GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION v. I&M BANK

GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION v. I&M BANK

- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2015-03-06 - Case/document no.: RCOMA 0095/11/CS - Collection: Supreme Court

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GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION v. I&M BANK [Rwanda URUKOKO RW’IKIRENGA – RCOMA 0095/11/CS (Mukandamage, P.J., Gatete na Hitiyaremye, J.) 06/03/2015] Amategeko agenga amasezerano – Amasezerano yo kubaka – Indishyi – Ingaruka zo kudasubiza ihamagara ryo gukora amasezerano riba rigamije kuyakora iyo ryemewe n’urundi ruhande – Nta kosa uwatanze isoko yakoze mu gihe uwarihawe atagaragaje ubushake bwo gukorana nawe ,ntiyavugako amasezerano yasheshwe huti huti ku buryo yabisabira indishyi – Itegeko nº 45/2011 ryo kuwa 25/11/2011 rigenga amasezerano, ingingo ya 8,9,10, n’iya 23. Amategeko agenga amasezerano – Amasezerano y’inguzanyo – Inguzanyo uwatsindiye isoko yafashe avugako ko yari iyo kuyifasha kurikora ntiyagira ingaruka kuwayitanze mu gihe ntaruhare yagize ku masezerano y’inguzanyo kandi uwayifashe atabasha kugaragaza neza ko ariryo soko iyo nguzanyo yari igenewe. Incamake y’ikibazo: GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION Ltd yareze I&M BANK mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi ivuga ko yatsindiye isoko ryo gusana inzu I&M BANK ikoreramo ishami rya Butare, ariko iyi yisubiraho kandi GREAT LAKES yari imaze kwaka inguzanyo ya 15.000.000 frws yo gutangira imirimo ijyanye n’iryo soko Ikomeza ivuga ko yishyura iyo nguzanyo biyigoye kubera ko yagombaga kwishyura mu mafaranga akomoka ku mirimo y’ubwubatsi itigeze ihabwa. Urukiko rwemeza ko ikirego cya GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION nta shingiro gifite kubera ko

yandikiwe na I&MBANK iyimenyesha ko ariyo yatsindiye isoko kugirango bunvikane ku nshingano za buri ruhande ariko GREAT LAKES ntiyigeze isubiza. GREAT LAKES yajuririye mu Rukiko rw’Ikirenga ivuga ko I&MBANK yayijeje isoko, ariko ikora ikosa mu rwego rwo gukora amasezerano, ikaba igomba kubitangira indishyi. GREAT LAKES ivuga ko Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwavuze ko ntacyo I&MBANK yaryozwa kuko nta masezerano hagati yayo na GREAT LAKES, nyamara yarayijeje ko ibonye isoko mu rwego rwo gukora amasezerano, ikaba rero igomba kubitangira indishyi. I&MBANK ivuga ko ubujurire bwa GREAT LAKES nta shingiro bufite kuko urwandiko ruyemerera isoko atari rwo masezerano. Akomeza avuga ko nta kigaragaza ko inguzanyo ya 15.000.000 frws yafashe yari iyo kubakira I&MBANK kubera ko yayifashe mu buryo busanzwe nta kigaragaza ko ari avance de demarage. Ku birebana n’indishyi z’igihombo, I&MBANK ivuga ko zidakwiye gutangwa kuko nta kazi GREAT LAKES yakoze. Incamake y’icyemezo: 1. Kuba uwatsindiye isoko ryo kubaka yarahamagawe gukora amasezerano n’uwarimuhaye ariko ntiyasubiza kugezaho isoko risheshwe,uwaritanze ntacyo yaryozwa mu gihe nta masezerano yabaye hagati y’impande zombi.

2. Uwatsindiye isoko ntiyavuga ko yatse inguzanyo mu rwego rwo kurishyira mu bikorwa mu gihe nta kigaragaza ko inguzanyo yasabye yari igenewe koko gukora iryo soko, kandi n’ibikoresho ivuga ko yaguze nta kigaragaza ko byari bigenewe gusana inzu cyane ko isoko

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ryasheshwe impande zombi zitarumvikana ku nshingano za buri ruhande. Bityo, nta ngaruka ayo masezerano y’inguzanyo yagira kuri banki yatanze iryo soko kuko nta ruhare yayagizemo. Ubujurire nta shingiro bufite. Ubujurire bwuririye kubundi bufite ishingiro. Amagarama y’urubanza aherereye kuwareze. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko nº 45/2011 ryo kuwa 25/11/2011 rigenga amasezerano, ingingo ya 8,9,10, n’iya 23. Nta manza zifashishijwe: Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION yareze I&M Bank mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi ivuga ko yayimenyesheje ko yatsindiye isoko ryo gusana inzu ishami ryayo rya Butare rikoreramo, ariko iza kwisubiraho mu gihe yo yari yamaze kwaka inguzanyo (crédit de caisse) ya 15.000.000 Frw muri iyo banki yo gutangira imirimo ijyanye n’iryo soko, iyishyura biyigoye kubera ko yagombaga kwishyurwa mu mafaranga akomoka ku mirimo y’ubwubatsi itigize ihabwa, ko ndetse yari yatangiye no kugura ibikoresho, isaba ko I&M BANK iyishyura amafaranga yishyuye iyo nguzanyo n’inyungu zayo bihwanye na 16.400.000 Frw, ndetse n’indishyi zingana na 30.000.000 Frw z’igihombo yagize ku mpamvu yo kudahabwa isoko, izo gukurikirana urubanza n’amafaranga y’igihembo cya Avoka. [2] Urukiko rwemeje ko ikirego cya GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION nta shingiro gifite, kubera ko ibaruwa nº ref. 006/AN/P&M/08 yo kuwa 11/08/2008 yandikiwe na I&M BANK iyimenyesha ko ariyo yatsindiye

isoko ryo kuvugurura inyubako zayo i Butare yari igamije kuyihamagarira kuyegera kugirango bumvikane ku nshingano za buri ruhande no ku ngengabihe y’imirimo (offre pour contracter), ko ariko Great Lakes Construction itigeze isubiza (acceptation), ikaba rero itabifata nk’amasezerano mu gihe I&M Bank yisubiyeho igahagarika imirimo yari gukorerwa amasezerano. [3] Urukiko rwasanze rero nta masezerano yabaye hagati y’impande zombi, kandi urega atagaragaza inshingano yagombaga I&M BANK n’igihe yari kuzikoramo kuko ari zo zari kumvikanwaho, ibyo bikanashimangirwa n’imikoranire impande zombi zari zifitanye ku rindi soko ryo gusana inyubako yayo i Gisenyi, ko nyuma yo kumenyeshwa isoko hagombaga kubaho amasezerano yanditse agaragaza inshingano za buri ruhande. [4] Urukiko kandi rwasanze umwenda GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION yari yaratse ivuga ko ari uwari kuyifasha mu gukora isoko yatsindiye, itarabashije kugaragaza ko aricyo wari

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ugenewe, cyangwa se niba yari “avance de demarrage” y’iyo mirimo, ko rero ayo masezerano y’inguzanyo nta ngaruka yagira kuri I&M BANK kuko nta ruhare yayagizemo ku birebana n’iri soko, kuba rero yarishyuye inguzanyo bikaba byari inshingano yayo kuri Banki yayigurije. [5] GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION yajuririye Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ivuga ko I&M BANK yayijeje isoko, ariko ikora ikosa mu rwego rwo gukora amasezerano, ikaba igomba kubitangira indishyi. Ivuga kandi ko harebwe igihe inguzanyo yasabiwe n’igihe isoko ryatangiwe, nta kindi iyo nguzanyo yari igamije uretse gukora iryo soko, ko ndetse hari na « factures » ebyiri zigaragaza ko yari yatangiye kugura ibikoresho. [6] Iburanisha ry’urubanza ryabaye mu ruhame tariki ya 27/01/2015, Great Lakes Construction iburanirwa na Me Kazungu Jean Bosco, I&M Bank iburanirwa na Me Rutembesa Phocas. II. IBIBAZO BIGIZE URUBANZA N’ISESENGURA RYABYO a. Kumenya niba hari ikosa I&M BANK yakoze mu gukora amasezerano na GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION ku buryo yabitangira indishyi. [7] Me Kazungu uburanira GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION avuga ko Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwavuze ko nta masezerano yabayeho hagati ya GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION na I&M BANK, ikaba ntacyo yaryozwa, nyamara yarayijeje ko ibonye isoko, akaba atari amahirwe yabuze gusa (chance) kuko isoko yari yaribonye, Banki ikora ikosa mu rwego rwo gukora amasezerano, ikaba ikwiye kubihanirwa igatanga

indishyi, ibyo akabishingira ku ngingo ya 8, 23 na 27 y’Itegeko nº 45/2011 ryo kuwa 25/11/2011 rigenga amasezerano. Avuga kandi ko I&M Bank itagaragaza icyemezo cy’ubuyobozi cyayibujije kubaka cyangwa se ngo isobanure impamvu itandikiye Great Lakes Construction iyimenyesha ko ikuyeho isoko. [8] Avuga ko kuba urukiko rwaremeje ko I&M BaNK yahamagariye GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION gukora amasezerano (offre de contracter) yo ntisubize atari byo, kuko ibaruwa yayandikiye ivuga ko ari iyo gutanga isoko ku waripiganiye, hakaba rero nta kindi Great Lakes Construction yari gukora kubera ko kwemera isoko byabaye igihe cy’ipiganwa. [9] Me Kazungu avuga na none ko GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION yasabye inguzayo igirango yitegure gukora imirimo, urukiko rwa mbere rwemeza ko iyi sosiyete iterekanye isano riri hagati y’iri deni n’isoko, nyamara uroye igihe inguzanyo yatangiwe n’igihe GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION yaherewe isoko, usanga bihura ku buryo hari « présomption» y’uko ideni ryari ryarafatiwe gukora iryo soko. [10] Avuga kandi ko muri dosiye hari « factures » ebyiri zigaragaza ko Great Lakes Construction yari yaguze ibikoresho, amatariki yazo (iyo kuwa 20/08/2008 n’iyo kuwa 24/08/2008) wayahuza n’ibaruwa ya BCR itanga isoko yo kuwa 11/08/2008 ugasanga byumvikana ko iyi sosiyete yafashe ideni rivugwa kubera isoko naryo rivugwa muri uru rubanza. [11] Asanga rero I&M BANK igomba kwishyura GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION indishyi mu buryo bukurikira : - 16.400.000 Frw y’inguzanyo ya 15.000.000 Frw n’inyungu zayo ;

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- 30.000.000 Frw yagombaga kunguka ku isoko ryari rifite agaciro ka 80.000.000 Frw, hiyongereyeho inyungu z’ubukererwe zingana na 4.500.000 Frw; [12] Me Rutembesa uburanira I&M BANK avuga ko ubujurire bwa GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION nta shingiro bufite kuko urwandiko ruyemerera isoko atari yo masezerano. Asobanura ko urwo rwandiko rwagaragazaga ibintu 5 GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION igomba kuzuza kugirango habeho amasezerano ariko hakaba nta na kimwe cyakozwe, bityo n’amasezerano akaba atarabayeho, ikaba rero ntacyo igomba kuryoza I&M BANK. Avuga ko iyo haba harabayeho amasezerano GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION iba yararegeye iyubahirizwa ryayo ariko ikaba itarabikoze kuko yari izi ko ntayabayeho. [13] Me RUTEMBESA avuga kandi ko nta kigaragaza ko inguzanyo ya 15.000.000 Frw GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION ivuga ko yasabye yari iyo kubakira I&M BANK, kubera ko yayifashe mu buryo busanzwe, hakaba nta kigaragaza ko ari « avance de demarrage ». Yongeraho ko byaba binatangaje I&M BANK yaratanze inguzanyo igahindukira ikanasabwa kuyishyura, agasaba ko urukiko rutagendera ku gukekeranya (présomption) ngo ruyitegeke kwishyura mu gihe icyo GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION ivuga ko yangirijwe kitagaragara (préjudice éventuel). [14] Ku byerekeye « factures » zaguze ibikoresho, Me Rutembesa avuga ko ibyo GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTIOn ivuga nta shingiro bifite kuko nta kigaragaza ko ibyo bikoresho byari ibyo kubakira I&M

BANK, ko kandi bitari kugurwa mu gihe ibyangombwa bizakoreshwa bitarumvikanwaho. Asanga ibyo bikoresho bibaye byaraguzwe byaba byari bigenewe kubaka ahandi, kubera ko GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION isanzwe ikora imirimo y’ubwubatsi. [15] Ku birebana n’indishyi za 30.000.000 Frw y’igihombo, Me Rutembesa avuga ko zidakwiye gutangwa kuko nta kazi GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION yigeze ikora, ko ibyo ivuga yaguze ntawigeze abiyituma kuko nta masezerano bagiranye, ndetse n’agaciro k’isoko kari katarumvikanwaho, ko nta n’inyungu z’ubukererwe zigomba gutangwa kuko butabayeho. Uko Urukiko rubibona : [16] Ku byerekeye kwemeranya kw’impande zombi zigirana amasezerano, ingingo ya 8 y’Itegeko nº 45/2011 ryo kuwa 25/11/2011 rigenga amasezerano iteganya ko « kwemeranya kw’impande zombi zigirana amasezerano bigaragazwa n’uko uruhande rumwe rwahamagariye urundi kugirana amasezerano na rwo rukabyemera », iya 9 yaryo ikavuga ko « kugira ngo amasezerano akorwe, ukwemera k’uruhande rumwe kugomba guhura n’ukwemera k’urundi ruhande », naho iya 10 yaryo igateganya ko « ihamagarira gukora amasezerano rigomba kumenyeshwa urundi ruhande rusabwa kuryemera, rikagaragaza ubushake bwo gukora amasezerano no gusobanura neza ibizaba biyakubiyemo ». [17] Ingingo ya 23 y’iryo tegeko ivuga ko « kwemera k’uhamagariwe gukora amasezerano gushobora kugaragazwa no gukora igisabwa mu ihamagara cyangwa gutanga isezeranya. Kwemera ihamagara gukora amasezerano ukora igisabwa bisaba gukora nibura igice cy’igisabwa mu ihamagarira gukora amasezerano (…) ».

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[18] Ku byerekeye ihamagara gukora amasezerano (offre), abahanga mu mategeko Philippe le Tourneau na Loïc Cadiet basobanura ko riba rigamije gukora amasezerano iyo ryemewe n’urundi ruhande, akaba ari yo mpamvu rigomba kuba risobanutse neza, bitaba ibyo rikaba ryafatwa nko guhamagarira gukora imishyikirano cyangwa se ipiganwa1. Bavuga kandi ko rishobora guseswa n’uwaritanze mu gihe cyose urundi ruhande rutaryemeye, ko ariko mu gihe rikuweho huti huti bishobora gutangirwa indishyi mu gihe hari icyo byangirije urundi ruhande2. [19] Mu ibarwa nº ref. 006/AN/P&M/08 yo kuwa 11/08/2008 BCR, ubu yahindutse I&M BANK, yandikiye GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION yayimenyesheje ko yatsindiye isoko ryo gusana inyubako y’ishami ryayo rya Butare, iyisaba ko ikimara kubona iyo barwa umuyobozi wayo azaza ku cyicaro gikuru akavugana n’ubuyobozi bwa banki hamwe n’impuguke zayo ku bibazo bikurikira : - Amafaranga azakoreshwa mu gusana n’inyandiko za ngombwa (construction budget, final contract sum & construction documentation) ; - Umushinga w’amasezerano y’ubwubatsi (proposed building contract) ; - Gahunda y’ibikorwa (proposed works program) ; - Uko ibikorwa bizakurikiranwa (proposed command chain) ; - Igihe amasezerano azasinyirwa n’igihe imirimo izatangirira (Agree on contract signing & site works commencement dates). [20] Urukiko rurasanga, nk’uko n’Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwabisobanuye, nyuma

y’uko I&M bANK ihamagariye abifuza gupiganira isoko ryo gusana inyubako y’ishami ryayo rikoreramo i Butare, yaratoranyije GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION ko ari yo bakwiye kugirana amasezerano, iyihamagarira kuyakora, ariko GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION ntiyasubiza kugeza ubwo yasheshe isoko yari yatanze. [20] Kuba uburanira GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION avuga ko yemeye isoko yahawe igihe yapiganiraga isoko nta shingiro bifite, kuko icyo gihe hari n’abandi bitabiriye ipiganwa ariko bataritsindiye, I&M BANK ikaba ntawe yari yigeze ihamagarira gukora masezerano nk’uko biteganywa mu ngingo zavuzwe haruguru. 1 1 Philippe le Tourneau et Loïc Cadiet, Droit de la responsabilité, Dalloz, 1998, p 87. “L’offre (ou pollicitation) a vocation à donner naissance à un contrat dès qu’elle a été acceptée , ce qui suppose qu’elle soit suffisamment précise (sinon elle dégénère en invitation à négocier ou en appel d’offres. –V. Com.6 mars 1990, BIV, nº74) mais cela n’implique pas forcément qu’elle soit écrite ou verbale”. 2 2 Op.cit.p. 88-89. “L’offre est révocable tant qu’elle n’a pas été acceptée (Req. 11 déc. 1901, DP03,1,114). Mais l’offre faite au public lie le pollicitant à l’égard du premier acceptant, dans les mêmes conditions que l’offre faite à une personne déterminée”( Civ. 3,28 nov 1968, GP 69,1,95). Aussi sa révocation peut entraîner la responsabilité lorsqu’elle est hâtive, et que le retrait fautif cause une préjudice au destinataire ( Paris 3 déc. 1959, JCP 61, 12308, n.C. Gavalda)”.

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[21] Kuba na none GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION ivuga ko yijejwe isoko maze igasaba inguzanyo, ndetse igatangira kugura ibikoresho, urukiko rurasanga nabyo bitafatwa nko kuba yaremeye isoko yatsindiye, kubera ko nta kigaragaza ko inguzanyo yasabye yari igenewe koko gukora iryo soko, kandi n’ibikoresho ivuga ko yaguze nta kigaragaza ko byari bigenewe gusana inzu ya I&M Bank cyane cyane ko isoko ryasheshwe impande zombi zitarumvikana ku nshingano za buri ruhande, ku bigomba gukorwa, ku ngengo y’imari igenewe ibikorwa, n’igihe bizatangirira, bikaba rero bitumvikana ukuntu yaba yaratangiye gukora isoko ibyo byose bitararangira ngo bakore amasezerano nk’uko byasabwaga na I&M BANK. [22] Urukiko rurasanga kandi nta kosa I&M BANK yakoze mu gukora amasezerano na GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION, kuko kuva tariki ya 11/08/2008 ubwo yayimenyeshaga ko yatsindiye isoko, kugeza tariki ya 09/10/2008 ubwo Akarere ka Huye kasabaga I&M BANK kubaka inzu y’amagorofa ane (4) igasanga atari byo yateganyije kubaka, GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION yari itaragaragaza ubushake bwo gukorana amasezerano nayo, ikaba rero itarayasheshe huti huti ku buryo byangiriza Great Lakes Construction ngo bibe impamvu yo guhabwa indishyi isaba. [23] Hashingiwe ku bimaze kuvugwa, urukiko rusanga impamvu z’ubujurire za GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION nta shingiro zifite, hakaba hagomba kugumaho imikirize y’urubanza yajuririye RCOM 0028/10/HCC

rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru rw’ubucuruzi tariki ya 07/07/2011. b. Amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza n’ay’igihembo cya Avoka asabwa na I&M Bank na Great Lakes Construction. [24] Me KAZUNGU avuga ko I&M BANK igomba kwishyura GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION 1.000.000 Frw y’igihembo cya Avoka, naho I&M BANK ikavuga ko ayo mafaranga idakwiye kuyatanga kubera ko ubujurire bwayo nta shingiro bufite, ko ahubwo yo yagenerwa 2.000.000 Frw ajyanye no gukurikirana uru rubanza n’igihembo cya Avoka. Uko Urukiko rubibona : [25] Ingingo ya 258 CC L.III iteganya ko “igikorwa cy’umuntu cyangirije undi gitegeka nyirugukora ikosa rigikomokaho kuriha ibyangiritse”. [26] Urukiko rurasanga 1.000.000 Frw y’igihembo cya Avoka asabwa na GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION itagomba kuyahabwa kuko ubujurire bwayo nta shingiro bufite nk’uko byasobanuwe haruguru, naho amafaranga yo gukurikirana urubanza n’igihembo cya Avoka I&M Bank ikaba ikwiye kuyahabwa, ariko 2.000.000 Frw isaba ikaba itagaragaza uko yayabaze, mu bushishozi bw’Urukiko ikaba igenewe 500.000 Frw kuri uru rwego. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [27] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwa GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION nta shingiro bufite ;

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[28] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwuririye ku bundi bwa I&M BANK bufite ishingiro ; [29] Rutegetse GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION kwishyura I&M BANK 500.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cya Avoka ; [30] Rutegetse GREAT LAKES CONSTRUCTION kwishyura 100.000 Frw y’amagarama y’urubanza.