Court bailiffs and notaries from across the country have been urged to uphold the rule of law and avoid graft in executing courts’ verdicts and to offer timely services to dignify the country’s judicial system.

Justice minister Johnston Busingye, who was presiding over the swearing-in ceremony of 77 non-professional court bailiffs and 50 notaries in Kigali yesterday, urged them to dignify justice by delivering good service to Rwandans.

"You have to execute court verdicts on time regardless of other daily responsibilities that you have. With any failure to do so, a professional bailiff will intervene and by law, you will pay the cost of their intervention,” Busingye told the bailiffs,

"A loser of a suit must pay their dues on time and if they are reluctant, it is your duty to make them do so. It is not by mercy or the will of a loser to pay the dues but the law obliges them. So uphold the rule of law to hold everyone accountable,” he added.

The sworn-in bailiffs include 60 at the cell level, 16 at the sector level and the executive secretary of Ngoma District, while 49 land notaries and one sector notary also took oath of office.

Busingye, who is also the Attorney-General, advised the new notaries to be vigilant and remain on the lookout for forged documents, saying cases of forged documents are increasing in the country.

"You will not charge people with anything for the service you deliver. Avoid recurrent transfers of people from one person to another but stay honest and impartial. Avoid corruption, nepotism and any kind of biases in your duties,” he said.

The new bailiffs and notaries swore to stay loyal to the government, to respect the Constitution and other laws and to carry out their duties responsibly, adding that any failure to abide by this oath shall result in legal ramifications.

"Having received training on land notification functions, I am ready to deliver the best possible service to the people. I know a lot of work awaits us but we shall maximise the working hours and use extra-time if need be,” said Consolée Uwamurengeye, the new land notary for Fumbwe Sector in Rwamagana District.

Busingye said the country boasts of many non-professional and professional bailiffs and notaries who should end the malpractices in both professions.

In October, the Ministry of Justice suspended 15 professional court bailiffs due to malpractices such as executing verdicts of ghost cases as well as bailiffs who deposited money from auctions into their own bank accounts instead of courts’ accounts.

There are 2,623 non-professional and 217 professional bailiffs in the country, while land and general notaries are 457 and 448, respectively, Busingye said.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw