A total of 33 judges and registrars who were recently promoted or relocated as part of the High Council of the Judiciary’s September 19 meeting resolutions officially took their oath of office this week. The swearing-in ceremony, presided over by Chief Justice Domitilla Mukantaganzwa, took place on October 3. No new faces joined the judiciary, as the ceremony involved officials who were either promoted from lower to higher courts or transferred within the system. ALSO READ: Chief Justice urges integrity as 53 new judges and registrars are sworn in In her speech, the Chief Justice emphasized that judges and registrars are the public face of the judiciary, particularly those serving in primary courts, who make up the majority of the system. The way they interact with citizens, she said, reflects on the entire justice sector, and any misconduct, whether through corruption, delayed rulings, or biased judgments, undermines public trust. “Deliver justice based on laws, not emotions,” Mukantaganzwa urged. “Being a judge is not easy; you may preside over cases involving neighbours, siblings, or close acquaintances, but you must remain impartial and guided solely by the law. That is what the public expects, and that is what the Constitution requires.” She also reminded the officials that the judiciary functions as a collective institution whose judgments are delivered in the name of the people. She encouraged them to uphold ethical standards, seek guidance when necessary, and ensure that court services start on time as a sign of respect for citizens. Speaking on the significance of the swearing-in, Judiciary Spokesperson Harrison Mutabazi said the ceremony mainly involved promotions to fill gaps left by retirements, career transitions, and dismissals. “These are not entirely new people; they are professionals who have been serving in the system but were promoted or reassigned to new responsibilities,” Mutabazi explained. “There are still gaps, particularly in the number of court officials, but our focus now is on maximising the potential of the few we have, using reforms such as Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and technology to address case backlogs.” Meanwhile, of the 33 officials sworn in, eight are judges and 25 are registrars. The latest figures show that Rwanda currently has 756 court officials, comprising 374 judges and 382 registrars.
