Today at Parliament, President Kagame officiated the swearing-in ceremony of newly appointed Chief Justice Domitilla Mukantaganzwa and Deputy Chief Justice Alphonse Hitiyaremye.
In his remarks, President Paul Kagame highlighted the vital role of justice in building a society where the rights of all citizens are respected.
“Justice in our country has been deeply flawed for many years, primarily influenced by politics, which led to Rwandans being divided, failing to understand each other, and even killing one another. That is our past, and that is where we come from. However, where we are headed, and it had been clear for a long time, is in a different and better direction, and it is necessary. It is so necessary that what we ask of people is to understand this, to follow the path of living in harmony, to uphold justice and the laws that we must all embrace. I truly want this to stop there; let us strive to live together, to live well together, because we are all human beings, we are all equal. The equality that I am speaking of is about the rights that every individual has, no one is above another in terms of rights. That is what our justice system should help us achieve”, said President Kagame in the Swearing-in Ceremony of New Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice.
“In general, [throughout our history] not everyone has received the justice they deserve and desire. However, some have been more deprived of justice than others. This resulted into the painful history we always remember. Even today, there are still individuals with ideas of taking us back to that past. In such cases, the law and justice must be enforced. If they are not enforced, other measures will be taken. That must stop. Killing people who have already been deprived of justice, and even lost [loved ones], and having a political agenda to push things in that direction of harming survivors, targeting them in their homes and killing them; laws must be upheld. If not, other actions will be taken. I am declaring this, I am saying it to you all, and everyone must hear me: it must stop. Those playing politics and making statements, whether they are outside the country, inside the country, and those who work with them, including foreigners who seem wanting to undermine this, to reduce it to nothing, should know that we are not nobodies. Our laws, and the justice I am speaking about, cannot and should not be rendered meaningless. No politics can turn justice into nothing”, added President Kagame.
Domitilla Mukantaganzwa succeeds Faustin Nteziryayo, who had served out his five-year term. Deputy Chief Justice Alphonse Hitiyaremye replaces Marie-Thérèse Mukamulisa.
The duo was approved by the Senate on December 5, two days after they were appointed by President Kagame. (End)