She made the call on October 31 during an engagement with judges and judicial staff from courts under the Musanze High Court Circuit.
Mukantaganzwa underscored the importance of efficiency in case management, reminding judges that cases should be heard in the order they are filed. She, however, acknowledged that some delays arise from factors beyond the courts' control, such as adjournments or party-related interruptions.
Data presented during the session indicated that the Musanze Intermediate Court currently handles 1,499 cases, of which 1,096 are backlog cases.
Mukantaganzwa noted that measures previously introduced to address case backlogs are beginning to yield positive outcomes, though further effort is still required.
'It has long been established that backlog cases should not be allowed to stagnate in our courts. That is why, in their reports, you can see consistent progress in clearing old cases each year,' she stated.
She added that most of the remaining old cases date back to 2022, and are being prioritised for conclusion in line with judicial procedures.
'Our principle is straightforward: cases filed earlier should be heard first. However, delays sometimes result from adjournments requested by the parties involved, rather than from the court itself,' she explained.
The Chief Justice further reminded judges that any case pending for more than six months is classified as a backlog. She said this benchmark aims to ensure timely service delivery and public trust in the judiciary.
'Six months may not seem long, but we set that target to promote efficiency and fast-track justice, so that citizens do not have to wait unnecessarily for verdicts,' Mukantaganzwa said.
During the discussions, it was revealed that the Musanze High Court Circuit currently has 1,214 cases, with 95% being criminal and 5% civil. Of the backlog cases, 585 date from 2022, 97% of which are criminal.
The most frequent offences among the pending cases include drug-related crimes, child defilement, theft, murder, and assault.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/judiciary-boss-urges-judges-to-speed-up-justice-delivery
