Senate takes on delays in expropriation and implementation of court ruling

The Rwandan Senate has decided to follow up on why court case rulings are not implemented in a timely fashion; noting that not doing so hinders the fundamental principle of a Government governed by law.

The decision was made by the senate plenary session after the Standing Committee on Political and Good Governance presented its analysis on the 2018/2019 Ombudsman Report.

Senate Lambert Dushimimana, Commission Chairman said; "Concerning the proper conclusion of cases to do with land, a task force was established; but our analysis found that there are issues that should be addressed; such as fighting corruption, where more effort is required because we found the problem to be serious; the problem unjust practices during Court cases, the issue of Court rulings that are not implemented in a timely fashion," 

The Senators commended the fact that the Office of the Ombudsman exists to deal with such issues, but also stressed that such problems in the Justice Sector should be addressed.

Senate Juvenal Nkusi noted that; "The fact is, they found many instances of unjust practices in cases among Courts high up in the Justice Sector hierarchy. I believe the issue has to do with examining whether or not there is a serious problem in the Justice Sector itself," 

Senate Marie Rose Mureshyankwano added; "The matter of giving the courts the capabilities of getting to the asset in contention. I want to ask those representing the Commission: Did you find the reason that unjust rulings are pasted might have something to do with Judges unable to get to the assets in contention during the case, and that is the reason you say they should be given the capacity to get to those assets?,"   

The General Assembly decided to look into why so many court rulings are not implemented in a timely fashion and why some people relocated to make way for development projects still have arrears they claim not to have been given.

Of 96 Court Cases forwarded to the Supreme Court by the Office of the Ombudsman, 43 were analyzed and 29 found to have unjust rulings and of 23 Dossiers that did make it to Court, Supreme Court Judges found that 20 contained unjust elements.

Serge Ntore reports...