Although progress has been made in fighting corruption within courts, the battle is not yet over, according to Justice Charles Kariwabo, the outgoing president of the judiciary anti-corruption committee. Speaking during the handover ceremony held at the Supreme Court on May 15, Kariwabo expressed confidence that the newly appointed committee would continue strengthening integrity and accountability within the judiciary. ALSO READ: Six things you should know about new anti-corruption committee in judiciary “We believe that corruption has not yet ended in the courts, but its roots have already been exposed,” he said. “Those who have completed their mandate have laid the foundation; we also raised the walls and those who will replace us will put up a strong roof. In all this, it is not us who should boast, but the citizen who should reap the fruits of what we do, since he is our main employer.” Kariwabo noted that one of the main challenges faced by the outgoing committee was obtaining information about corruption involving court staff and citizens. He suggested that the new committee should prioritize public awareness campaigns encouraging citizens to report judicial staff who request bribes. He also emphasized the need to address corruption loopholes within court operations, saying corruption should not only be viewed as the exchange of money, but also include weaknesses that undermine the justice delivery. The anti-corruption committee was established in 2022 to oversee efforts aimed at combating corruption across all levels of courts. Its responsibilities include monitoring court operations, reporting corruption tendencies, identifying loopholes that make courts vulnerable to corruption, and proposing measures to close those gaps. Speaking during the handover ceremony, Chief Justice Domitilla Mukantaganzwa called on judges, court clerks, and other judicial staff to remain committed to fighting corruption and upholding integrity within Rwanda’s judiciary. “Fighting corruption is the responsibility of all of us,” Mukantaganzwa said. “I urge judges, clerks, and other judicial staff to follow the law and fight corruption, so that the image of our country’s judiciary can further improve and the trust Rwandans have in the judiciary can further increase.” The incoming committee president, Angéline Rutazana, who is also a judge at the Court of Appeal, pledged to continue strengthening the fight against corruption in the judiciary. She thanked the judiciary leadership for entrusting her with the responsibility and acknowledged that there were still gaps requiring attention. “When corruption is fought at the judicial level, that also reaches the people who are waiting for justice,” she said. Rutazana added that her previous experience, including serving as Inspector General of Courts, would help her contribute effectively to anti-corruption efforts within the judiciary.
