NTAHONKIRIYE N’ABANDI v. ICYITEGETSE

# NTAHONKIRIYE N’ABANDI v. ICYITEGETSE

- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2015-07-31 - Case/document no.: RS/REV/INJUST/CIV 0015/14/CS - Collection: Supreme Court

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NTAHONKIRIYE N’ABANDI v. ICYITEGETSE [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’IKIRENGA – RS/REV/INJUST/CIV 0015/14/CS (Mukamulisa, P.J., Munyangeri na Kalimunda, J.) 31 Nyakanga 2015] Amategeko agenga imanza z’imbonezamubano – Izungura – Uburenganzira bw’umugore mu izungura ry’umugabo we – Umuco wo gusumbanya abana b’abahungu n’ab’abakobwa ubangamiye ihame ry’uko abantu bareshya imbere y’amategeko kandi barengerwa kimwe nayo – Itegeko Nshinga rya 1962 ryemeraga ko abantu bose bangana imbere y’amategeko hatitawe ku gitsina. Incamake y’ikibazo: Ntahonkiriye na bagenzi be bareze Icyitegetse mu Rukiko rw’Ibanze rwa Muzo bavuga ko yikubiye imitungo yasizwe na Mporebucye na Mukambuguje bapfuye mu bihe bitandukanye Mporebucye mu 1997 naho Mukambuguje mu 2004, abo bakaba barapfuye badasize umwana, Ntahonkiriye n’abagenzi be bakaba barareze bavuga ko bafite uburenganzira bwo kuzungura umukobwa wabo Mukambuguje. Urukiko mu rubanza RC 0109/012/TB/MUZ rwemeje ko ikirego cyabo kidafite ishingiro kuko nta kigaragaza ko Ntahonkiriye na Mukambuguje bapfuye. Abarega bongera gutanga ikirego muri urwo Rukiko basaba ko rwemeza ko Mporebucye na Mukambuguje bapfuye, rwemeza ko bapfuye. Ntahonkiriye na Mukambuguje bashingiye kuri urwo rubanza rwemeza ko Ntahonkiriye na Mukambuguje bapfuye, basubirishije urubanza RC 0109/012/TB/MUZ ingingo nshya. Urukiko rw’Ibanze rwa Muzo rusanga Ntahonkiriye na bagenzi be bashaka kuzungura umukobwa wabo nyamara Mporebucye apfa mu 1997, umuco nyarwanda utemereraga abagore kuzungura abagabo babo iyo batabyaranye, ahubwo umutungo wasubizwaga umuryango w’umugabo. Ntahonkiriye na bagenzi be bandikiye Urwego rw’Umuvunyi basaba gusuma akarengane kabaye muri urwo rubanza, Umuvunyi yandikira Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga amusaba ko urwo rubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ibanze rwa Muzo rusubirwamo kuko yasanze rurimo akarengane. Mu rubanza rusubirwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane, Ntahonkiriye na bagenzi be bavugako akarengane kabo kagaragarira mu kuba barabujijwe kuzungura umukobwa wabo wapfuye muri 2004 kubera ko umugabo we yapfuye 1997 batari barabyaranye, bitari bikwiye ko Urukiko rwemeza ko izungura rikwiye gukorwa hakurikijwe umuco nyarwanda wabuzaga abagore kuzungura abagabo babo batabyaranye, ahubwo hari gushingirwa ku itegeko ryo muri 1999 ryemerera abagore kuzungura kimwe n’abagabo babo kabone nubwo baba batarabyaranye kuko Mukambuguje yapfuye mu 2004 iryo tegeko ryaratangajwe. Basaba ko hakosorwa ayo makosa, hakemezwa ko bafite uburenganzira bwo kuzungura. Ku rundi ruhande Icyitegetse yiregura avuga ko izungura ryakozwe mu 1997 hashingiwe ku muco wabuzaga abagore kuzungura abagabo babo iyo batabyaranye ubwabyo nta karengane karimo kuko rutari gusubiza inyuma Itegeko ry’izungura, asaba Urukiko kwemeza imikirize y’urubanza rusubirishwamo kuko nta karengane karubayemo. Incamake y’icyemezo: Umuco w’Abanyafurika yo hagati wabuzaga umugore kuzungura umugabo amaze gupfa ugategeka ko ahabwa gusa ibimutunga waravuguruwe kugeza aho umugore

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yemerewe kuzungura umutungo w’umugabo we kubera ko abantu bose bareshya imbere y’amategeko. Ikirego gifite ishingiro. Urubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ibanze rwa Muzo ruhindutse kuri byose. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko No 22/99 ryo kuwa 12/11/1999 ryuzuza igitabo cya mbere cy’urwunge rw’amategeko mbonezamubano kandi rishyiraho igice cya gatanu cyerekeye imicungire y’umutungo w’abashakanye, ingingo ya 49, Amasezerano Mpuzamahanga Avanaho Ivangura Iryo Ariryo Ryose ku Bagore yo ku wa 18/12/1979 u Rwanda rwashyizeho umukono ku wa 02/03/1981, ingingo ya 5 (a), Amasezerano Nyafurika y’Uburenganzira bwa Muntu n’Abaturage yo kuwa 27/06/1981 nayo yemejwe n’u Rwanda kuwa 17/05/1983, ingingo ya 3, Itegeko Nshinga ryo kwa 10/06/1991, ingingo ya 16. Nta manza zifashishijwe Urubanza I.IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Uru rubanza rwatangiriye mu Rukiko rw’Ibanze rwa Muzo, Ntahonkiriye Félicien na bagenzi be barega Icyitegetse Léa kwikubira imitungo yasizwe na Mporebucye Ludoviko wapfuye ku wa 30/09/1997 n’umugore we Mukambuguje Bernadette wapfuye ku wa 01/08/2004, nyamara nabo bafite uburenganzira bwo kuzungura umukobwa wabo Mukambuguje, kuko Mukambuguje na Mporebucye bapfuye nta mwana basize. [2] Mu rubanza RC 0109/012/TB/MUZ rwaciwe ku wa 30/10/2012, Urukiko rw’Ibanze rwa Muzo rwasanze nta kimenyetso abarega bagaragariza Urukiko ko Mporebucye na Mukambuguje bapfuye, rwemeza ko ikirego cyabo nta shingiro gifite. [3] Ntahonkiriye Félicien na bagenzi be batanze ikirego mu Rukiko barusaba kwemeza ko Mporebucye na Mukambuguje bapfuye kuko bagiye gushaka inyandiko z’Ubuyobozi zibyemeza basanga iby’urupfu rwabo bitaranditswe mu bitabo by’iragangamimerere. [4] Mu rubanza RC 0140/012/TB/MUZ rwaciwe ku wa 31/10/2012, Urukiko rw’Ibanze rwa Muzo rwasanze ikirego cya Ntahonkiriye na bagenzi be gifite ishingiro, rwemeza ko Mporebucye Ludoviko yapfuye ku wa 30/09/1997 naho umugore we Mukambuguje Bernadette apfa ku wa 01/08/2004, rutegeka kandi ko inyandiko z’irangamimerere zitakozwe ku rupfu rwabo zisimburwa n’urwo rubanza. [5] Nyuma y’urwo rubanza, Ntahonkiriye na bagenzi be baregeye gusubirishamo urubanza ingingo nshya.

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[6] Mu rubanza RC 0335/012/TB/MUZ, rwaciwe ku wa 13/06/2013, Urukiko rw’Ibanze rwa Muzo rwasanze Ntahonkiriye na bagenzi be bashaka kuzungura umukobwa wabo nyamara Mporebucye apfa mu 1997, umuco nyarwanda utaremereraga abagore kuzungura abagabo babo iyo batabyaranye, ahubwo umutungo warasubizwaga umuryango w’umugabo. Urukiko rwasanze kandi Ntahonkiriye na bagenzi be baterekana ko, nyuma y’urupfu rwa Mporebucye, hari indi mitungo Mukambuguje yishakiye, ruvuga ko ikirego cyabo nta shingiro gifite. [7] Ntahonkiriye na bagenzi be ntibishimiye imikirize y’urwo rubanza nuko bandikira Umuvunyi Mukuru bamusaba gusuzuma akarengane karubayemo. [8] Ku wa 28/04/2014, Umuvunyi Mukuru yandikiye Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga amusaba ko urubanza RC 0335/012/TB/MUZ, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ibanze rwa Muzo ku wa 13/06/2013, rusubirwamo kuko yasanze Ntahonkiriye na bagenzi bararurenganiyemo. [9] Iburanisha mu ruhame ryabaye kuwa 30/06/2015, Ntahonkiriye Félicien na bagenzi be baburanirwa na Me Mukeshimana Providence naho Icyitegetse Léa aburanirwa na Me Baziruwiha Jean Claude. II. IKIBAZO KIGIZE URU RUBANZA N’ISESENGURA RYACYO Kumenya niba mu 1997 hari icyabuzaga umugore utarabyaranye n’umugabo we kumuzungura [10] Me Mukeshimana Providence uburanira Ntahonkiriye Félicien na bagenzi be avuga ko akarengane mu rubanza rusabirwa gusubirishwamo kagaragarira mu kuba abazungura ba Mukambuguje wapfuye muri 2004 barabujijwe kumuzungura kubera ko umugabo we yapfuye mu 1997 batarabyarana, Urukiko rukavuga ko izungura ryabaye mu 1997 hashingiwe ku muco nyarwanda wabuzaga abagore kuzungura abagabo babo batabyaranye, nyamara Urukiko rwaragombaga gushingira ku itegeko ry’izungura ryasohotse mu 19991 ryemerera abagore kuzungura kimwe n’abagabo babo kabone nubwo baba batarabyaranye kuko Mukambuguje yapfuye mu 2004 iryo tegeko ryaratangajwe, asoza asaba uru Rukiko gukosora ayo makosa rwemeza uburenganzira bwa Ntahonkiriye na bagenzi be bwo kuzungura umukobwa wabo. [11] Me Baziruwiha Jean Claude uburanira Icyitegetse Léa avuga ko iby’uko izungura rya Mporebucye ryabaye nyuma y’urupfu rwa Mukambuguje nta shingiro bifite kuko umuntu azungurwa akimara gupfa, kandi ko nyuma y’urupfu rwa Mporebucye mu 1997, yahise azungurwa na Se Bazirutwe hashingiwe ku muco nyarwanda wategenyaga ko umutungo w’umugabo utarabyaye uzungurwa n’umuryango we, ko nyuma y’izungura aribwo Bazirutwe yaragije Mukambuguje umutungo yari amaze kuzungura nkuko byemezwa n’inyandiko y’izungura yo ku wa 10/09/1997, ko kuba Urukiko rw’Ibanze rwa Muzo rwarasanze izungura ryarakozwe mu 1997 hashingiwe ku muco wabuzaga abagore kuzungura abagabo babo iyo batabyaranye ubwabyo nta karengane karimo kuko rutari gusubiza inyuma Itegeko ry’izungura, akaba asaba uru Rukiko kwemeza imikirize y’urubanza rusubirishwamo kuko nta karengane karubayemo.

1 Itegeko No 22/99 ryo kuwa 12/11/1999 ryuzuza igitabo cya mbere cy’urwunge rw’amategeko mbonezamubano kandi rishyiraho igice cyagatanu cyerekeye imicungire y’umutungo w’abashakanywe, impano n’izungura.

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UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [12] Ingingo ya 49 y’Itegeko No 22/99 ryo kuwa 12/11/1999 ryuzuza igitabo cya mbere cy’urwunge rw’amategeko mbonezamubano kandi rishyiraho igice cya gatanu cyerekeye imicungire y’umutungo w’abashakanye, impano n’izungura ivuga ko : « kuzungura [ari] uguhabwa ububasha n’inshingano ku mutungo n’imyenda bya nyakwigendera. Izungura ritangira iyo umuntu amaze gupfa, rikabera ahantu yari atuye cyangwa aho yabaga ». [13] Dosiye y’urubanza igaragaza ko Mporebucye Ludoviko yapfuye kuwa 30/09/1997 naho Mukambuguje Bernadette bashakanye apfa kuwa 01/08/2004 (cote 18), bisobanuye ko, hashingiwe ku biteganywa n’ingingo ya 49 y’itegeko No 22/99 ryo kuwa 12/11/1999 ryavuzwe haruguru, umurongo watanzwe n’uru Rukiko kandi ushimangirwa n’abahanga mu mategeko ko izungura ritangira umuntu amaze gupfa,2 izungura rya Mporebucye n’irya Mukambuguje ntiryashoboraga kubera rimwe kandi barapfuye mu bihe bitandukanye, kuko izungura rya Mporebucye ritari gutegereza urupfu rw’umugore we mu 2004 cyangwa ngo Mukambuguje azungurwe mu 1997 atarapfa nkuko Me Mukeshimana Providence abivuga, bityo kuri Mporebucye izungura rikaba ryarabaye mu 1997 naho kuri Mukambuguje rikaba mu 2004. [14] Urukiko rurasanga ingingo ya 5 (a) y’Amasezerano Mpuzamahanga Avanaho Ivangura Iryo Ariryo Ryose ku Bagore yo ku wa 18/12/1979 u Rwanda rwashyizeho umukono ku wa 02/03/19813 iteganya “…ivanaho ry’akarengane, imico n’imigenzo yose ishingiye ku busumbane hagati y’abagabo n’abagore cyangwa kurutanisha ibyo bitsina byombi”, naho ingingo ya 3 y’Amasezerano Nyafurika y’Uburenganzira bwa Muntu n’Abaturage yo kuwa 27/06/1981 nayo yemejwe n’u Rwanda kuwa 17/05/19833 iteganya ko abantu bose bareshya imbere y’amategeko kandi barengerwa kimwe n’itegeko, kandi mu kubahiriza izi nshingano u Rwanda rwateganyije mu ngingo ya 16 y’Itegeko Nshinga ryo kwa 10/06/1991, ryagenderwagaho igihe habaga izungura rya Mporebucye, ko abaturage bose bareshya imbere y’amategeko4, bityo ibyo Me Baziruwiha aburanisha ko Mporebucye yazunguwe na Se mu 1997 hanyuma umutungo uragizwa Mukambuguje Bernadette kuko nta mwana yabyaranye na Mporebucye hashingiwe ku muco kuko nta tegeko riringaniza abagabo n’abagore mu izungura ryariho bikaba nta shingiro bifite. [15] Urukiko rurasanga uyu murongo ariwo wemezwa kandi n’abahanga mu mategeko y’izungura aho bavuga ko umuco w’Abanyafurika yo hagati wabuzaga umugore kuzungura umugabo amaze gupfa ugategeka ko ahabwa gusa ibimutunga wavuguruwe kugeza aho umugore yemerewe kuzungura umutungo w’umugabo we.5 By’umwihariko mu Rwanda, Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwa Kigali rwemeje mu 1989 ko “umugore afite uburenganzira bwo kuzungura

2 Reba urubanza hagati ya Murengeramanzi Claver na Mukarurangwa Colette na bagenzi be, RCAA 0069/12/CS rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga kuwa 04/04/2014, igice cya 35. «La succession s’ouvre à l’instant de la mort, que précise l’acte de décès. C’est à ce moment que … se produit la transmission successorale, ce qui commande l’ordre de la dévolution. » Reba Philippe Malaurie, Les successions, les libéralités, Paris : Defrénois, 2ème edition, 2006, p. 39 3 Reba Iteka rya Perezida No 431/16 ryo kuwa 10/11/1980. 3 Itegeko No 10/1983 ryo kuwa 17/05/1983. 4 Ingingo ya 16 y’Itegeko Nshinga ryo kuwa 10/06/1991 igira iti: “Abaturage bose barareshya imbere y’itegeko, nta tandukanyirizo na rimwe nk’iryaba rishingiye cyane cyane ku bwoko, ko ibara ry’umubiri, ku nkomoko, ku isano muzi, ku muryango, ku gitsina, ku bitekerezo bigaragajwe, ku idini cyangwa ku misumbanire y’imibereho y’abantu.” 5 “Les droits traditionnels des peuples d’Afrique centrale reconnaissent à la veuve un droit d’usufruitier… [Mais] l’évolution a permis de reconnaitre un véritable droit de succession dans les biens du mari défunt», Ntampaka Charles, Introduction aux systèmes juridiques Africains, Namur : Presses Universitaires de Namur, 2005, p.19.

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umutungo yari asangiye na nyakwigendera.”6 Ibi kandi bihura n’ibyemejwe n’inkiko z’ahandi, nk’Urukiko rushinzwe kurinda Itegeko Nshinga muri Afurika y’Epfo rwavuze ko “guheza abagore ku izungura ari ivangura rishimangira imyumvire ishaje ibangamiye igice cy’abantu cyakandamijwe, ryimakaza imico y’igisekuru n’ikandamiza ry’abagabo byose binyuranije n’uburenganzira ku buringanire buteganywa n’Itegeko Nshinga,”7 naho Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rw’Ubuhinde ruvuga ko “ivangura rishingiye ku gitsina rihonyanga uburenganzira bwo kureshya imbere y’amategeko no kurengerwa kimwe nayo.”8 [16] Urukiko rurasanga guheza Mukambuguje ku mutungo yari afatanyije n’umugabo we bishimangira umuco wo gusumbanya abana b’abahungu n’ab’abakobwa (“privilège de masculinité”) kandi byimakaza guha amahirwe umuhungu gusa, naho umukobwa agahora afashwe nk’umwana uvugirwa na Se, umugabo yashatse cyangwa umukuru w’umuryango. Iyi myumvire ikaba ibangamiye uburinganire ndetse n’agaciro ka muntu kagomba guhabwa igitsina gore kabone niyo uwazunguye yaba afite inshingano zo kwita ku mukobwa cyangwa umugore utazunguye, bityo umuco ubangamiye ihame ry’Igihugu ry’uko abaturage bareshya imbere y’amategeko kandi barengerwa kimwe nayo ukaba nta gaciro wari ufite izungura rya Mporebucye rikorwa cyane cyane ko, hashingiwe ku ngingo ya 98, igika cya 2 y’Itegeko Nshinga ryo ku wa 10/06/1991, “umuco w’Igihugu ukurikizwa gusa iyo utasimbujwe itegeko kandi ntube unyuranije n’Itegeko Nshinga, amategeko, amabwiriza…”, bivuze ko mu 1997 Mukambuguje Bernadette yari afite uburengenzira bwo kuzungura umutungo yari afitanye n’umugabo we akimara gupfa. [17] Urukiko rurasanga nubwo mu 1997 nta tegeko ryasobanuraga uburyo izungura ry’umugabo utarabyaranye n’umugore we rikorwa, mu bushishozi bw’Urukiko, Mukambuguje yaragombaga kuzungura ½ cy’imitungo yari asangiye n’umugabo we. Iki gitekerezo nicyo gishimangirwa kandi n’ingingo ya 70, agace ka 3 y’itegeko No 22/99 ryo kuwa 12/11/1999 ryavuzwe iteganya ko iyo abashakanye bari bafitanye amasezerano y’ivangamutungo rusange bapfuye nta mwana basize, umutungo ugabanywa mo kabiri, ½ kigahabwa abazungura b’umugabo ikindi kigahabwa abazungura b’umugore; bivuze ko ½ cy’ubuso bw’imirima itandatu Mukambuguje yari asangiye na Mporebucye (cote 19) ari cyo gikwiye guhabwa abazungura be, naho ikindi ½ cy’ubwo buso kikazungurwa n’umuryango wa Mporebucye Ludoviko. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [18] Rwemeye kwakira ikirego cya Ntahonkiriye Felicien na bagenzi be gisaba gusubirishamo urubanza ku mpamvu z’akarengane kuko cyatanzwe mu buryo n’inzira bikurikije amategeko; [19] Ruvuze ko icyo kirego gifite ishingiro.

6 “La veuve succède en pleine propriété dans les biens communs avec le de cujus”, Kigali, 22 novembre 1989, RCA 8519/Kiga, non publié cité par Ntampaka Charles, Supra, p.20. 7 “The exclusion of women from inheritance on the grounds of gender is…a form of discrimination that entrenches past patterns of disadvantage among a vulnerable group, exacerbated by old notions of patriarchy and male domination incompatible with the guarantee of equality under this constitutional order.” Reba Bhe and Others v Khayelitsha Magistrate and Others (CCT 49/03) [2004] ZACC 17, paragraph 91. 8 “Discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation or gender identity, therefore, impairs equality before law and equal protection of law...” Reba National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India and Others, Supreme Court of India, Writ Petition (Civil) No 400 of 2012, New Delhi, 15 April 2014, paragraph 55.

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[20] Rutegetse Icyitegetse Léa guha Ntahonkiriye Felicien na bagenzi be ½ cy’ubuso bw’imirima yasizwe na Mporebucye Ludoviko na Mukambuguje Bernadette. [21] Ruvuze ko urubanza RC 0335/012/TB/MUZ, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ibanze rwa Muzo ku wa 13/06/2013 ruhindutse kuri byose. [22] Rutegetse Icyitegetse Léa gutanga amagarama y’urubanza angana na 100.000 Frw.