Dr. Sezirahiga Yves congratulated the effort of the judges who gave up their judicial leave to come at ILPD to work on the examinations. He said: “It is a principle of justice that justice delayed is not justice. It is therefore a principle that judges and other judicial officers accepted sincerely and agreed to give up their judicial leave in order to provide speedy justice.”

The President of the Court of Appeal (CoA), Justice Rukundakuvuga Francois Regis who was heading the team highlighted that thanks to the efforts, commitment and solidarity of the participants, the team managed to examine 1144 cases submitted to the CoA and they were all treated at 100% rate. Now, claimants can find their responses through Sobanuzainkiko system.

On behalf of the participants, Mr. Manirakiza Emmanuel found this retreat very important not only because it has reached its objectives but also they leant more skills including: the proper and speedy ways of drafting court decisions, knowledge of how to analyze cases and know the real issue to solve, knowledge of responding to the matter of people by being precise, concise and Straight.

The Deputy Chief Justice who was the Guest of Honour, commended the effort of the judges who gave up their judicial leave and come to the retreat purposely to find solutions to over a thousand cases that were pending. She also highlighted that the exercise has an impact to the reputation of the Rwandan Judiciary.

She said: “fellow judges, researchers and other court officials, as you are aware the fair justice is given in a significant time limit. It is said that the justice delayed is a justice denied. Again, timely evaluation of such submissions has a great impact because it makes people earn the trust of courts.”

Among 1144 case submitted to the Court of Appeal that were examined only 125 cases equaling to 10.9% of reviewed submissions were found unjust, thus giving people a reason to accept the court decisions.