In December 2011, Prof. Sam Rugege was appointed Chief Justice after 7 years as a Deputy Chief Justice. His 8-year non-renewable term comes to an end in two years. The former Constitutional law lecturer at South Africa’s University of Western Cape had a chat with Sunday Times’ Athan Tashobya, and talked about his term of office, a glimpse of what he intends to do when he retires and how lonely life can be as a judge. Your 8-year non-renewable term comes to an end in two years’ time. How has the experience been like so far? Chief Justice Prof Sam Rugege. / Faustin Niyigena My experience has been great, I should say. It can be stressful and difficult sometimes but on the whole I am happy that I have been able to contribute in rebuilding our country. I think I have seen a lot of progress during my time and I am very happy that I have contributed—by however small measure it is—to the progress of the judiciary of our country in particular. When we embarked on judicial reforms in 2004, we started virtually from scratch—recruiting new graduates who have gone on to become good judges and now we have a good team that is willing to learn and adapt to changes and getting better qualifications through studying part-time. Now we have a competent judiciary. When I came into the judiciary in 2004, many courts were still using typewriters but all judges now have computers and they type their own judgments. This has improved the quality and security of judgement. It is quite encouraging. My biggest challenge has been trying to convince the few ‘bad apples’ to be professional and abide by their ethics and not engage in corruption or other misconduct. My biggest fear is about what RGB’s report card will say about the performance of the judiciary and people’s complaints to Transparency International—things like there is corruption in the courts, or there is injustice and so on; that is my worry. I worry when I see someone who has suffered injustice in our courts. Otherwise, the people we have are committed; they like their work. It’s only a few, especially in the lower levels who leave the judiciary to go to other “greener pastures”. On the main highlight of my time in office, I think I will leave that to the time I finish my term. I can’t say that before my term ends. What do you do during your free time? (Laughs) Ours is quite a lonely profession as they say. If you take it seriously as I do, we don’t socialize a lot because there are more temptations the more you socialize. So, I stay home a lot with the family and read all kinds of things; I read as much of the newspapers as I can. I swim and that helps me to keep fit. On Sundays, I go to Church, at Christian Life Assembly (CLA), with my grandchildren. What is your favourite Music? Jazz. Sometimes I attend Kigali Jazz Junction at Serena Hotel. What is your favourite food? Fish. It is not a common food here but I think Muhazi lake is improving (on the number of fish it produces) and I see a number of fish farmers. So we still get enough fish for the family. What is your favourite place around Kigali? I don’t go out a lot. I don’t think I know much of my city because it changes every other day. But seriously; If I was to choose where to live, I would choose Kiyovu because of many trees and it is on nice hills. The next place would be Rebero (Kicukiro) because it gives you a breathtaking view of Kigali. I live in Nyarutarama and it gives me a descent view of Remera. Who is your role model? (Thinks for some time )… Uhmmm. I have no special professional mentor. My spiritual and moral mentor was my late father who was a kind of lay-preacher and knew the Bible inside-out and lived by it. Do you have any hobby? Oh yes, I enjoy photography. If fact after I retire, I will make some time to improve my photography skills if my plans are not upset. I hope to travel to places like Nyungwe, Volcanoes and Akagera National Parks and take some good photos. Nikon is my favourite camera.
