She made the remarks on Friday during the Annual General Assembly of the Rwanda Bar Association (RBA) held in Kigali, where she called on lawyers to strengthen legal research, professionalism, and ethical conduct in the administration of justice.

Chief Justice Mukantaganzwa expressed concern that some lawyers continue to represent clients in court using laws that are no longer in force, noting that she has personally encountered at least three cases argued on the basis of repealed legislation.

“Cases are prepared; they are not improvised in court. A professional lawyer must carefully analyze a client’s case using laws that are current and applicable,” she said.

She emphasized that Rwanda has established legal reform mechanisms and that lawyers are expected to regularly consult official legal platforms to stay updated, enabling them to give accurate legal advice to their clients instead of pursuing cases with little legal foundation.

On professional conduct, the Chief Justice reminded lawyers that courts are places of dignity and respect, not entertainment venues or sports arenas. She pointed out that some lawyers exhibit inappropriate behavior and dress in ways that undermine the dignity of the court.

“Courts are not dance halls or football stadiums. Lawyers must uphold proper conduct, decent appearance, and respectful language. Professionalism starts with appearance before competence,” she stated.

She further stressed that a competent lawyer must be well-prepared, conduct thorough legal research, and rely on judicial precedents, including decisions from Rwandan courts and, where relevant, comparative jurisprudence from other jurisdictions.

According to the 2024/2025 Judiciary Annual Report, Rwandan courts handled more than 109,000 cases out of over 182,000 cases registered, with many disputes resolved through mediation and amicable settlements.

Currently, Rwanda has more than 1,700 practicing lawyers, who represented over 5,250 clients in 2025 alone, with a significant number of cases successfully settled through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

Chief Justice Mukantaganzwa urged lawyers to uphold the values of their profession and to play a constructive role in strengthening public confidence in the justice system through integrity, diligence, and respect for the rule of law.