News:Fighting graft is everybody's duty - Chief Justice

RWANDANS are urged to collectively fight corruption in the judiciary to ensure justice for all and fast track social economic development.

The call was made by the Chief Justice, Sam Rugege, during the closing of the anti-corruption week organised by the judiciary in Musanze District.

“Fighting corruption shouldn’t be the work of the Ombudsman Office alone. Although we know that the Ombudsman Office is charged with fighting the vice, that office cannot succeed alone; neither can the government institutions. It is a war to be fought by all of us and safeguard the national economy for our common good,” Rugege said.

Rugege said that while corruption was no longer rampant in the judiciary, it was important to make the public and those seeking justice aware it undermines justice and should be eliminated.
“This is a good week for us to remind the public and those seeking justice that corruption should be fought in the judiciary,” he advised.

“We encourage the public to report whenever you are asked to give a bribe; or when your neighbour gives/receives a bribe. We also keep the information confidential and offer full protection to whistleblowers”.

Rugege urged the public to use a toll free line (3670) to give information related to corruption.
The anti-corruption week sought to expedite and complete all corruption related cases brought before the courts.

The Judiciary spokesperson, Emmanuel Itamwa, said 60 such cases were filed in courts across the country and are expected to be concluded by the end of the week.
“Since 2005, at least 27 court staff, including registrars and judges, were implicated in corruption-related cases.

Appropriate measures were taken against them which involved termination of employment and prosecution,” he said
.
Transparency International (TI) Rwanda has commended the judiciary for reducing corruption involving its members.

Source: 

http://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/article/2015-02-15/186002/

News: Huye residents urged to settle disputes at community level

Residents of Karama Sector in Huye District have been told to try solving cases at community level instead of dragging wrangles to conventional courts of law, which consume a lot of money and time.
Addressing the residents last week, Africa Karake, the complaints investigations officer at the Office of the Ombudsman, said the other important advantage of communally solving disputes, is that it fosters cohesion in the community.

Karake was speaking as officials from the Office of the Ombudsman visited the sector to sensitise people against corruption and how better they can work locally to solve some of the issues affecting them.

The event also helped the officials receive complaints from the grassroots, where the majority of the cases brought up were land-related.

Other cases involved Gacaca cases that were adjudicated but property or reparations were not given to those entitled.

Jean Damascene Ruzindana won a property case before Gacaca court, but years later, he is yet to be compensated for the property lost during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

“There is a person living in a house whose doors were looted from my home during the Genocide, there are other people who destroyed my house but I only got Rwf75,000 of the Rwf1,602,000 the Gacaca court awarded me in damages,” Ruzindana said.

Karake said unlike in the past where a convict paid out of goodwill, the law today is the rule.
“The property of the person who owes compensation can be attached and auctioned in case they are not willing to pay,” Karake said.

This financial year, districts targeted for outreach activities by the Office of the Ombudsman include Gatsibo, Muhanga, Nyanza, Huye and Nyabihu.

Source:


http://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/article/2015-02-16/186025/

News: Meeting to discuss the Research done on the increase of court fees and its consequences

Today on 05th February 2015, AJPRODHO – JUJUKIRWA organized a meeting to discuss about the research carried out about the increase of court fees and probable consequences to justice service delivery. The guest of honor was the Minister of Justice and Attorney General Busingye Johnston.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General explained to the participants that increasing court fees was being done even before depending on the value of money.  “Increasing court fees does not depend on the purchasing power capacity of the consumers of justice services. If you want to buy a shirt to wear, the price will not decrease or increase depending on the fact that you have money or not” Minister Busingye explained. “What Rwandans need to know is that justice has a price” He added. The Government invests money in all court procedures to make sure that everything is in place.

Minister Busingye Johnston emphasized that a vulnerable citizens is supported by Government and some of such legal aid mechanisms for poor people is that they are given legal aid support without paying anything.  At each District there is a legal advisor who is supposed to represent poor people in courts.  There are also other Non Government Organizations that represent vulnerable people in courts. This was done to assist poor citizens so that they can get chance in their court proceedings.

Minister took the opportunity to request all Rwandans that before deciding to go to court they should first seek for advice from legal advisors located at each District and respect the advice thereof. “If you become stubborn and refuse to respect the advices given by legal advisors and you proceed to courts, we will represent you if you are poor, but when you loose the case and requested to pay, your vulnerability will not work.  You will be requested to pay and you will do it” Minister emphasized. 

Source:http://www.minijust.gov.rw/media-center/news/news-details/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=341&cHash=1cc351e4640a7d9196447bf0c83d2e6c

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Job Advert - LandNet Rwanda Chapter and RISD Communication Officer

Job Advert - LandNet Rwanda Chapter and RISD Communication Officer - Sept 2014

LandNet Rwanda Chapter and the Rwanda Initiative for Sustainable Development (RISD), wish to recruit a Communications Officer, and the closing date to receive the applications is 30th September 2014. 

Please send your application to the Director, RISD through info@risdrwanda.org Phone calls or hard copy delivery disqualifies your application.

- 1 Year Contract Renewable
- Agency: RISD & LandNet Rwanda Chapter
- Start date: October 2014
- Funded: This is a local expert position funded by GIZ-Rwanda

Please find the full job description here:
http://www.risdrwanda.org/spip.php?article212

New RISD Publication on Land in Rwanda

The LandNet Rwanda Chapter Organization and coordinator 'Rwanda Initiative for Sustainable Development' (RISD) published a new working paper on land in Rwanda:

Securing Land Rights Project: A Working Paper on Land Tenure Regularization in Rwanda

Summary by Robin Palmer (Global Land Rights Policy Specialist at Mokoro)

'There is a distinct gap between conceptions of land deployed by the Land Tenure Regularization Program (LTRP) framework and the law and how rural Rwandans perceive and use land. Argues that land mediates relationships between people and any attempt to transform land must also take into account these relationships. Many people have left their titles at the registration office because of prohibitive fees and taxes. Over 85% of open land disputes are on parcels that have already been registered through LTRP, while registration is activating latent disputes and creating new disputes. Access to land is becoming more precarious and people are losing a sense of belonging. Inheritance is the single most frequent cause of land disputes. Far from streamlining dispute resolution, the LTRP appears to have done the opposite. Entire families are losing their access to land through the registration process. Found that the Abunzis (local mediators) were unclear about the land laws but were the ideal actors to bridge the gaps. The banks have no use for land or land titles. Concludes that despite all the problems listed, a land titling program like the LTRP is urgently needed in Rwanda.'

Download (566K pdf) from the RISD website here