THE President of the High Court, Johnston Busingye, has urged judges and court clerks in Kigali City to fight all forms of corruption in the judiciary as a way of improving the quality of services they offer.

Speaking during a one-day conference for over 100 judges and court clerks serving in Gasabo, Nyarugenge and Gicumbi districts, Busingye said that the judiciary must work hard to maintain their independence and act impartiality. 

"Rwanda has set a record as a country with zero tolerance to corruption; the whole world is now watching us to see if we can uphold our laws or give way to corruption. It’s therefore your obligation as judges and court clerks to take on your responsibility of protecting the image of our profession,” Busingye said.

He later revealed in an interview that corruption and bribery in the courts had dropped tremendously in the last ten years, to almost negligible levels.

"Last year, only three court clerks were dismissed from work because of corruption-related cases. However, this year there has not been a single case so far. This implies that we are on the right track,” he said.

On the issue of a heavy backlog of cases pending in the courts, Busingye said that there are strong government measures, backed by stakeholders’ support, aimed at improving the situation.

"Every judge is required to deliver a minimum of 15 judgments every month; on top of this requirement, we need to work out creative ways of resolving conflict at the domestic level; this way, all cases shall be concluded fast,” he said.

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