UBUSHINJACYAHA v. HAKIZIMANA

UBUSHINJACYAHA v. HAKIZIMANA

The Court of Appeal found that, under the amended law, the minimum sentence for the offense with mitigating circumstances is 15 years imprisonment and a fine of 5,000,000 Frw. The High Court's sentence of 17 years was above this minimum, and further reduction to the statutory minimum was warranted. Precedents cited...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
RPAA 01305/2024/CA
Parties
Prosecution: Ubushinjacyaha; Defendant: Hakizimana Donath
Court
Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction
Rwanda
Judgment Date
21 November 2025
Case Number
RPAA 01305/2024/CA
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Court of Appeal Judgment
Outcome
Appeal partially allowed; sentence reduced.
Legal Topics
Sentencing, Mitigating Circumstances, Drug Offences, Appeal Procedure
Source Language
rw
Criminal Law Sentencing Mitigating Circumstances Drug Offences Appeal Procedure

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Parties

Ubushinjacyaha

Prosecution

Hakizimana Donath

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Criminal Appeal / Court of Appeal Judgment

  1. 1 Whether Hakizimana Donath is entitled to further reduction of sentence and suspension of fine based on mitigating circumstances.

Ratio Decidendi

The Court of Appeal found that, under the amended law, the minimum sentence for the offense with mitigating circumstances is 15 years imprisonment and a fine of 5,000,000 Frw. The High Court's sentence of 17 years was above this minimum, and further reduction to the statutory minimum was warranted. Precedents cited by the appellant were inapplicable due to legislative changes. Suspension of the fine was not permitted as the imposed sentence exceeded the legal threshold for such relief.

Court Disposition

Appeal partially allowed; sentence reduced.

Orders

  • High Court judgment modified only as to sentence.
  • Hakizimana Donath sentenced to 15 years imprisonment and a fine of 5,000,000 Frw.