UBUSHINJACYAHA v HABIMANA
The Court of Appeal found that the High Court/Musanze Chamber did not sufficiently mitigate the sentence, given that the defendant was a first-time offender, was 22 years old at the time, and the victim was 17 years old. The sentence was reduced to 13 years' imprisonment, considering these mitigating factors and...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- RPAA 01149/2024/CA
- Parties
- Prosecution: Ubushinjacyaha; Defendant: Habimana Jean Damascène
- Court
- Court of Appeal
- Jurisdiction
- Rwanda
- Judgment Date
- 20 August 2025
- Case Number
- RPAA 01149/2024/CA
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Final Appellate Judgment
- Outcome
- appeal allowed in part
- Legal Topics
- Sentencing, Appeals, Sexual Offences, Mitigating Circumstances
- Source Language
- rw
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Ubushinjacyaha
Prosecution
Habimana Jean Damascène
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Final Appellate Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the sentence imposed by the High Court/Musanze Chamber was sufficiently mitigated given the circumstances of the case.
Ratio Decidendi
The Court of Appeal found that the High Court/Musanze Chamber did not sufficiently mitigate the sentence, given that the defendant was a first-time offender, was 22 years old at the time, and the victim was 17 years old. The sentence was reduced to 13 years' imprisonment, considering these mitigating factors and comparative case law.
Court Disposition
appeal allowed in part
Orders
- The appeal is allowed to the extent of sentence reduction.
- The judgment of the High Court/Musanze Chamber dated 16/10/2024 is modified only as to sentence.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
15 paragraphs
# UBUSHINJACYAHA v HABIMANA
- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2025-08-20 - Case/document no.: RPAA 01149/2024/CA - Collection: Court of Appeal
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UBUSHINJACYAHA v HABIMANA [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’UBUJURIRE - RPAA 01149/2024/CA (Mukandamage, P.J) 20 Kanama 2025] Amategeko agenga imanza nshinjabyaha – Ubujurire – Igihano – Mu rwego rw’ibirego nshinjabyaha, iyo abaregwa nta kindi banenga urubanza rwajuririwe uretse kuvuga gusa ko batagabanyirijwe bihagije, buri mucamanza ku rwego urwo arirwo rwose, yemerewe gutanga igihano mu bushishozi bwe kijyanye n’uburemere bw’icyaha ndetse n’ingaruka zacyo ariko mu bujurire, Umucamanza agomba kuzirikana ko yemerewe gusa guhindura igihano cyatanzwe n’Umucamanza wo mu rukiko rubanza, ari uko amaze kugaragaza ko urwo rukiko rwaba rwarakoresheje nabi itegeko cyangwa ubushishozi bwarwo mu gutanga icyo gihano. Incamake y’ikibazo: Ubushinjacyaha bwakurikiranye uregwa mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Rubavu ku cyaha cyo gusambanya umwana, buvuga ko yasambanyije umwana witwa N. P. w’imyaka 17 y’amavuko, uwo mwana avuga ko yamutegeye mu nzira amujyana mu bishyimbo aramusambanya, arangije amutwara igitenge, echarpe n’amafaranga 42.100 ahita atoroka. Urwo Rukiko rwaciye urubanza rusanga hari ibimenyetso bigaragaza ko Habimana yakoze icyaha cyo gusambanya umwana, rumuhanisha igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 22 n’amezi 6. Uregwa yajuririye Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Musanze avuga ko yahamijwe icyaha cyo gusambanya umwana nta bimenyetso bihari bidashidikanywaho, kandi ko hari ibimenyetso bimushinjura byirengagijwe. Urwo Rukiko narwo rwaciye urubanza rwemeza ko ubujurire bw’uregwa nta shingiro bufite, kuko nta bimenyetso atanga bivuguruza ibyashingiweho ahamwa icyaha, rumuhanisha imyaka 20 y’igifungo rumugabanyirije, kubera ko ari ubwa mbere akurikiranywe mu butabera. Uregwa yarongeye arajurira noneho mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire agamije kugabanyisha igihano avuga ko n’ubwo yaburanye ahakana icyaha ariko kikamuhama, ntacyari kubuza Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Musanze kumugabanyiriza igihano, ko ibyo yari yasabye ko igihano cyasubikwa abiretse. Avuga kandi ko ubu yemera icyaha cyo gusambanya umwana yari yarahakanye mu nkiko zabanje, n’ubwo kwemera icyaha kuri uru rwego bitashingirwaho agabanyirizwa igihano. Asobanura ko we n’umukobwa bumvikanye kubana, ko bamusanze iwe aho bari bamaze iminsi 3 babana nk’umugabo n’umugore, naho ibivugwa ko yasambanyirije uwo mukobwa mu murima w’ibishyimbo byahimbwe n’uwitwa Bizimungu, umugabo wa nyina w’umwana, kubera amakimbirane bafitanye. Asoza asaba kugabanyirizwa igihano atanga impamvu zirimo kuba umwana yasambanyije yari afite imyaka 17 y’amavuko, ari hafi kuzuza imyaka y’ubukure. Ubushinjacyaha bwo buvuga ko uregwa adasobanura imikorere y’icyaha nk’uko biri muri dosiye, kuko bigaragara ko yasambanyije umwana abikorera mu gisambu, amwambura ibyo yari afite, abantu baje batabaye basanga yambaye ubusa. Ko igihano yahanishijwe n’Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Musanze cyagumishwaho. Incamake y’icyemezo: Mu rwego rw’ibirego nshinjabyaha, iyo abaregwa nta kindi banenga urubanza rwajuririwe uretse kuvuga gusa ko batagabanyirijwe bihagije, buri mucamanza ku rwego urwo arirwo rwose, yemerewe gutanga igihano mu bushishozi bwe kijyanye n’uburemere bw’icyaha ndetse n’ingaruka zacyo ariko mu bujurire, Umucamanza agomba kuzirikana ko
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yemerewe gusa guhindura igihano cyatanzwe n’Umucamanza wo mu rukiko rubanza, ari uko amaze kugaragaza ko urwo rukiko rwaba rwarakoresheje nabi itegeko cyangwa ubushishozi bwarwo mu gutanga icyo gihano. Ubujurire bufite ishingiro. Urubanza ruhindutse gusa ku byerekeye igihano. Imanza zifashishijwe: Ubushinjacyaha vs Nsabimana alias Sankara, RPA 00060/2021/CA rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 04/04/2022. Ubushinjacyaha vs Mugisha, RPAA 00134/2024/CA, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 25/04/2025. Ubushinjacyaha vs Mutuyimana Elidad, RPAA 01228/2024/CA rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 21/02/2025.
Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Habimana Jean Damascène yacyetsweho ko mu mugoroba wo ku wa 03/07/2020 yasambanyije umwana witwa N. P.1 w’imyaka 17 y’amavuko, uwo mwana avuga ko yamutegeye mu nzira amujyana mu bishyimbo aramusambanya, arangije amutwara igitenge, echarpe, 42.100 Frw ahita atoroka. Habimana Jean Damascène yaje gufatwa ashyikirizwa Ubugenzacyaha. [2] Nyuma y’iperereza, Ubushinjacyaha bwareze Habimana Jean Damascène mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Rubavu icyaha cyo gusambanya umwana, busaba ko ahamwa n’icyo cyaha, agahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 25. [3] Habimana Jean Damascène yaburanye ahakana icyaha, avuga ko yakundaga kuganira n’umukobwa bamurega gusambanya, hanyuma iwabo bakeka ko yaba yaramusambanyije. [4] Mu rubanza nº RP 00512/2020/TGI/RBV rwaciwe ku wa 28/03/2022, Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Rubavu rwasanze hari ibimenyetso bigaragaza ko Habimana Jean Damascène yakoze icyaha cyo gusambanya umwana, birimo, imvugo ze yemera ko ku mugoroba wo ku wa 03/07/2020 yari kumwe n’umwana, iz’umwana wahohotewe wavuze ko Habimana Jean Damascène yamusambanyije, ubuhamya bwatanzwe na Muhawenimana Olive watabaye umwana agasanga aryamye hasi, yambaye ubusa arimo kuva amaraso, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 22 n’amezi 6. [5] Habimana Jean Damascène yajuririye Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Musanze avuga ko yahamijwe icyaha cyo gusambanya umwana nta bimenyetso bihari bidashidikanywaho, kandi ko hari ibimenyetso bimushinjura byirengagijwe. Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha yavuze ko ubujurire bwatanzwe na Habimana Jean Damascène nta shingiro bufite.
1 Amazina arahinwe kubera kamere y’icyaha n’imyaka y’uwahohotewe.
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[6] Mu rubanza n° RPA 00265/2022/HC/MUS rwaciwe ku wa 16/10/2024, Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Musanze rwasanze ubujurire bwatanzwe na Habimana Jean Damascène nta shingiro bufite, kuko nta bimenyetso atanga bivuguruza ibyashingiweho ahamwa icyaha, rumuhanisha imyaka 20 y’igifungo rumugabanyirije, kubera ko ari ubwa mbere akurikiranwe mu butabera ku buryo buzwi. [7] Habimana Jean Damascène yajuririye Urukiko rw’Ubujurire, urubanza ruhabwa n° RPAA 01149/2024/CA, iburanisha ribera mu ruhame ku wa 06/08/2025, Habimana Jean Damascène yunganiwe na Me Musabwa K. Fréderic, naho Ubushinjacyaha buhagarariwe na Bunyoye Grâce, Umushinjacyaha ku rwego rw’Igihugu. [8] Mu myanzuro no mu miburanire, Habimana Jean Damascène avuga ko n’ubwo yaburanye ahakana icyaha ariko kikamuhama, ntacyari kubuza Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Musanze kumugabanyiriza igihano, agasaba ko cyagabanywa. Avuga ko ibyo yari yasabye ko igihano cyasubikwa abiretse. Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko Habimana Jean Damascène atemera icyaha ku buryo bwuzuye, kuko anyuranya n’umwana ku mikorere y’icyaha, agasaba ko igihano yahawe n’Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Musanze kigumaho. [9] Ikibazo kigomba gusuzumwa muri uru rubanza ni icyo kumenya niba Urukiko Rukuru, urugereko rwa Musanze rutaragabanyirije igihano Habimana Jean Damascène ku buryo buhagije. II. ISESENGURWA RY’IBIBAZO BIGIZE URUBANZA Kumenya niba Habimana Jean Damascène ataragabanyirijwe igihano ku buryo buhagije [10] Habimana Jean Damascène na Me Musabwa K. Fréderic umwunganira bavuga ko Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Musanze rwirengagije ko n’ubwo yaburanye ahakana icyaha, bitari kurubuzagusuzuma impamvu nyoroshyacyaha akagabanyirizwa igihano mu buryo buhagije. Bavuga ko mu rubanza nº RPAA 00039/2021/CA rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 02/07/2021, haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Shakabatenda Jean De Dieu, rwasobanuye ko nta cyabuza urukiko kugabanyiriza uregwa igihano hagamijwe gutanga igihano gihwanye n’uburemere bw’icyaha, kabone n’ubwo impamvu z’ubujurire zitahawe ishingiro. [11] Habimana Jean Damascène na Me Musabwa K. Fréderic umwunganira bavuga ko ubu yemera icyaha cyo gusambanya umwana yari yarahakanye mu nkiko zabanje, n’ubwo kwemera icyaha kuri uru rwego bitashingirwaho agabanyirizwa igihano. Avuga ko we n’umukobwa bumvikanye kubana, ko bamusanze iwe aho bari bamaze iminsi 3 babana nk’umugabo n’umugore, naho ibivugwa ko yasambanyirije uwo mukobwa mu murima w’ibishyimbo byahimbwe na Bizimungu, umugabo wa nyina w’umwana, kubera amakimbirane bafitanye. [12] Habimana Jean Damascène na Me Musabwa K. Fréderic umwunganira bavuga ko igihe amaze afunze yabonye umwanya wo kwitekerezaho, bagasaba ko yagabanyirizwa igihano, kuko ari ubwa mbere akurikiranwe mu butabera ku buryo buzwi, kandi umwana yasambanyije yari afite imyaka 17 y’amavuko, ari hafi kuzuza imyaka y’ubukure. [13] Habimana Jean Damascène na Me Musabwa K. Fréderic umwunganira basaba ko mu kugabanya igihano yahawe hashingirwa ku biteganywa n’ingingo ya 49 n’iya 59 z’Itegeko nº
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68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange no ku biteganywa n’ingingo ya 2 y’Itegeko nº 059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 ihindura ingingo ya 60 y’Itegeko nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 ryavuzwe haruguru, aganishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 10. [14] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko Habimana Jean Damascène adasobanura imikorere y’icyaha nk’uko biri muri dosiye, kuko bigaragara ko yasambanyije umwana abikorera mu gisambu, amwambura ibyo yari afite, abantu baje batabaye basanga yambaye ubusa. [15] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga kandi ko Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Musanze, rushingiye ku mpamvu yuko bwari ubwa mbere Habimana Jean Damascène aguye mu cyaha rwamugabanyirije igihano kigera ku gifungo cy’imyaka 20, icyo gihano kikaba cyagumishwaho. UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [16] Impaka muri uru rubanza zishingiye ku kumenya niba Urukiko Rukuru, urugereko Musanze, rubyibwirije, rutaragabanyirije igihano Habimana Jean Damascène ku buryo buhagije [17] Ku bijyanye no kugabanyirizwa igihano mu gihe ariyo mpamvu y’ubujurire yonyine, byatanzweho umurongo mu rubanza n° RPA 00060/2021/CA rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 04/04/2022 haburana Ubushinjacyaha, Nsabimana Callixte bakunze kwita Sankara na bagenzi be, uwo murongo ukaba uvuga ko mu rwego rw’ibirego nshinjabyaha, iyo abaregwa nta kindi banenga urubanza rwajuririwe uretse kuvuga gusa ko batagabanyirijwe bihagije, buri mucamanza ku rwego urwo arirwo rwose, yemerewe gutanga igihano mu bushishozi bwe kijyanye n’uburemere bw’icyaha ndetse n’ingaruka zacyo hakurikijwe ibiteganywa n’ingingo ya 49 y’Itegeko n° 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/8/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, ariko ko mu bujurire, Umucamanza agomba kuzirikana ko yemerewe gusa guhindura igihano cyatanzwe n’Umucamanza wo mu rukiko rubanza, ari uko amaze kugaragaza ko urwo rukiko rwaba rwarakoresheje nabi itegeko cyangwa ubushishozi bwarwo mu gutanga icyo gihano. Uyu murongo wakurikijwe mu manza zitandukanye zakurikiyeho zaciwe n’uru Rukiko, harimo n’urubanza nº RPAA 00134/2024/CA, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 25/04/2025, haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Mugisha Théoneste. [18] Mu bika bikurikira harasuzumwa niba mu guhanisha Habimana Jean Damascène igifungo cy’imyaka 20 ku cyaha cyo gusambanya umwana w’imyaka 17 y’amavuko, Urukiko rwabanje rwaba rwarakoresheje nabi Itegeko cyangwa ubushishozi bwarwo ku buryo icyo gihano cyagabanywa. [19] Nk’uko bigaragara mu manza zabanje, Habimana Jean Damascène yaburanye ahakana icyaha yarezwe cyo gusambanya umwana w’imyaka 17 y’amavuko, Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Rubavu rusanga kimuhama, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 22 n’amezi 6. Mu bujurire yakomeje guhakana icyaha, Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Musanze rusanga ubujurire bwe nta shingiro bufite, hanyuma, rubyibwirije, rumugabanyiriza igihano, kuko ari ubwa mbere akurikiranwe mu butabera ku buryo buzwi, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 20. [20] Urukiko rurasanga, n’ubwo Habimana Jean Damascène yaburanye ahakana icyaha, Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Musanze rwasanze hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha yatuma agabanyirizwa igihano, ariko ntabwo cyagabanyijwe mu buryo buhagije, harebwe ko
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yasambanyije umwana w’imyaka 17 y’amavuko, nawe akiri muto, kuko yari afite imyaka 22 y'amavuko, igihano yahawe kikaba gikwiye kugabanywa. [21] Mu kugabanya igihano kandi, Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rurashingira ku zindi manza rwaciye, harimo urubanza nº RPAA 01228/2024/CA rwaciwe ku wa 21/02/2025, haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Mutuyimana Elidad, wemeye icyaha bwa mbere mu bujurire, ahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 12 hashingiwe ku mpamvu yuko yasambanyije umwana w’imyaka 17 y’amavuko nawe akiri muto afite imyaka 22 y’amavuko, no kuba ari ubwa mbere akurikiranwe mu butabera. Ntabwo ariko Habimana Jean Damascène yahabwa igihano kimwe n’icyahawe Mutuyimana Elidad kubera ko nyuma yo gusambanya umwana yamwambuye ibyo yari afite, hanyuma amusiga aho icyaha cyabereye, bityo akaba agomba guhanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 13. [22] Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rurasanga rero ubujurire bwatanzwe na Habimana Jean Damascène bugamije kugabanyisha igihano bufiteishingiro, urubanza yajuririye rukaba rugomba guhinduka gusa kubijyanye n’igihano. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [23] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwatanzwe na Habimana Jean Damascène bugamije kugabanyisha igihano bufite ishingiro; [24] Rwemeje ko urubanza n° RPA 00265/2022/HC/MUS rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru/Urugereko rwa Musanze ku wa 16/10/2024 ruhindutse gusa ku bijyanye n’igihano; [25] Rutegetse ko Habimana Jean Damascène ahanishijwe igifungo cy’imyaka 13 ku cyaha cyo gusambanya umwana w’imyaka 17 y’amavuko.