BUZOYA N’UNDI v. UBUSHINJACYAHA
Since Buzoya Severin and Niyonzima Isaac had already benefited from mitigation and received the minimum sentence possible under the law, the Court of Appeal held that their appeal had no merit and the sentence could not be reduced further.
Source-derived case information.
- Parties
- Appellant: Buzoya Severin; Appellant: Niyonzima Isaac; Respondent: Ubushinjacyaha
- Jurisdiction
- Rwanda
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Appeal Judgment
- Outcome
- appeal dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Possession and Trafficking of Cannabis, Mitigation of Sentence, Minimum Statutory Sentence, Appeal Against Sentence Reduction
- Source Language
- rw
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Buzoya Severin
Appellant
Niyonzima Isaac
Appellant
Ubushinjacyaha
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Appeal Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the 15-year prison sentence imposed on Buzoya Severin and Niyonzima Isaac could be further reduced below the statutory minimum on the basis of mitigating circumstances.
Ratio Decidendi
Since Buzoya Severin and Niyonzima Isaac had already benefited from mitigation and received the minimum sentence possible under the law, the Court of Appeal held that their appeal had no merit and the sentence could not be reduced further.
Court Disposition
appeal dismissed
Orders
- The appeal by Buzoya Severin and Niyonzima Isaac is unfounded.
- The judgment in RPA 00592/2022/HC/RWG of 15/05/2025 remains unchanged in all its provisions.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
6 paragraphs
BUZOYA N’UNDI v. UBUSHINJACYAHA [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’UBUJURIRE – RPAA 00605/2025/CA (Tugireyezu, P.J.,) 20 Mutarama 2026] Amategeko agenga ibyaha n’ibihano – Icyaha cyo kubika, gutunda no gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi – Gusaba kongera kugabanyirizwa ibihano – Uwagabanyirijwe igihano kugera ku gihano gito giteganywa n’itegeko ntashobora kongera kugabanyirizwa. Mu gihe igihano cy’igigfungo uregwa yahawe, aricyo gito itegeko riteganya, nta mpamvu yo gusuzuma niba impamvu nyoroshyacyaha agaragaza zifite ishingiro kuko atakongera kugabanyirizwa igihano cy’igifungo aba yarahawe. Incamake y’ikibazo: Nyuma y’iperereza, Ubushinjacyaha bwareze Iradukunda Alice, Niyonzima Isaac na Buzoya Severin mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Ngoma, bubakurikiranyeho icyaha cyo kubika no gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi, busaba ko kibahama maze bagahanishwa igihano cy’igifungo cya burundu n’ihazabu ya 30.000.000Frw. Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Ngoma rwasanze hari ibimenyetso bitandukanye byemeza ko abaregwa bakoze icyaha baregwa, maze rwemeza ko Iradukunda Alice, na Buzoya Severin bahamwa n’icyaha cyo kubika ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi, naho Niyonzima Isaac agahamwa n’icyaha cyo gutunda no gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi, maze ruhanisha Iradukunda Alice igifunfo cy’imyaka 18 naho Buzoya Severin na Niyonzima Isaac rubahanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 19. Niyonzima Isaac na Buzoya Severin ntibishimiye imikirize y’urubanza, bajuririra mu Rukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Rwamagana, Buzoya Severin asaba guhindura inyito y’icyaha asaba ko yitwa gufatanwa urumogi aho kwitwa kubika urumogi kuko atari azi ibyo yabikijwe. Niyonzima Isaac yajuriye avuga ko anenga kuba yarahamijwe kubika no gucuruza urumogi kandi ntarwo yafatanwe cyangwa ngo babe barasanze arucuruza, ariko nyuma ageze mu iburanisha noneho yemera icyaha, asaba kugabanyirizwa ibihano avuga ko yagororotse. Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha yaburanye avuga ko ubujurire bwa Buzoya Severin nta shingiro bufite kuko nta nenge agaragaza ziri mu rubanza yajuririye, kandi ko kuba Niyonzima Isaac yaraburanye mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye ahakana icyaha none ubu akaba arimo acyemera, ntacyo byamumarira bitafatwa nk’inenge kuko kwemera icyaha mu rwego rw’ubujurire bivuze ko azanye ingingo nshya itigeze iburanwaho ku rwego rwa mbere. Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Rwamagana rwasanze kuba Buzoya Severin asaba guhindurirwa inyito y’icyaha ikaba gufatanwa urumogi aho kuba kubika urumogi, nta shingiro bifite kuko ahubwo ari uburyo bwo gushaka kwiyorohereza ibihano kuko azi ko icyaha cyo gufatanwa ikiyobyabwenge gihanisha ibihano byoroheje ugereranije n’ibihano bihanishwa umuntu wahamwe n’icyaha cyo kubika cyangwa gucuruza ikiyobyabwenge cyo mu bwoko bw’urumogi. Urukiko Rukuru rwasanze kandi Niyonzima Isaac kuba yaremeye icyaha bwa mbere mu bujurire nta kamaro byamugirira, ariko hakurikijwe ingingo ya 2 y’itegeko Nº 059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 rihindura itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri
rusange, bityo Niyonzima Isaac na Buzoya Severin bagabanyirizwa ibihano, maze rubahanisha igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15). Niyonzima Isaac na Buzoya Severin ntibishimiye imikirize y’urubanza, bajuririra mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire, asaba ko yakongera kugabanyirizwa ibihano kuko Urukiko Rukuru rutamugabanyirije igihano ku buryo buhagije kandi yaremeye icyaha ku buryo budashidikanwaho. Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko ubujurire bwa Buzoya Severin n’ubwa Niyonzima Isaac busaba ko bakongera kugabanyirizwa ibihano, nta shingiro bukwiye guhabwa kuko igihano cy’imyaka 15 bahanishijwe aricyo gito gishoboka giteganyirizwa icyaha cyo kubika no gutunda ibiyobyabwenge bahamijwe mu gihe hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha, bityo ko kitakongera kugabanywa. Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwasuzumye ikibazo cyo kumenya niba igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 15 Buzoya Severin na Niyonzima Issac bahanishijwe cyakongera kugabanywa kugeza munsi y’igihano gito giteganywa n’itegeko hashingiwe ku mpamvu nyoroshyacyaha. Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwemeje ko Buzoya Severin ahamwa n’ icyaha cyo kubika ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi naho Niyonzima Isaac ahamwa icyaha cyo gutunda no gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi, ibyaha ubusanzwe bihanishwa igifungo cya burundu ariko Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Rwamagana, rubagabanyiriza igihano kugeza ku gifungo cy’imyaka 15, ku bw’ibyo rero uru Rukiko rukaba rurasanga ubujurire bwabo nta shingiro bufite kuko icyo gihano bahawe aricyo gihano gito gishoboka, kikaba kidashobora kongera kugabanywa. Incamake y’icyemezo: Uwagabanyirijwe igihano kugera ku gihano gito giteganywa n’itegeko ntashobora kongera kugabanyirizwa. Mu gihe igihano cy’igigfungo uregwa yahawe, aricyo gito itegeko riteganya, nta mpamvu yo gusuzuma niba impamvu nyoroshyacyaha agaragaza zifite ishingiro kuko atakongera kugabanyirizwa igihano cy’igifungo aba yarahawe. Ubujurire nta shingiro bufite. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko Nº 059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange ihindura ingingo ya 60 y’Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, ingingo ya 2. Imanza zifashishijwe: Urubanza RPAA 00048/2020/CA rw’Ubushinjacyaha na Bimenyimana Jean Paul, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 26/05/2022; Urubanza RPAA 00643/2024/CA rw’ Ubushinjacyaha na Ayinkamiye Kellen, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 30/5/2025.
Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Ku wa 30/01/2022, umuntu uturanye na Iradukunda Alice yahaye Umusekirite urinda mu nkambi ya Mahama amakuru ko Iradukunda Alice afite urumogi kandi asanzwe arubikira Niyonzima, ni uko nawe ahamagara Chef de village n’abandi basekirite, bajya kuri uwo mudamu Iradukunda Alice basanga afite bule 32 z’urumogi, ababwira ko yarubikijwe na Niyonzima Isaac, anababwira ko hari n'undi mugabo witwa Buzoya urubikiye Niyonzima, naho bajyayo bamusanga urumogi rudafunze rungana n’ikilo, n'urundi rungana na bule 168 zifunze, Buzoya nawe avuga ko yarubikijwe na Niyonzima Isaac, bajya gushaka Niyonzima, bagezeyo abemerera ko urumogi ari urwe bari barumubikiye. Bose bahita bafatwa bashyikirizwa inzego z’iperereza. [2] Iperereza rirangiye, Ubushinjacyaha bwareze Iradukunda Alice, Niyonzima Isaac na Buzoya Severin mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Ngoma, bubakurikiranyeho icyaha cyo kubika no gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi, busaba ko kibahama bagahanishwa igihano cy’igifungo cya burundu n’ihazabu ya 30.000.000Frw. [3] Iradukunda Alice yireguye avuga ko yemera ko yabitse gusa urumogi rwa Niyonzima Isaac ariko ko atarucuruzaga. Buzoya Severin we yireguye avuga ko yemera ko yabitse urumogi aruzaniwe na Iradukunda Alice na Niyonzima Isaac ariko atari azi ko ari urumogi kandi ko bwari ubwa mbere, asaba imbabazi kuko atari azi ibyo ari byo. Naho Niyonzima Isaac we yireguye avuga ko atemera icyaha aregwa, asobanura ko yatunguwe no kubona abantu baza kumufata ngo nazane ikiro cy'urumogi, bamujyana mu rugo asanga uyu mugore Iradukunda Alice yicaye kuri fondation y'inzu ya Niyonzima Isaac, babaza Niyonzima Isaac niba azi Iradukunda Alice ababwira ko ari umuturanyi we, ariko ko Niyonzima Isaac we atazi aho urumogi rwaturutse, ko muri RIB yapfuye kwemera kuko yabonye uburibwe bw’inkoni bumuriye kubera kumukubita apfa kwemera, ariko ko urwo rumogi rutari urwe, ndetse ko no kurumufotorana babikoze ku mbaraga abyemera kuko yari yakubiswe. [4] Mu rubanza RP 00084/2022/TGI/NGOMA rwaciwe ku wa 22/02/2022, Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Ngoma rwasanze hari ibimenyetso byemeza ko abaregwa bakoze icyaha birimo: a) Imvugo z’abatangabuhamya barimo Kwizera Emmanuel na Arakaza Cedric ari nabo bafashe abaregwa bemeje ko babafatanye urumogi n’uburyo barumufatanye; b) Inyandiko y'ifatira Iradukunda Alice yashyizeho umukono igaragaza ko yafatanwe bule 32 z’urumogi; c) Kuba Iradukunda Alice yemera ko yafatanwe bule 32 z’urumogi, kandi akanashinja Niyonzima Isaac; d) Inyandiko y'ifatira Buzoya Severin yashyizeho umukono igaragaza ko yafatanwe ikilo (1kg) na bule 168 by’urumogi; e) Kuba Buzoya Severin yiyemerera ko yafatanwe 1kg na bule 168 by’urumogi akanashinja Niyonzima Isaac; f) Kuba Niyonzima Isaac mu ibazwa mu Bugenzacyaha no mu Bushinjacyaha yaremeye icyaha cyo gucuruza urumogi akavuga ko urumogi Buzoya Severin yafatanwe ari urwe, ko yari yaruguze 30.000 Frw n’umugabo atazi amazina.
Urukiko rushingiye kuri ibyo bimenyetso, rwemeje ko Iradukunda Alice, na Buzoya Severin bahamwa n’icyaha cyo kubika ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi, naho Niyonzima Isaac ahamwa n’icyaha cyo gutunda no gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi, maze ruhanisha Iradukunda Alice igifunfo cy’imyaka 18 naho Buzoya Severin na Niyonzima Isaac rubahanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 19. [5] Niyonzima Isaac na Buzoya Severin ntibishimiye imikirize y’urubanza, bajuririra mu Rukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Rwamagana, Buzoya Severin asaba guhindura inyito y’icyaha ikaba gufatanwa urumogi aho kwitwa kubika urumogi kuko atari azi ibyo yabikijwe. Naho Niyonzima Isaac anenga kuba yarahamijwe kubika no gucuruza urumogi kandi ntarwo yafatanwe cyangwa ngo babe barasanze arucuruza. Ariko Niyonzima Isaac ageze mu iburanisha noneho yemera icyaha asobanura ko yabikije Buzoya Severin urumogi asaba kugabanyirizwa ibihano kuko yagororotse. [6] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha yaburanye avuga ko ubujurire bwa Buzoya Severin nta shingiro bufite kuko nta nenge agaragaza ziri mu rubanza yajuririye, ariko ko rwamugenera ibihano rushingiye ku ngingo 2 (b) (d) y’Itegeko Nº 059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 rihindura itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange. Yakomeje avuga kandi ko kuba mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye, Niyonzima Isaac yaraburanye ahakana icyaha none ubu akaba arimo acyemera, nta shingiro byahabwa kuko nta nenge agaragaza mu rubanza yajuririye kuko kwemera icyaha mu rwego rw'ubujurire bisobanuye ko azanye ingingo nshya itigeze iburanwaho ku rwego rwa mbere, bityo ko ntacyo byamumarira kuko atari inenge agaragaza y'urubanza yajuririye. [7] Mu rubanza RPA 00592/2022/HC/RWG, rwaciwe ku wa 15/05/2025, Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Rwamagana rwasanze kuba Buzoya Severin asaba guhindurirwa inyito y’icyaha ikaba gufatanwa urumogi aho kuba kubika urumogi, nta shingiro bifite kuko ahubwo ari uburyo bwo gushaka kwiyorohereza ibihano kuko azi ko icyaha cyo gufatanwa ikiyobyabwenge gihanisha ibihano byoroheje ugereranije n’ibihano bihanishwa umuntu wahamwe n’icyaha cyo kubika cyangwa gucuruza ikiyobyabwenge cyo mu bwoko bw’urumogi. Rwasanze kandi Niyonzima Isaac kuba yaremeye icyaha bwa mbere mu bujurire nta kamaro byamugirira. Rwasanze ariko hakurikijwe ingingo ya 2 y’itegeko Nº 059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 rihindura itegeko nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange Niyonzima Isaac na Buzoya Severin bagabanyirizwa, maze rurabagabanyiriza, rubahanisha igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15). [8] Niyonzima Isaac na Buzoya Severin ntibishimiye imikirize y’urubanza, bajuririra mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire, urubanza ruhabwa RPAA 00605/2025/CA, iburanisha rishyirwa ku wa 09/01/2026, Buzoya Severin yunganiwe na Me Nishimwe Claudine, Niyonzima Isaac yunganiwe na Me Micomyiza Liliane naho Ubushinjacyaha buhagarariwe na Gakwerere Javan, Umushinjacyaha ku rwego rw’Igihugu. [9] Mu mwanzuro no mu miburanire, Niyonzima Isaac na Me Micomyiza Liliane umwunganira basaba ko yakongera kugabanyirizwa ibihano kuko Urukiko Rukuru rutamugabanyirije igihano ku buryo buhagije kandi yaremeye icyaha ku buryo budashidikanwaho, kuba aribwo bwa mbere yagwa mu mutego w’icyaha, kuba icyaha yakoze nta ngaruka cyagize,
kuba afite uburwayi bukomeye bw’umuvuduko w’amaraso kandi igihe amaze mu igororero akaba yaragororotse bihagije. [10] Mu mwanzuro w’ubujurire wa Buzoya Severin, yari yavuze ko kuva agifatwa yemeye icyaha cyo kubika urumogi rungana n’ikiro kimwe (1kg) ariko ko yarubitse atazi ibyo abitse ko ari urumogi ndetse ko na nyirarwo Niyonzima Isaac yiyemereza ko atamusobanuriye ibyo amubikije. Ariko ageze mu iburanisha ry’uru rubanza, yemeye noneho ko yarubitse azi neza ko ari urumogi, maze Buzoya Severin na Me Nishimwe Claudine umwunganira bavuga ko ibyo kuba atari azi ko ibyo abitse ari urumogi babiretse, ahubwo basaba Urukiko rw’Ubujurire guca inkoni izamba rukamugabanyiriza igihano ku cyaha cyo kubika urumogi. [11] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko ubujurire bwa Buzoya Severin n’ubwa Niyonzima Isaac busaba ko bakongera kugabanyirizwa ibihano, nta shingiro bukwiye guhabwa kuko igihano cy’imyaka 15 bahanishijwe aricyo gito gishoboka giteganyirizwa icyaha cyo kubika no gutunda ibiyobyabwenge bahamijwe mu gihe hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha, ko rero kitakongera kugabanywa. [12] Hakurikijwe ibivugwa na buri ruhande, urukiko rurasanga hakwiye gusuzumwa ikibazo gikurikira: Kumenya niba igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 15 Buzoya Severin na Niyonzima Issac bahanishijwe cyakongera kugabanywa. II. ISESENGURA RY’IKIBAZO KIGIZE URUBANZA Kumenya niba igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 15 Buzoya Severin na Niyonzima Issac bahanishijwe cyakongera kugabanywa [13] Buzoya Severin na Niyonzima Isaac n’ababunganira basaba Urukiko rw’Ubujurire kongera kubagabanyirizwa igihano cy’imyaka 15 bahanishijwe hashingiwe ku mpamvu nyoroshyacyaha zirimo kuba baremeye icyaha mu buryo budashidikanwaho, kuba aribwo bwa mbere bagwa mu mutego w’icyaha no kuba icyaha bakoze nta ngaruka cyagize. [14] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko igihano cy’imyaka 15 bahanishijwe aricyo gito gishoboka hakurijwe ibiteganywa n’ingingo ya 2, agace ka a), y’Itegeko N 059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 rihindura Itegeko N 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, ko rero badashobora kongera kugabanyirizwa. UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [15] Impaka kuri iyi ngingo zishingiye ku kumenya niba igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 15 Buzoya Severin na Niyonzima Isaac bahanishijwe cyakongera kugabanywa kugeza munsi y’igihano gito giteganywa n’itegeko hashingiwe ku mpamvu nyoroshyacyaha. [16] Ikibazo cyo kongera kugabanya igihano kubera impamvu nyoroshyacyaha mu gihe igihano cyatanzwe aricyo gito gishoboka cyatanzweho umurongo mu rubanza RPAA 00048/2020/CA rwaciye ku wa 26/05/2022 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Bimenyimana Jean Paul rusobanura imikoreshereze y’ingingo ya 2 y’Itegeko Nº 059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange ihindura ingingo ya 60 y’Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018
riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange. Muri urwo rubanza, Urukiko rwemeje ko uwagabanyirijwe igihano kugera ku gihano gito giteganywa n’itegeko adashobora kongera kugabanyirizwa. Ibi kandi ni nabyo byakomeje gushimangirwa mu manza zitandukanye harimo n’urubanza RPAA 00643/2024/CA rwaciwe n’uru Rukiko ku wa 30/5/2025 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Ayinkamiye Kellen aho mu gika cyarwo cya 33, Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwasobanuye ko mu gihe igihano cy’igigfungo uregwa yahawe, aricyo gito itegeko riteganya, nta mpamvu yo gusuzuma niba impamvu nyoroshyacyaha agaragaza zifite ishingiro kuko atakongera kugabanyirizwa igihano cy’igifungo aba yarahawe. [17] Hashingiwe ku bisobanuro byatanzwe n’Uru Rukiko mu manza zitandukanye rwaciye zagaragajwe haruguru, Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rurasanga Buzoya Severin yarahamijwe icyaha cyo kubika ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi naho Niyonzima Isaac ahamywa icyaha cyo gutunda no gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi, ibyaha ubusanzwe bihanishwa igifungo cya burundu ariko Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Rwamagana, rubagabanyiriza igihano kugeza ku gifungo cy’imyaka 15, ku bw’ibyo rero uru Rukiko rukaba rurasanga ubujurire bwabo nta shingiro bufite kuko icyo gihano bahawe aricyo gihano gito gishoboka, kikaba kidashobora kongera kugabanywa. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [18] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwa Buzoya Severin na Niyonzima Isaac nta shingiro bufite; [19] Rwemeje ko imikirize y’urubanza RPA 00592/2022/HC/RWG, rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Rwamagana, ku wa 15/05/2025, idahindutse mu ngingo zarwo zose; [20] Rwemeje ko igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 15 Buzoya Severin na Niyonzima Isaac bahanishijwe mbere kigumyeho.