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Rwanda Commercial

Supreme Court

GOLF COURSE ESTATE v. RUKERIKIBAYE

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Source document

01

Holding and result

The Supreme Court held that the arbitrators did not exceed their mandate because the parties' submissions and the terms of reference contemplated the possibility of lease termination and its consequences. Both parties' claims implied or required a determination on whether the lease should continue or be terminated. Therefore, the arbitral award was within the scope of the arbitrators' authority, and the appeal had no merit.

Court disposition

Appeal dismissed; lower court decision affirmed.

Orders

  • Rukerikibaye Raphaël to pay court costs of 42,450 FRW

02

Material facts

Parties

Golf Course Estate Ltd

Applicant Counsel: Me Rukangira Emmanuel, Me Rwagatare Janvier

Rukerikibaye Raphaël

Respondent Counsel: Me Rwihandagaza Richard, Me Zitoni Pierre Claver

Amounts and remedies

  • Court Costs Awarded: FRW 42,450

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Commercial Arbitration Appeal / Supreme Court Final Judgment

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
Golf Course Estate argued that the arbitrators acted within their mandate as both parties' submissions and the terms of reference included the possibility of lease termination and eviction. They contended that Rukerikibaye's claims for restitution and damages presupposed lease termination.
Respondent
Rukerikibaye argued that the arbitrators exceeded their mandate (ultra petita) by terminating the lease agreement, which was not specifically requested by either party, and that such termination could only be ordered by a court. He claimed the arbitral award was based on grounds not raised by the parties.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Article 47 of Law Nº 005/2008 of 14/02/2008 on Arbitration and Mediation in Commercial Matters

    An arbitral award may be set aside if it addresses issues not submitted by the parties or exceeds the arbitrators' mandate.

  2. 02

    General principles of arbitration law

    Arbitrators are bound by the terms of reference and the parties' submissions, but may resolve all issues inherently arising from those submissions.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The Supreme Court held that the arbitrators did not exceed their mandate because the parties' submissions and the terms of reference contemplated the possibility of lease termination and its consequences. Both parties' claims implied or required a determination on whether the lease should continue or be terminated. Therefore, the arbitral award was within the scope of the arbitrators' authority, and the appeal had no merit.

Obiter and limits

  • Arbitration is a contractual dispute resolution mechanism, and courts have only limited supervisory roles as defined by law.
  • Requests for restitution and damages in the context of a lease dispute inherently require a determination on the status of the lease agreement.

Court disposition

Appeal dismissed; lower court decision affirmed.

  • Rukerikibaye Raphaël to pay court costs of 42,450 FRW

Source and reliance status

Supreme Court · 3 August 2012

This page organises the available record for research. Confirm quotations, current status, and subsequent treatment against the official source before relying on the case.

Judgment reading view

Judgment text

The complete available source text.

Source document

Supreme Court

Commercial· 3 August 2012

RCOMAA 0041/11/CS

GOLF COURSE ESTATE v. RUKERIKIBAYE

- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2012-08-03 - Case/document no.: RCOMAA 0041/11/CS - Collection: Supreme Court

Text

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GOLF COURSE ESTATE v. RUKERIKIBAYE [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’IKIRENGA – RCOMAA 0041/11/CS (Nyirinkwaya, P.J., Kayitesi R na Hatangimbabazi, J.) 03 Kanama 2012] Amategeko agenga Ubukemurampaka n’Ubwunzi – Amasezerano y’ubukode – Ivanwaho ry’amasezerano y’ubukode – Agaciro k’ubutumwa bw’abakemurampaka – Umuburanyi ntibavuga ko abakemurampaka barengereye ubutumwa bahawe basesa amasezerano y’ubukode mu gihe icyifuzo cy’ uwakodeshaga amazu cyari gusubizwa amafaranga ye yose yatanze. Uwamukodesheje nawe akaba yarasabye yuko uwakodeshaga yavanwa mu mazu, ibi byose byakorwa mu gihe amasezerano aba yavanyweho. Itegeko Nº 005/2008 ryo kuwa 14/02/2008 ryerekeye Ubukemurampaka n`Ubwunzi mu bibazo by`Ubucuruzi, ingingo ya 47. Incamake y’ikibazo: GOLF COURSE ESTATE Ltd yagiranye na Rukerikibaye amasezerano y’ubukode bw’amazu umunani i Nyarutarama, bunvikana ko ayo masezerano azamara imyaka irindwi kandi ko impaka zizavuka muri ayo masezerano zizakemurwa kubwunvikane byananirana hakiyambazwa ubukemurampaka. Ishyirwa mu bikorwa ryayo masezerano ryaje guteza impaka maze biyambaza abakemuramaka, nabwo bwemeza ko iseswa ry’amasezerano y’ubukode ryakozwe mu nzira zitari zo kuko ritubahirije igihe cy’amezi atandatu y’ihanangirizwa. Rukerikibaye ntiyishimiye umwanzuro w’abakemurampaka, awujurira mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi avuga ko abakemurampaka barengereye kubyo basabwe bagafata umwanzuro ku mpanvu

zidahuje. Urukiko rwavuze ko izo mpanvu zidahuje. Rukerikibaye avuga ntaho zihuriye niziteganywa n’itegeko. Rukerikibaye yajuririye u Rukiko rw’Ikirenga anenga ukuntu Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwemeje ko mu myiregurire y’ababuranyi imbere y’abakemurampaka harimo icyifuzo cyuko amasezerano y’ubukode atakomeza mu gihe ibyo byifuzo bitagaragara. Rukerikibaye akomeza avuga ko abakemurampaka bavanyeho amasezerano y’ubukode kandi bitarigeze bisabwa n’ababuranyi kandi iryo vanwaho ry’amasezerano ridashoboka mu masezerano y’ubukode cyereka risabwe mu nkiko. GOLF COURSE ESTATE yo ikavuga ibyo Rukerikibaye avuga atari byo kuko mu byo iyi yasabye harimo ko Rukerikibaye avanwa mu mazu yayo. Incamake y’icyemezo: 1. Umuburanyi ntiyavuga ko abakemurampaka barengereye ibyo basabwaga bategeka iseswa ry’amasezerano mu gihe abakemurampaka bavanyeho amasezerano y`ubukode mu buryo bwo kuzuza inshingano bahawe, kandi ibyifuzo byatanzwe ku mpande zombi nabyo byagaragaza ko ivanwaho ry`amasezerano ryari riteganijwe mu nyandiko yubukemurampaka bwahawe, akaba ari nacyo kibazo cya mbere bagombaga gukemura. Ubujurire nta shingiro bufite. Imikirize y’urubanza ntihindutse. Amagarama y’urubanza aherereye kuwareze.

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Amategeko yashingiweho Itegeko Nº 005/2008 ryo kuwa 14/02/2008 ryerekeye Ubukemurampaka n`Ubwunzi mu bibazo by`Ubucuruzi, ingingo ya 47. Nta manza zifashishijwe. Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Golf Course Estates Ltd yagiranye na Rukerikibaye Raphaël amasezerano y’ubukode bw’amazu umunani (8) ari i Nyarutarama, bemeranya ko ayo masezerano azamara igihe cy’imyaka irindwi, impaka zivutsemo zigakemurwa ku bwumvikane byananirana, hakiyambazwa ubukemurampaka ku bibazo by’ubucuruzi. [2] Ishyirwa mu bikorwa ry’ayo masezerano ryaje guteza impaka maze Golf Course Estate Ltd yihanangiriza Rukerikibaye Raphaël mu nyandiko yo kuwa 31/08/2010 (mise en demeure) imusaba kwishyura ibiraranye by’amafaranga y‘ubukode, bigeze ku itariki ya 17/09/2010 naho imwandikira indi baruwa yo gusesa amasezerano bagiranye, nibwo biyambaje Abakemurampaka kugira ngo babakiranure ku ngingo zikurikira zanditse mu rurimi rw`igifaransa1: 1 Acte de mission signé le 02 Novembre 2010 1. Se prononcer sur le fondement de la résiliation du contrat de bail ; 2. Se prononcer sur le bien-fondé du déguerpissement du défendeur des lieux loués tel que demandé par le demandeur; 3. Se prononcer sur le paiement par le défendeur des arriérés de loyers d’un montant de 120.000 USD ainsi que des dommages et intérêts d’un montant de 30.000.000 Frw; 4. Se prononcer sur l’exécution provisoire demandée par demandeur ; 5. Se

prononcer sur le droit de défendeur à faire exécuter lui-même les réparations nécessaires à la bonne exécution du contrat de bail aux dépens du bailleur; 6. Se prononcer sur le paiement par le demandeur d’une somme de 40.000.000 Frw à titre des DI ; 7. Se prononcer sur la condamnation du demandeur à la restitution de la somme reçue à titre de loyers, soit USD 60.000 ainsi que les montants relatifs à l’achat et installation des équipements des villas et dépenses connexes, soit la somme 129.659.500 Frw ; 8. Se prononcer sur la condamnation du demandeur au paiement de la somme de 1.388.189.171 Frw à titre de manque à gagner pour la période qu’aurait duré le contrat c.-à-d. 7 ans. [3] Abakemurampaka bafashe umwanzuro wabo kuwa 02/12/2010. Mubyo basobanuye muri uwo mwanzuro harimo ko iseswa ry’amasezerano y’ubukode rifite ishingiro ariko ko ryakozwe mu nzira zitarizo kuko ritubahirije igihe cy’amezi atandatu y`ihanangirizwa (mise en demeure) nk’uko biteganyijwe mu ngingo ya 5 y‘amasezerano y’ubukode, bemeza ko amasererano

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avanyweho ku makosa y’impande zombi ariko bikagira agaciro amezi 6 nyuma y’itariki ya 31/08/2010 Rukerikibaye yihanangirijweho. [4] Uwo mwanzuro ntiwanyuze Rukerikibaye Raphaël, awujuririra mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi avuga ko abakemurampaka barengereye ku byo basabwe (ultra petita), ko umwanzuro wafashwe uvuguruzanya n’ibisobanuro byawo, ko ivanwaho ry’amasezerano y’ubukode ryategetswe n’abakemurampaka kandi ababuranyi batarabisabye, hakaba harakoreshejwe nabi ingingo ya 397 CCL III, ko abakemurampaka bafashe umwanzuro ku mpamvu zidahuje. [5] Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwaciye urubanza RCOMA 0416/10/HCC, kuwa 23/09/2011. Ku bijyanye n’ibyo Rukerikibaye yavugaga ko umwanzuro w’Abakemurampaka uvuguruzanya n’impamvu zawo no kuba uwo mwanzuro ushingiye ku mpamvu zidahuje, Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwavuze ko izo mpamvu ntaho zihuriye n’iziteganywa n’ingingo ya 47 y`Itegeko Nº 005/2008 ryo kuwa 14/02/2008 ryerekeye Ubukemurampaka n`Ubwunzi mu bibazo by`Ubucuruzi, naho ku bijyanye n’ibyo Rukerikibaye yavugaga ko abakemurampaka barengereye ku byo basabwe, Urukiko rwemeje ko nta shingiro bifite. [6] Rukerikibaye yajuririye urwo rubanza mu Rukiko rw’Ikirenga avuga ko Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwemeje ko mu myiregurire y’ababuranyi imbere y’Abakemurampaka, harimo icyifuzo cy’uko amasezerano yahagarara, nyamara ibyo byifuzo ntaho bigaragara ku mpande zombi, haba mu myanzuro

y’ababuranyi, iy’abakemurampaka cyangwa inyandiko itanga ubutumwa. [7] Nyuma y`impaka zagiwe ku nzitizi yatanzwe na Golf Course Estates yerekeye iburabubasha ry`uru Rukiko, Urukiko rukemeza ko nta shingiro iyo nzitizi ifite2, urubanza mu mizi rwaburanishijwe mu ruhame kuwa 05/07/2012, Rukerikibaye yunganiwe na Me Rwihandagaza Richard hamwe na Me Zitoni Pierre Claver, naho Golf Cours Estates LTD iburanirwa na Me Rukangira Emmanuel afatanyije na Me Rwagatare Janvier. II. ISESENGURA RY‘IKIBAZO KIGIZE URU RUBANZA Kumenya niba abakemurampaka bararengereye ubutumwa bahawe bavanaho amasezerano y`ubukode. [8] Abunganira Rukerikibaye banenga Urukiko Rukuru rw`Ubucuruzi kuba rwaremeje ko mu myiregurire y`ababuranyi imbere y`ubukemurampaka, harimo n`icyifuzo cyuko amasezerano y`ubukode atakomeza, ibyo byifuzo ntaho bigaragara, haba mu nyandiko yagenaga ubutumwa bwahawe abakemurampaka, haba mu myanzuro y`ababuranyi, haba no mu mwanzuro w`Abakemurampaka. [9] Bakomeza bavuga ko Abakemurampaka bavanyeho amasezerano y`ubukode (Résolution du contrat de bail) kandi bitarigeze bisabwa n`ababuranyi, ko kandi iryo vanwaho ry`amasezerano ridashoboka mu masezerano y’ubukode (contrat de bail) mu gihe ritasabwe mu Nkiko. Bavuga ko ahubwo icyo impande zombi zari zifuje ari uko Abakemurampaka bafata icyemezo ku ``ishingiro`` ry`iseswa ryayo masezerano y`ubukode bw`amazu (Fondement de la

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Résiliation du contrat de bail), kuko yasheshwe na Golf Estate yonyine (résiliation unilatérale) kandi ntawushobora gusesa amasezerano wenyine atabyemerewe n’uwo bayagiranye. [10] Ikimenyetso abunganira Rukerikibaye babitangira akaba ari uko Golf Course Estate itari gusaba ko amasezerano akurwaho kandi yari yararangije kuyasesa. Ikindi kimenyetso kikaba ari uko Rukerikibaye yari yarasabye ko Abakemurampaka bakwemeza ko iryo seswa ry`amasezerano ridakurikije amategeko kuko ryakozwe na Golf Course Estate yonyine, barangiza bavuga ko nta hantu hagaragara icyifuzo bamwitirira cyuko yasabye ivanwaho ry`amasezerano. [11] Ababuranira Golf Course Estate biregura bavuga ko ingingo Rukerikibaye atanga yuko itigeze isaba ivanwaho ry`amasezerano y`ubukode nta shingiro ifite kuko mubyo Golf Course Estate yasabye, harimo icyuko Rukerikibaye avanwa mu mazu yayo n`icyuko ayo masezerano avanwaho nkuko Urukiko Rukuru rw`Ubucuruzi rwabisobanuye. [12] Bakomeza bavuga ko Abakemurampaka batigeze barengera mu byemezo bafashe, kuko hari n`inyandiko yitwa ``acte de mission`` y`ibyo basabwe gufataho ibyemezo nk’uko bigaragara ku rupapuro rwayo rwa 5, ko kandi izo nshingano bahawe zinagaragara mu myanzuro y`ababuranyi, aho hose hakaba hagaragaramo icyifuzo cyuko amasezerano yavanwaho. [13] Ku birebana nuko nta cyifuzo cyo gusesa amasezerano Rukerikibaye yigeze agira, ababuranira Golf Course Estate bavuga

ko atari ukuri, kuko mu myanzuro ye hagaragara ibyifuzo bye by`ibanze (à titre principal), n`iby`ingoboka (à titre subsidiaire) yagejeje ku Bakemurampaka, birimo gusubizwa amafaranga yose y`ubukode, kugenerwa indishyi mu gihe amasezerano yubukode atagikomeje, n`ibindi...., ko kandi ibyo byifuzo byasuzumwe nk`uko bigaragara muri ``Sentance arbitrale` guhera ku rupapuro rwa 11, bikaba ari ikimenyetso gihagije cyuko Rukerikibaye yemeraga ko habaho ivanwaho ry`amasezerano y`ubukode.

UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [14] Nk’uko byasobanuwe mu rubanza rubanziriza urundi rwaciwe kuwa 20/06/2012 ubukemurampaka buri mu rwego rw’amasezerano abantu bagirana ku buryo barangiza ibibazo byabo batitabaje inkiko, zikaba zitemerewe kwivanga mu bibazo benebyo bahisemo ko bikemurwa n’abakemurampaka, uruhare rwazo akaba ari ugufasha no kugenzura (assitance and supervision) gusa mu mirimo mike itegeko rirondora, muri yo hakaba harimo uwo kuba havanwaho (annulation) umwanzuro wafashwe n’abakemurampaka iyo ugaragaraho imwe mu nenge zivugwa mu ngingo ya 47 y`Itegeko Nº 005/2008 ryo kuwa 14/02/2008 ryerekeye Ubukemurampaka n`Ubwunzi mu bibazo by`Ubucuruzi. [15] Imwe muri izo nenge ishobora gutuma umwanzuro wafashwe n’Abakemurampaka uvanwaho n’urukiko ni ivugwa mu gace ka 1º c k’iyo ngingo ya 47 iteganya ivanwaho ry’umwanzuro iyo ushingiye ku kibazo kitateganyijwe mu masezerano ku buryo bwo gukiranurwa n’abakemurampaka cyangwa kitari mu ngingo ziteganywa muri ayo masezerano cyangwa iyo ukubiyemo ibyemezo birenze ibiteganyijwe mu masezerano, akaba ari nayo mpamvu Rukerikibaye ashingiraho asaba ivanwaho ry’umwanzuro w’Abakemurampaka mu kibazo yagiranye na Golf Tour Estate avuga ko barengereye ubutumwa bahawe bavanaho amasezerano y`ubukode.

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[16] Urukiko rusanga hashingiwe kuri iyo ngingo y’itegeko no ku miburanire ya Rukerikibaye nta kindi kibazo Urukiko rugomba gusuzuma muri uru rubanza uretse kureba niba koko Abakemurampaka bararengereye ubutumwa bahawe bemeza ivanwaho ry’amasezerano y’ubukode Rukerikibaye yagiranye na Golf Course Estate. [17] Urukiko rusanga, nk’uko bigaragara ku rupapuro rwa 4 n‘urwa 5 rw‘umwanzuro w‘Abakemurampaka, mu gace karebana n’imiterere y’ikibazo (rappel des faits) Golf Tour Estate ari nayo yari yarasheshe amasezerano y’ubukode bw’amazu yarasabaga mu myanzuro yayo ko Rukerikibaye yahatirwa kuva muri ayo mazu, kwishyura ibirararane by’amafaranga y’ubukode n‘ indishyi, naho Rukerikibaye agasaba ko amasezerano akomeza, agahabwa uburenganzira bwo gusana amazu n‘indishyi z‘inyungu yavukijwe, Urukiko rwaba rubibonye ukundi ( à titre subsidiaire) rukemeza ko iseswa ry’amasezerano ryakozwe mu buryo bunyuranye n’amategeko, agasubizwa amafaranga y’ubukode, amafaranga yaguze ibikoresho, amafaranga ahwanye n’inyungu yari kubona mu gihe cy’imyaka 7 n‘ indishyi z’akababaro zinyuranye. [18] Urukiko rusanga nubwo Rukerikibaye avuga ko nta seswa ry`amasezerano bigeze bateganya ko ryaba, nyamara icyifuzo cye cyuko yasubizwa amafaranga ye yose y`ubukode nuko yagenerwa indishyi zijyanye n`iseswa ry`amasezerano yagejeje ku Bakemurampaka, ubwabyo ari ingaruka z`igihe amasezerano aba atagikomeje. Nanone ku

ruhande rwa Golf Course Estate, kuba yarasabye ko Rukerikibaye akurwa mu mazu yayo imukodesha nabyo ni mu gihe amasezerano aba avanweho. Byongeye kandi ibi byifuzo byabo nkuko byagaragajwe haruguru mu myanzuro yabo niyo nkomoko y`ubutumwa Abakemurampaka bahawe n`ababuranyi (acte de mission). [19] Urukiko rusanga ibyifuzo byatanzwe ku mpande zombi bigaragaza ko ivanwaho ry`amasezerano ryari riteganijwe mu nyandiko y’ubukemurampaka, akaba ari nacyo kibazo cya mbere Abakemurampaka bagombaga gukemura, bemeza ko amasezerano akomeza nk’uko byasabwaga na Rukerikibaye cyangwa bemeza ko iseswa rifite ishingiro, Rukerikibaye agahatirwa kuva mu mazu no kwishyura ibiraranye n’indishyi zinyuranye nk’uko byasabwaga na Golf Tour Estate. [20] Urukiko rusanga rero kuba Abakemurampaka baravanyeho amasezerano y`ubukode ari mu buryo bwo kuzuza inshingano bahawe nk’uko byemejwe n’Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi, bityo ubujurire bwa Rukerikibaye bukaba nta shingiro bufite. III. ICYEMEZO CY‘URUKIKO [21] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwatanzwe na Rukerikibaye Raphaël nta shingiro bufite. [22] Ruvuze ko imikirize y`urubanza rwajuririwe idahindutse. [23] Rutegetse Rukerikibaye Raphaël kwishyura amagarama y’urubanza angana na 42.450 FRW.

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Law Nº 005/2008 of 14/02/2008 on Arbitration and Mediation in Commercial Matters, Article 47

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