AKARERE KA KAYONZA vs. MUREKATETE
A public servant may challenge a dismissal by following either the general administrative procedure (appealing to the hierarchical superior) or the special procedure under the Public Service Statute (appealing to the Public Service Commission); use of the special procedure does not violate the law. The District...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- RADA 00004/2022/HC/RWG
- Parties
- Appellant: Akarere ka Kayonza; Respondent: Murekatete Angélique
- Court
- High Court
- Jurisdiction
- Rwanda
- Judgment Date
- 31 January 2024
- Case Number
- RADA 00004/2022/HC/RWG
- Procedural Posture
- Administrative Appeal / High Court Appellate Judgment
- Outcome
- Appeal dismissed; first instance judgment modified only as to damages.
- Legal Topics
- Public Employment Termination, Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies, Appeal Procedures, Statutory Interpretation
- Source Language
- rw
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Akarere ka Kayonza
Appellant
Murekatete Angélique
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Administrative Appeal / High Court Appellate Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether Murekatete Angélique's appeal to the Public Service Commission instead of the hierarchical superior of the District constituted a procedural violation barring her claim
- 2 Whether the District was justified in terminating Murekatete Angélique's employment for cause
- 3 Whether compensation and costs were properly awarded
Ratio Decidendi
A public servant may challenge a dismissal by following either the general administrative procedure (appealing to the hierarchical superior) or the special procedure under the Public Service Statute (appealing to the Public Service Commission); use of the special procedure does not violate the law. The District failed to prove misconduct justifying dismissal, so compensation is due.
Court Disposition
Appeal dismissed; first instance judgment modified only as to damages.
Orders
- Akarere ka Kayonza to pay Murekatete Angélique compensation equal to three months' salary for unlawful dismissal.
- Akarere ka Kayonza to pay Murekatete Angélique 500,000 Frw for legal fees and costs, plus 200,000 Frw for case follow-up and 20,000 Frw for court fees as previously awarded.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
13 paragraphs
# AKARERE KA KAYONZA vs. MUREKATETE
- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2024-01-31 - Case/document no.: RADA 00004/2022/HC/RWG - Collection: High Court
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AKARERE KA KAYONZA vs. MUREKATETE [Rwanda URUKIKO RUKURU – RADA 00004/2022/HC/RWG (Nyirabagande, J. P.) 31 Mutarama 2024] Amategeko agenga imiburanishirize y’imanza z’ubutegetsi – Umukozi wa Leta – Gutakambira umuyobozi wafashe icyemezo – Nubwo hari inzira ebyiri ziteganyijwe n’amategeko anyuranye zikoreshwa mu gutakambira umuyobozi wafashe icyemezo, ntibifatwa nko kwica amategeko mu gihe umukozi wa Leta akoresheje imwe muri izo nzira. Incamake y’ikibazo: Murekatete wari umukozi ushinzwe imibereho myiza mu murenge wa Mukarange, mu karere ka Kayonza yareze mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Ngoma avuga ko yirukanwe nta mpamvu mu bakozi ba Leta n’Akarere ka Kayonza ngo kubera amakosa, ariko ayo makossa akaba ataratangiwe ibimenyetso. Asobanura ko mbere yo kurega mu Rukiko yari yabanje gutakambira Ubuyobozi bw’Akarere ariko ajuririra Komisiyo y’abakozi ba Leta nyuma yo kutishimira igisubizo kamuhaye nubwo nanone atishimiye igisubizo yahawe niyo Komisiyo. Akarere ka Kayonza kabanje gutanga inzitizi yo kutakira ikirego cy’Urega ngo kuko yagitanze atabanje gutakamba mu buryo budakurikije amategeko, ariko Urukiko rwemeje ko nta shingiro ifite ndetse n’ibyo Akarere kise amakosa kashingiyeho kirukana Urega nta yabayeho maze gategekwa kumwishyura indishyi zijyanye no kumwirukana nta mpamvu. Iki cyemezo kakijuririye mu Rukiko Rukuru, urugereko rwa Rwamagana kavuga ko ikirego cy’Urega kitari kwakirwa kuko yatakambiye Komisiyo y’abakozi ba Leta kandi atari rwo rwego rukuriye Akarere nk’uko biteganywa n’amategeko agenga imiburanishirize y’imanza z’ubutegetsi. Mu bujurire uwarezwe yisobanuye avuga ko nk’umukozi wa Leta, yashingiye ku Itegeko rigenga sitati rusange igenga abakozi ba Leta maze ajuririra Komisiyo ishinzwe abakozi ba Leta nyuma yo kutishimira igisubizo yahawe n’Akarere ku butakambe bwe. Avuga kandi ko mu gihe hari amategeko abiri, rimwe ari rusange irindi ryihariye, hakoreshwa itegeko ryihariye bityo, ibi bikaba bitagomba kwitiranywa no kudatakamba. Incamake y’icyemezo: Nubwo hari inzira ebyiri ziteganyijwe n’amategeko anyuranye zikoreshwa mu gutakambira umuyobozi wafashe icyemezo, ntibifatwa nko kwica amategeko mu gihe umukozi wa Leta akoresheje imwe muri izo nzira. Ikirego cy’ubujurire nta shingiro gifite. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko No 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, ingingo ya 111 n’iya 178. Itegeko No 86/2013 ryo ku wa 19/09/2013 rishyiraho sitati rusange igenga Abakozi ba Leta, ingingo ya 70.
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Nta manza zifashishijwe. Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Kuva mu 2010, Murekatete Angélique yari umukozi w’Akarere ka Kayonza, ushinzwe imibereho myiza y’abaturage mu Murenge wa Mukarange; yaje kwirukanwa n’Akarere kavuga ko gashingiye ku makosa; we akakvuga ko nta bimenyetso by’amakosa avugwa ko yirukaniwe kuko n’ikirego yari yakurikiranyweho ku cyaha cyo kwaka indonke, dosiye yashyinguwe mu cyemezo cyo ku wa 17/01/2023. [2] Murekatete Angélique yatakambiye Umuyobozi w’Akarere ka Kayonza, atishimiye igisubizo ahawe, ashyikiriza ikibazo cye Komisiyo y’Abakozi ba Leta, ashingiye ku ngingo ya 70 ya sitati y’Abakozi ba Leta; ikibazo cye kidakemutse agishyikiriza Urukiko ruburanisha imanza z’ubutegetsi, Akarere gatanga inzitizi yo kutakira ikirego kuko yagitanze atabanje gutakamba mu buryo bukurikije amategeko. [3] Mu rubanza RAD 00004/2023/TGI/NGOMA rwaciwe ku wa 12/09/2023, Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Ngoma rwemeje ko inzitizi yatanzwe n’Akarere ka Kayonza nta shingiro ihawe, ko ikirego cyakiriwe kubera ko Murekatete Angélique yakoresheje inzira iteganywa n’Itegeko ryihariye rigenga sitati rusange y’abakozi ba Leta. [4] Ku byerekeranye n’urubanza mu mizi, Urukiko rwemeje ko ibyo Akarere ka Kayonza kise amakosa yatumye kirukana Murekatete Angélique bitabayeho, rwemeza ko yirukanwe nta mpamvu, rutegeka Akarere ka Kayonza kumwishyura indishyi zo kwirukanwa nta mpamvu zingana n’inshuro 3 z’umushara we wa buri kwezi; rutegeka Akarere kumwishyura 500.000 Frw y’igihembo cya avoka, 200.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza na 20.000 Frw y’igarama. [5] Urukiko rwasobanuye ko ku birebana na ruswa igaragara mu makosa Murekatete yirukaniwe, Akarere katashoboye kugaragaza uko icyo cyaha cyakozwe ; ku birebana no gukura Mukanani Clotilde ku rutonde rw’abafashwa na VUP, n’uburanira Akarere yemera ko atari yujuje ibisabwa, ntibashobora gusobanura niba ikosa ari ukumuraho kuko atujuje ibisabwa cyangwa ari ukumurekeraho kandi adakwiye kugumaho; ntihatangwa gihamya y’uko Mukandani yashyizwe ku rutonde rw’abafashwa na VUP na Murekatete kandi mu nyungu ze, mu gihe ubusanzwe bikowa z’inteko y’abaturage. [6] Akarere ka Kayonza kajuririye Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Rwamaga, Me Hategekimana Gratien ugahagarariye avuga ko ikirego kitari kwakirwa kuko Murekatete yatakambiye Komisiyo y’abakozi ba Leta kandi atari rwo rwego rukuriye Akarere nk’uko biteganywa n’amategeko mu manza z’ubutegetsi. [7] Me Gabiro David na Murekatete Angélique bavuga ko impamvu y’ubujurire itahabwa ishingiro yashyikirije ikibazo cye Komisiyo y’abakozi ba Leta, nk’uko biteganywa na sitati rusange y’abakozi ba Leta, itegeko ryihariye. Urukiko rurasuzuma niba kuba Murekatete Angélique
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yaratakambiye Komisiyo y’Abakozi ba Leta adatakambiye urwego rukuriye Akarere byafatwa ko atatakambye, ikirego nticyakirwe. [8] Ikirego cyahawe RADA 00004/2023/HC/RWG, urubanza ruburanishwa mu ruhame ku wa 26/09/2022, Akarere ka Kayonza gahagarariwe na Me Hategekimana Gratien, Murekatete Angélique yunganiwe na Me Gabiro David. [9] Ikibazo gisuzumwa n’Urukiko ni iki gikurikira: - Kumenya niba kuba Murekatete Angélique yaratakambiye Komisiyo y’Abakozi ba Leta adatakambiye urwego rukuriye Akarere byafatwa ko atatakambye, ikirego nticyakirwe. - Kumenya niba hari indishyi zagenwa muri uru rubanza kuri uru rwego. II. IKIBAZO BIRI MU RUBANZA N’ISESENGURWA RYACYO 1. Kumenya niba kuba Murekatete Angélique yaratakambiye Komisiyo y’Abakozi ba Leta adatakambiye urwego rukuriye Akarere byafatwa ko atatakambye, ikirego nticyakirwe [10] Me Hategekimana Gratien uhagarariye Akarere ka Kayonza avuga ko Urukiko Rwisumbuye rutahaye agaico inzitizi yatanzwe yo kutakira ikirego habayeho kwirengagiza amategegeko agenga imiburanishirize y’imanza z’ubutegetsi. Avuga ko itegeko ritaganya ko utanyuzwe n’icyemezo cyafashwe n’Akarere agomba, mbere yo kuregera Urukiko gutakambira urwego rukuriye Akarere, muri iyi dosiye akaba ari Intara, nyamara ikirego cyarakiriwe kandi nyamara Murekatete yaratakambiye Komisiya y’Abakozi ba Leta, uru rwego kandi si rwo rukuriye Akarere, asaba ko byakosorwa, hakemezwa ko ikirego kitari kwakirwa. [11] Me Gabiro David na Murekatete Angélique bavuga ko impamvu y’ubujurire itahabwa ishingiro kubera ko nyuma yo gufatirwa icyemezo n’Akarere yatakambye Umuyobozi w’Akarere, atishimiye igisubizo ahawe, ajuririra Komisiyo y’Abakozi ba Leta ashingiye ku Itegeko ryihariye rigenga sitati y’abakozi ba Leta, akaba ari inzira na yo iteganyijwe n’amategeko, kandi mu gihe hari amategeko abiri, hakoreshwa itegeko ryihariye ku itegeko rusange; bikaba rero bitakwitiranywa no kudatakamba. URUKIKO RUBIBONA [12] Ingingo ya 178 y’Itegeko No22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, iteganya ko ikirego gisaba gukuraho icyemezo cy’umuyobozi cyakirwa iyo cyerekeye icyemezo cy’umuyobozi cyaba cyeruye cyangwa kiteruye. Mbere yo gutanga ikirego, unenga icyemezo cy’umuyobozi agomba kubanza gutakambira umuyobozi ufite ububasha bwisumbuye k’uwafashe icyemezo kinengwa. [13] Ingingo ya 70, igika cya 1 y’Itegeko No 86/2013 ryo ku wa 19/09/2013 rishyiraho sitati rusange igenga Abakozi ba Leta, iteganya ko umukozi wa Leta utanyuzwe n’icyemezo yafatiwe ashobora gutakamba mu nyandiko ku rwego rwa mbere ku muyobozi wafashe icyemezo. Mu gika cya 4 cy’iyo ngingo, igateganya ko yo umukozi wa Leta atanyuzwe n’icyemezo gifashwe ku rwego
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rwa mbere, ajuririra urwego rwa Leta rwakira ubujurire mu micungire y’abakozi ba Leta. Ubujurire butangwa mu gihe kitarenze iminsi itanu (5) uhereye igihe umukozi wa Leta yaherewe igisubizo. Igika cya 6 cy’iyo ngingo, iteganya ko icyemezo cy’urwego rwa Leta rwakira ubujurire mu micungire y’abakozi n’icya Minisitiri ntibijuririrwa mu rwego rw’ubutegetsi. [14] Ingingo zombi zivugwamo ko mbere yo kuregera Urukiko icyemezo cyafashwe n’urwego rw’Ubuyobozi hagomba kubanza gutakambira ko gikurwaho. Ingingo y’Itegeko ryabanje ivugwamo ko mbere yo kuregera Urukiko, asaba ko icyemezo gikurwaho agomba kubanza gutakambira urwego rukuriye urwafashe icyo cyemezo. Ingingo y’Itegeko rya ivugwamo ku mukozi wa Leta, ko mbere yo kuregera Urukiko atakambira Umuyobozi w’urwego rwafashe icyemezo, atakwishimira icyemezo gifashwe, akajuririra urwego rwakira ubujurire bw’Abakozi ba Leta (komisiyo y’abakozi ba Leta). [15] Hasingiwe ku bisobanuwe muri izi ngingo, Urukiko rusanga kuba Murekatete Angélique ari umukozi wa Leta, akaba atari yishimiye icyemezo yafatiwe n’urwego rw’Akarere, agatakambira Umuyobozi w’Akarere, ariko ntanyurwe n’igisubizo yahawe, yari afite uburenganzira bwo gushyikiriza ikibazo cye Komisiyo y’Abakozi ba Leta; ari na byo yakoze, hanyuma atakwishimira icyemezo gifashwe, agatanga ikirego mu Rukiko rubifitiye ububasha. Gukoresha iyi nzira bikaba bitanyuranyije n’Itegeko nk’uko byemejwe mu rubanza rujuririrwa. [16] Rusanga kandi yarashoboraga no gutakambira Urwego rw’Intara, rukuriye Aksarere, asaba ko icyemezo cyafashwe n’Urwego rw’Akarere gikurwaho, mbere yo gutanga ikirego mu Rukiko; na bwo kandi nta Tegeko yari kuba atubahirije kuko na byo biteganyijwe n’amategeko. [17] Urukiko rusanga rero, kuba hari inzira ebyiri ziteganyijwe n’amategeko anyuranye, utakamba yakoresha inzira ahisemo kandi ntibifatwe nko kwica amategeko; cyane ko kuri Murekatete Angelique, nk’umukozi wa Leta, yahisemo gukoresha Itegeko ryihariye rigenga abakozi ba Leta, bitafatwa nk’aho atubahirije amategeko, kubera ko mu mahame asanzwe y’amategeko, Itegeko ryihariye rihitwamo ku Itegeko rusange. Muri iki kibazo, Itegeko rigenga sitati y’abakozi rikaba ryihariye kuko inzira riteganya yakoreshwa gusa n’abakozi ba Leta, mu gihe itegeko ryerekeranye n’imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, yakoreshwa no ku bindi byemezo by’ubuyobozi binyuranye bifatwa n’inzego z’ubutegetsi. 2. Ku byerekeranye no kumenya niba hari indishyi zagenwa mu uru rubanza [18] Ingingo ya 111 y’Itegeko No 22/2018 ku wa 29/04/2018 Itegeko ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, iteganya ko ikirego cy’amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza ni ikirego gishamikiye ku kirego cy’iremezo kigamije kwishyuza ibyakoreshejwe mu rubanza. Ikirego cy’amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza kiburanishirizwa rimwe n’ikirego cy’iremezo. Iyi ngingo yumvikanisha ko umuburanyi watsinze ufite ibyo yatakaje ku rubaza, yishyurwa iyo abigaragarije ikimenyetso. [19] Mu rubanza rujuririrwa nta ndishyi zatanzwe, Urukiko rusobanura ko hari “budget” yateganyirijwe gukurikirana imanza. Akarere ka Kayonza karajuriye, Me Hategekimana Gratien avuga ko indishyi zo gukurikirana urubanza zari zikwiye kuko kaba kashyizeho avoka uburana kandi utari umukozi uhembwa na Leta. Murekatete Angelique avuga ko izo ndishyi Akarere katazikwiye kubera ko iyo impamvu y’ubujurire idakwiye guhabwa ishingiro.
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[20] Urukiko rusanga hashingiwe ku bisobanuwe mu ngingo yavuzwe haruguru, kuba ikirego cya Akarere ka Kayonza kidahawe ishingiro, Akarere gakwiye kwishyura Murekatete indishyi zingana n’amafaranga ibihumbi magana atanu (500.000 Frw), abariwe hamwe ku gihembo cya avoka n’ikurikiranarubanza; akiyongera ku ndishyi zagenwe ku rwego rubanza zigizwe n’inshuro 3 z’umushara we wa buri kwezi; 500.000 Frw y’igihembo cya avoka, 200.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza na 20.000 Frw y’igarama III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [21] Rwemeje ko ikirego cy’ubujurire cyatanzwe n’Akarere ka Kayonza nta shingiro gifite. [22] Rwemeje ko kuba Murekatete Angelique yaratakambiye Komisiyo y’Abakozi ba Leta bitanyuranyije n’amategeko. [23] Rwemeje ko urubanza RAD 00004/2021/TGI/NGOMA rwo ku wa 12/09/2023 rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Ngoma ruhindutse gusa ku ndishyi. [24] Rutegetse Akarere ka Kayonza kwishyura Murekatete Angélique amafaranga ibihumbi magana atanu (500.000 Frw), y’igihembo cya avoka n’ay’ikurikiranarubanza abariwe hamwe; yiyongera ku ndishyi zagenwe mu rubanza rujuririrwa, zingana n’inshuro 3 z’umushahara we wa buri kwezi; 500.000 Frw y’igihembo cya avoka, 200.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza na 20.000 Frw y’igarama. [25] Rutegetse ko amafaranga ibihumbi mirongo ine (40.000 Frw) y’ibyakoreshejwe mu rubanza aherejwe ku Isanduku ya Leta.