BABYLON RWANDA Ltd v BRUGGER NA UWASE
The Intermediate Court of Nyarugenge erred in transferring the case to the Intermediate Court of Gasabo after finding it lacked jurisdiction; it should have only ruled on its own jurisdiction. Claims for costs and attorney fees must be determined together with the substantive claim in the competent court.
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- RSOCA 00292/2021/HC/KIG
- Parties
- Appellant: BABYLON RWANDA Ltd; Respondent: BRUGGER NA UWASE (Roger Brugger na Uwase Rusagara Berna)
- Court
- High Court
- Jurisdiction
- Rwanda
- Judgment Date
- 28 April 2023
- Case Number
- RSOCA 00292/2021/HC/KIG
- Procedural Posture
- Labour Dispute Appeal / High Court Appellate Decision on Jurisdictional Objection
- Outcome
- Appeal allowed in part; transfer order set aside; no costs or attorney fees awarded.
- Legal Topics
- Jurisdiction, Transfer of Cases, Costs, Labour Contract Termination
- Source Language
- rw
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.
Parties
BABYLON RWANDA Ltd
Appellant
BRUGGER NA UWASE (Roger Brugger na Uwase Rusagara Berna)
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Labour Dispute Appeal / High Court Appellate Decision on Jurisdictional Objection
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether a court lacking jurisdiction can transfer a case to another court of the same level
- 2 Entitlement to costs and attorney fees in the context of jurisdictional objections
Ratio Decidendi
The Intermediate Court of Nyarugenge erred in transferring the case to the Intermediate Court of Gasabo after finding it lacked jurisdiction; it should have only ruled on its own jurisdiction. Claims for costs and attorney fees must be determined together with the substantive claim in the competent court.
Court Disposition
Appeal allowed in part; transfer order set aside; no costs or attorney fees awarded.
Orders
- The order transferring the case from the Intermediate Court of Nyarugenge to the Intermediate Court of Gasabo is set aside.
- No costs or attorney fees are awarded to either party.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
13 paragraphs
# BABYLON RWANDA Ltd v BRUGGER NA UWASE
- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2023-04-28 - Case/document no.: RSOCA 00292/2021/HC/KIG - Collection: High Court
## Text
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BABYLON RWANDA Ltd v BRUGGER NA UWASE [Rwanda URUKIKO RUKURU – RSOCA 00292/2021/HC/KIG – (Ngabire, J. P.) 28 Mata 2023] Amategeko agenga imiburanishirize y’imanza z’umurimo – Ububasha bw’urukiko – Inzitizi y’iburabubasha – Icyemezo ku nzitizi y’iburabubasha – Urukiko rwaregewe rufata icyemezo ku bubasha bwarwo gusa igihe umuburanyi abyukije inzitizi y’iburabubasha, ariko ntabwo rufite ububasha bwo kohereza urubanza mu rundi rukiko ruri ku rwego rumwe na rwo. Incamake y’ikibazo: Uru rubanza rwatangiriye mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge Brugger n’Uwase basaba indishyi zituruka kw’iseswa ry’amasezerano y’umurimo bari bafitanye na Babylon Rwanda Ltd, mu gihe yo yatanze inzitizi y’ibura bubasha bw’uru Rukiko kuko icyicaro cyayo kiri mu Karere ka Gasabo. Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwemeje ko ikirego cy’Abarega kitakiriwe, rutegeka ko urubanza rwabo rwoherezwa mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo kuko arirwo rufite ububasha bwo kuruburanisha. Iki cyemezo Babylon Rwanda Ltd yakijuririye muri uru Rukiko Rukuru ivuga ko kinyuranyije n’amategeko kuko mu gihe urukiko rudafite ububasha bwo kwakira no kuburanisha urubanza, nta n’ububasha ruba rufite bwo gufata icyemezo cyohereza urubanza mu rundi Rukiko. Abaregwa muri uru rubanza bireguye bavuga ko impamvu y’ubujurire yatanzwe atari impamvu yari gutuma uruhande baburana rujurira, ko ahubwo kutakirwa kw’ikirego kwari gutuma uruhande rwari rubifitemo inyungu ruregera urukiko rubifitiye ububasha. Incamake y’icyemezo: Urukiko rwaregewe rufata icyemezo ku bubasha bwarwo gusa igihe umuburanyi abyukije inzitizi y’iburabubasha, ariko ntabwo rufite ububasha bwo kohereza urubanza mu rundi rukiko ruri ku rwego rumwe na rwo. Bityo, Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge ntabwo rwari gufata icyemezo cyo kohereza urubanza rwa Babylon Rwanda Ltd na Brugger na Uwase mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo ahubwo uwari kuba abifitemo inyungu yari gutanga ikirego mu rukiko rubifitiye ububasha. Urubanza ntirwagombaga koherezwa mu rundi Rukiko. Amagarama aherera ku isanduku ya Leta. 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 93. Imanza zifashishijwe: Ntegeye na Ecobank Rwanda Ltd n’undi, RS/REV/INJUST/COM0001/16/CS rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 09/09/2016. Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Uwase Berna Rusagara na Roger Brugger bareze Babylon Rwanda Ltd mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge, indishyi zitandukanye zikomoka ku iseswa ry’amasezerano y’umurimo bari bafitanye. Mu kwiregura kwayo, Babylon Rwanda Ltd yatanze inzitizi y’iburabubasha ry’Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge, inzitizi ishingiye ko Babylon Rwanda Ltd ifite icyicaro mu Murenge wa Kimihurura, mu Karere ka Gasabo, inasaba indishyi zo gushorwa mu rubanza.
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[2] Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge rwemeje ko ikirego cya Roger Brugger na Uwase Rusagara Berna kitakiriwe, rwemeza ko Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo arirwo rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha urubanza RSOC 00472/2020/TGI/NYGE, rutegeka ko urwo rubanza rwoherezwa Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo, rutegeka ko amafaranga abarega batanzeho ingwate y’amagarama ahwanye n’ibyakozwe mu rubanza1. [3] Ku wa 02/12/2021 Babylon Rwanda Ltd yajuririye icyo cyemezo kubera impamvu ebyiri zikurikira: Kuba Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge rwarafashe icyemezo cyo kohereza urubanza RSOC 00472/2020/TGI/NYGE mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo, no kuba rutarayigeneye indishyi z’ikurikiranarubanza zingana na 200.000 Frw n’igihembo cya Avoka kingana na 3.000.000 Frw yasabye, nk’uko uwayiburaniye yabisobanuye mu mwanzuro w’ubujurire no mu iburanisha ryo ku wa 03/02/2023. [4] Muri uru rubanza hasuzumwe ikibazo cyo kumenya niba Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge rutaragombaga kohereza urubanza mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo (1), n’ikibazo cyo kumenya niba uwajuriye n’abaregwa bakwiye indishyi basaba (2). II. ISESENGURA RY’IBIBAZO BIGIZE URUBANZA 1. Ku byerekeye ikibazo cyo kumenya niba Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge rutaragombaga kohereza urubanza mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo a. Imiburanire [5] Mu bujurire bwayo, Babylon Rwanda Ltd yavuze ko icyemezo cyafashwe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge cyo kohereza urubanza RSOC 00472/2020/TGI/NYGE mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo kinyuranyije n’amategeko ngo kuko mu gihe Urukiko rudafite ububasha bwo kwakira no kuburanisha urubanza, nta n’ububasha ruba rufite bwo gufata icyemezo cyohereza urubanza mu rundi Rukiko. [6] Roger Brugger na Uwase Rusagara Berna bavuze ko ibivugwa na Babylon Rwanda Ltd ari byo koko ukurikije ibyo amategeko ateganya, ariko ko atari impamvu yari gutuma ijurira, ko ahubwo kubera ko ikirego kitakiwe, ko uruhande rwari rubifitemo inyungu rwari kuregera Urukiko rubifitiye ububasha. Bavuze nanone ko Babylon Rwanda Ltd itagaragaza icyo yangijwe n’icyemezo cyo kohereza urubanza mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo, kandi ko nta wundi murongo igaragaza, ngo ivuge ko wenda ikirego cyari kwakirwa. UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [7] Ingingo ya 93 y’Itegeko No 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi iteganya ko umuburanyi ubyukije inzitizi y’iburabubasha agomba kuyisobanura akanagaragaza Urukiko avuga ko rufite ububasha bwo kumuburanisha, Urukiko rugafata icyemezo kubijyanye n’ububasha bwarwo mu gihe kitarenze iminsi cumi n’itanu (15). [8] Iyi ngingo y’itegeko yumvikanisha ko nubwo umuburanyi ubyukije inzitizi y’iburabubasha agomba kugaragaza Urukiko avuga ko rufite ububasha bwo kumuburanisha, Urukiko rwaregewe rufata icyemezo gusa kubijyanye n’ububasha bwarwo (ko rufite cyangwa rudafite ububasha bwo kuburanisha urubanza); ntabwo rufata icyemezo cyo kohereza urubanza mu rundi Rukiko ruri ku rwego rumwe na rwo, ahubwo uwareze niwe ujya gutanga ikirego mu Rukiko rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha urubanza rwe. Ibi
1 Reba urubanza RSOC 0472/2020/TGI/NYGE rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge ku wa 26/11/2021.
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byumvikanisha nanone ko kugaragaza Urukiko rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha urubanza bitandukanye no gusaba Urukiko kohereza urubanza mu Rukiko rufite ububasha bwo kuruburanisha. [9] Ibivuzwe mu gika kibanziriza iki ni nako Roger Brugger na Uwase Rusagara Berna babyemeye mu iburanisha ry’uru rubanza aho bavuze ko ibivugwa na Babylon Rwanda Ltd ari byo koko ukurikije ibyo amategeko ateganya, ko uruhande rubifitemo inyungu rwari kuregera Urukiko rubifitiye ububasha. [10] Nubwo ariko Babylon Rwanda Ltd inenga ko Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge rwohereje urubanza RSOC 00472/2020/TGI/NYGE mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo, mu iburanisha ry’uru rubanza yemeye ko Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo arirwo rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha urubanza afitanye na Roger Brugger na Uwase Rusagara Berna, anavuga ko urubanza barimo kuburana mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo atari urwoherejwe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge, ko ahubwo ari ikindi kirego cyatanzwe na Roger Brugger na Uwase Rusagara Berna. [11] Nubwo rero Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge rwafashe icyemezo kitari cyo cyo kohereza urubanza RSOC 00472/2020/TGI/NYGE mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo, icyo kirego kikaba kitaroherejwe nk’uko uwaburaniye Babylon Rwanda Ltd yabivuze mu iburanisha ry’uru rubanza, kandi uyu munsi impande zombi zikaba zirimo kuburana urubanza mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo ku kindi kirego cyatanzwe na Roger Brugger na Uwase Rusagara Berna, Urukiko rurasanga ibi ntacyo bibangamiye Babylon Rwanda Ltd. 2. Ku byerekeye ikibazo cyo kumenya niba uwajuriye n’abaregwa bakwiye indishyi basaba a. Imiburanire [12] Mu bujurire bwayo na none, Babylon Rwanda Ltd inenga ko Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge rutayigeneye indishyi z’ikurikiranarubanza zingana na 200.000 Frw n’igihembo cya Avoka kingana na 3.000.000 Frw yasabye, igasaba kuzihabwa mu bujurire. Babylon Rwanda Ltd ishingira iyi mpamvu y’ubujurire ku rubanza RS/REV/INJUST/COM0001/16/CS rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 09/09/2016 hagati ya Ntegeye na Ecobank Rwanda Ltd n’undi. [13] Roger Brugger na Uwase Rusagara Berna bo bavuga ko iyi mpamvu y’ubujurire nta shingiro ifite ngo kuko indishyi n’igihembo cya Avoka atari ibihano bihanishwa uwatanze ikirego agamije kurengera inyungu ze, kandi ko Babylon Rwanda Ltd ariyo nyirabayazana w’impaka zose bafitanye ngo kuko yabirukanye mu kazi mu buryo budakurikije amategeko, ndetse ko ikirego cyari kigamije kurengera uburenganzira buteganywa n’amategeko, ko kitari ikirego cyatanzwe hagamijwe gusiragiza undi muburanyi mu Nkiko kubw’amaherere, ko ahubwo bayobejwe n’inama mbi z’amategeko bituma batanga ikirego mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge. UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [14] Ingingo ya 111 y’Itegeko No 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi iteganya ko ikirego cy’amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza ari ikirego gishamikira ku kirego cy’iremezo kigamije kwishyuza ibyakoreshejwe mu rubanza, kandi ko iki kirego kiburanishirizwa rimwe n’ikirego cy’iremezo. [15] Urukiko rurasanga koko Babylon Rwanda Ltd yarasabye Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge indishyi z’ikurikiranarubanza zingana na 200.000 Frw n’igihembo cya Avoka kingana na 3.000.000 Frw, nk’uko bigaragara mu mwanzuro wayo wo ku rwego rwa mbere, ariko ntiyayahabwa, Urukiko ntirwagira n’icyo ruyavugaho.
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[16] ikirego cy’iremezo Babylon Rwanda Ltd iburana na Roger Brugger na Uwase Rusagara Berna indishyi zijyanye no kwirukanwa mu kazi mu buryo bunyuranyije n’amategeko, insimbura kiruhuko, indishyi zo gushorwa mu rubanza, amafaranga y’ikurikirana rubanza n’ay’igihembo cya Avoka kiracyaburanishwa mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo, bivuze ko hataremezwa ko Babylon Rwanda Ltd yarezwe hagamijwe kuyisiragiza mu Nkiko kubw’amaherere; Urukiko rukaba rusanga ikirego cy’amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cya Avoka cya Babylon Rwanda Ltd kigomba kuzaburanishirizwa rimwe n’ikirego cy’iremezo baburana muri urwo Rukiko nk’uko ingingo y’itegeko yagaragajwe haruguru ibiteganya, kuko ikirego cy’amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cya Avoka gishamikiye ku kirego cy’iremezo. [17] Urukiko rurasanga urubanza RS/REV/INJUST/COM0001/16/CS Babylon Rwanda Ltd ishingiraho isaba guhabwa indishyi z’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cya Avoka rutandukanye n’uru rubanza kuko ikiburanwa muri uru rubanza ni ikirego cy’amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cya Avoka gusa, hakiri ikirego cy’iremezo, mu gihe mu rubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 09/9/2016 hagati ya Ntegeye na Ecobank Rwanda Ltd n’undi haciwe urubanza mu mizi yarwo ku rwego rwa nyuma2. [18] Roger Brugger na Uwase Rusagara Berna nabo ntibakwiye amafaranga y’igihembo cya Avoka basaba, ubusabe bwabo buzasuzumwa hamwe n’ikirego cy’iremezo baburana na Babylon Rwanda Ltd. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [19] Rwemeje ko Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge rutagombaga kohereza urubanza RSOC 00472/2020/TGI/NYGE mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo. [20] Rwemeje ko nta ndishyi zikwiye muri uru rubanza. [21] Rutegetse ko 40.000 Frw Babylon Rwanda Ltd yatanzeho ingwate y’amagarama ijurira ahwanye n’amagarama y’Urukiko muri uru rubanza.
2 Icyegeranyo cy’ibyemezo by’Inkiko, RLR-V.2- 2017, pp.127–145.