UBUSHINJACYAHA v IRADUKUNDA
The sentence of fifteen years' imprisonment imposed on Iradukunda François Régis is the minimum permitted by law for the offence of defilement of minors under fourteen with mitigating circumstances, and cannot be further reduced. The appeal lacks merit as the law does not allow for a sentence below this threshold.
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- RPAA 01364/2024/CA
- Parties
- Prosecution: Ubushinjacyaha; Appellant: Iradukunda François Régis
- Court
- Court of Appeal
- Jurisdiction
- Rwanda
- Judgment Date
- 19 September 2025
- Case Number
- RPAA 01364/2024/CA
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Final Appellate Judgment
- Outcome
- appeal dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Sentencing, Mitigating Circumstances, Sexual Offences Against Minors, Appeal Procedure
- Source Language
- rw
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
More case intelligence is available
Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.
Parties
Ubushinjacyaha
Prosecution
Iradukunda François Régis
Appellant
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Final Appellate Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the sentence imposed on Iradukunda François Régis could be further reduced below the statutory minimum in light of mitigating circumstances
Ratio Decidendi
The sentence of fifteen years' imprisonment imposed on Iradukunda François Régis is the minimum permitted by law for the offence of defilement of minors under fourteen with mitigating circumstances, and cannot be further reduced. The appeal lacks merit as the law does not allow for a sentence below this threshold.
Court Disposition
appeal dismissed
Orders
- The appeal by Iradukunda François Régis is dismissed as unfounded.
- The judgment of the High Court (RPA 00598/2021/HC/KIG) dated 22/11/2024 is upheld in all its provisions.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
17 paragraphs
# UBUSHINJACYAHA v IRADUKUNDA
- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2025-09-19 - Case/document no.: RPAA 01364/2024/CA - Collection: Court of Appeal
## Text
## Page 1
UBUSHINJACYAHA v IRADUKUNDA [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’UBUJURIRE - RPAA 01364/2024/CA (Kanyange, P.J.) 19 Nzeri 2025] Amategeko agenga imanza z’inshinjabyaha – Igabanyagihano – Igihano gitangwa ku cyaha giteganirijwe igifungo cya burundu - Iyo hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha zemejwe n’Umucamanza, igihano cy’igifungo cya burundu gishobora kugabanywa ariko ntikijye munsi y’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15). Incamake y’ikibazo: Iradukunda yaketswe gusambanya abana b’abakobwa babiri b’imyaka 9, ababyeyi babo bana babimubajije arabyemera, bamaze gupimwa na muganga, ubushinjacyaha bumurega mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gicumbi icyaha cyo gusambanya umwana, busaba ko cyamuhama agahanishwa igihano cy’igifungo cya burundu. Uregwa yaburanye ahakana icyaha avuga ko yakigeretsweho bashaka kumwambura amafaranga ye kuko umwe mu bamureze yamukoreraga muri kantine, ko yemeye gusa ko azi umwana umwe ariko ko atigeze yemera ko yamusambanyije. Urukiko rushingiye ku bimenyetso bitandukanye, rwasanze icyaha kimuhama, rumuhanisha igifungo cya burundu. Uregwa yajuririye icyo cyemezo mu Rukiko Rukuru avuga ko yahamijwe icyaha atakoze, nubwo nyuma yaje kucyemera, urukiko rumuhanisha igihano kigabanije kingana n’igifungo cy’imyaka 15. Uregwa ntiyanyuzwe n’igihano ahawe, ajuririra mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire, hasuzumwa ikibazo cyo kumenya niba igihano Iradukunda François Régis yahawe cyakongera kugabanywa. Uyu avuga ko asaba kugabanyirizwa igihano agahabwa igihano kiri munsi y’igiteganywa n’itegeko hashingiwe ku mpamvu nyoroshyacyaha zitandukanye, zirimo kuba yemera icyaha agasaba imbabazi, kuba ari ubwa mbere akurikiranywe n’ubutabera n’izindi. Ubushinjacyaha busobanura ko ibisabwa n’uregwa bitashoboka kuko yahanishijwe igihano gito cyane giteganywa n’itegeko kandi kidashobora kugibwa mu nsi. Incamake y’icyemezo: Iyo hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha zemejwe n’Umucamanza, igihano cy’igifungo cya burundu gishobora kugabanywa ariko ntikijye munsi y’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15). Ubujurire, nta shingiro bufite. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018, ingingo ya 60 nk’uko yahinduwe n’ingingo ya 2 y’Itegeko Nº 059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023; Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 nk’uko ryahinduwe, ingingo ya 133. Imanza zifashishijwe: NºRPAA 00037/2024/CA, Ubushinjacyaha na Niyonizera Antoine, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 24/01/2025;
## Page 2
RPAA 00789/2024/CA, Ubushibjacyaha na Dusabimana Fabien, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 14/04/2025; RPAA 00048/2020/CA, Ubushinjacyaha na Bimenyimana Jean Paul, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 26/05/2022. Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Musabyimana Claudine yareze Iradukunda François Régis avuga ko ku wa 17/03/2020 yamusambanyirije umwana we w’umukobwa witwa I.D.1wari ufite imyaka 9, uwitwa Kayitesi Solange nawe arega avuga ko kuri iyo tariki Iradukunda François Régis yamusambanyirije umwana w’umukobwa witwa I.H.2 w’imyaka 9 y’amavuko, ababyeyi bombi bavuga ko babimenye babibwiwe n’abo bana, babibajije Iradukunda François Régis abemerera ko yabasambanyije, atangira gukurikiranwa. [2] Nyuma y’iperereza Ubushinjacyaha bwareze Iradukunda François Régis icyaha cyo gusambanya umwana mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gicumbi, bushingiye ku bimenyetso birimo kuba yaremeye ko yasambanyije umwana umwe, imvugo z’abatangabuhamya na raporo ya muganga, bumusabira guhanishwa igifungo cya burundu. [3] Iradukunda François Régis yaburanye ahakana icyaha, avuga ko yakigeretsweho bashaka kumwambura amafaranga ye kuko umwe mu bamureze yamukoreraga muri kantine, ko yemeye gusa ko azi umwana umwe ariko ko atigeze yemera ko yamusambanyije. [4] Mu rubanza N° RP 00271/2020/TGI/GIC rwaciwe ku wa 08/04/2021, Urukiko rwemeje ko Iradukunda François Régis ahamwa n’icyaha cyo gusambanya abana batarageza ku myaka 14 y’amavuko, rushingiye ku bimenyetso birimo kuba mu Bugenzacyaha yaremeye ko yasambanyije umwana umwe, ku buhamya bwa Dusabemungu Emmanuel na Uwizeyimana Adeline, bavuze ko bumvise abo bana bavuga ko Iradukunda François Régis yabasambanyije, n’icyemezo cya muganga kigaragaza ko abo bana bahungabanyijwe ku gitsina, rumuhanisha igifungo cya burundu. [5] Iradukunda François Régis yajuririye urwo rubanza mu Rukiko Rukuru avuga ko yahamijwe icyaha atakoze, naho mu mwanzuro w’inyongera avuga ko yemera icyaha akagisabira imbabazi, asaba kugabanyizwa igihano kuko ari ubwa mbere akoze icyaha. [6] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha yavuze ko ubujurire bwe nta shingiro bufite, kuko kwemera icyaha bwa mbere ku rwego rw’ubujurire ntacyo byamumarira mu gihe yaburanye ku rwego rwa mbere ahakana icyaha, kuko bitafatwa nk’inenge iri mu rubanza rwajuririwe, asaba ko rugumana agaciro karwo. [7] Mu rubanza Nº RPA 00598/2021/HC/KIG rwaciwe ku wa 22/11/2024, Urukiko rwasanze ukwemera icyaha kwakozwe na Iradukunda François Régis mu mwanzuro w’inyongera no mu iburanisha kutasuzumwa kuko kwakozwe impitagihe, kandi kukaba kutafatwa nk’ibisobanuro
1 Amazina arahinwe kubera kamere y’icyaha n’imyaka y’uwahohotewe. 2 Nawe mazina arahinwe kubera kamere y’icyaha n’imyaka y’uwahohotewe.
## Page 3
by’ubujurire bwe kuko umwanzuro w’inyongera utandukanye n’impamvu z’ubujurire yatanze mbere ahakana icyaha. [8] Rwasanze kandi ubujurire bwa Iradukunda François Régis nta shingiro bufite, kuko nta bimenyetso atanga bivuguruza ibyashingiweho mu kumuhamya icyaha, birimo imvugo z’abana I.H. na I.D. n’iz’abatangabuhamya barimo DUSABEMUNGU Emmanuel na UWIZEYIMANA Adeline bavuze ibyo bumvanye abo bana, na raporo ya muganga igaragaza ko basambanyijwe, maze rwemeza ko ahamwa n’icyaha cyo gusambanya abana, ko ariko akwiye kugabanyirizwa igihano kuko ari ubwa mbere akoze icyaha kandi akaba yari asanzwe yitwara neza, ndetse akaba yari akiva mu bugimbi kuko yari afite imyaka 21 y’amavuko, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15). [9] Iradukunda François Régis yajuririye Urukiko rw’Ubujurire, urubanza ruhabwa N° RPAA 01364/2024/CA, iburanisha ribera mu ruhame ku wa 04/09/2025 Iradukunda François Régis yunganiwe na Me Nyiramatama Bernadette, Ubushinjacyaha buhagarariwe na Uwanziga Lydia, Umushinjacyaha ku rwego rw’Igihugu. [10] Mu myanzuro y’ubujurire no mu miburanire, Iradukunda François Régis asaba kongera kugabanyirizwa igihano agahabwa ikiri munsi y’igihano gito giteganywa n’itegeko. [11] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko impamvu y’ubujurire yatanzwe na Iradukunda François Régis asaba kugabanyirizwa igihano kikajya munsi y’igihano gito gitenywa n’amategeko nta shingiro ifite, kuko ibyo asaba nta mategeko abiteganya. [12] Ikibazo kigomba gusuzumwa muri uru rubanza ni ukumenya niba igihano Iradukunda François Régis yahawe cyakongera kugabanywa. II. ISESENGURA RY’IKIBAZO KIGIZE URUBANZA
Kumenya niba igihano Iradukunda François Régis yahawe cyakongera kugabanywa. [13] Iradukunda François Régis avuga ko yajurijwe no gusaba kongera kugabanyirizwa igihano agahabwa igihano kiri munsi y’igihano gito giteganywa n’Itegeko kuko ari ubwa mbere akoze icyaha kandi akaba yaragikoze aribwo akiva mu bugimbi, hagashingirwa ku murongo watanzwe mu rubanza N° RS/REV/INJUST/PEN 0001/17/CS-RP 00001/2017/SC rwaciwe ku wa 13/04/2017 haburana Bahirwe Geoffrey na Mukagatoya Marie n’Ubushinjacyaha, aho Urukiko rwemeje ko uregwa ashobora kugabanyirizwa igihano iyo Urukiko rusanga kwemeza igihano giteganywa n’Itegeko cyangwa cyatanzwe n’Urukiko rubanza byaba bitari mu nyungu z’ubutabera. [14] Me Nyiramatama Bernadette umwunganira avuga ko n’ubwo nta kosa Urukiko Rukuru rwakoze kuko igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) rwatanze ari cyo Itegeko riteganya iyo hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha3, bitabuza uru Rukiko gusuzuma ubusabe bwa Iradukunda François Régis rugafata umwanzuro ukwiye mu bushishozi bwarwo.
3 Hashingiwe ku biteganywa n’ingingo ya 2 y’Itegeko nº 059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 rihindura Itegeko nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange
## Page 4
[15] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko ibyo Iradukunda François Régis asaba ko yagabanyirizwa igihano kikajya munsi y’igihano gito amategeko ateganya nta shingiro ifite kuko amategeko atabiteganya. Asobanura ko icyaha Iradukunda François Régis yemera kandi cyamuhamye gihanishwa igifungo cya burundu, haba hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha, icyo gihano kikaba cyagabanywa ariko ntikijye munsi y’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) nk’uko biteganywa n’ingingo ya 2 (a) y’Itegeko No 059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 rihindura Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, ko rero igihano yahanishijwe aricyo gito amategeko ateganya, kandi ko amategeko atemerera Umucamanza gutanga igihano kiri munsi y’igihano gito giteganyijwe n’Itegeko kuko ibyo byavanweho n’Itegeko Nº 59/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 rimaze kuvugwa, ryashyizeho uburyo bushya bwo kugabanya ibihano, bityo ko hagumaho imikirize y’urubanza rwajuririwe. UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [16] Impaka muri uru rubanza zishingiye ku kumenya niba igihano Iradukunda François Régis yahawe cyakongera kugabanywa. [17] Ku birebana n’icyaha cyo gusambanya umwana, ingingo ya 133 y’Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 nk’uko ryahinduwe, iteganya ko iyo gusambanya umwana byakorewe ku mwana uri munsi y’imyaka 14 igihano kiba igifungo cya burundu. [18] Ingingo ya 60 y’Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 nk’uko yahinduwe n’ingingo ya 2 y’Itegeko Nº 059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 iteganya ko iyo Umucamanza yemeje impamvu nyoroshyacyaha, ashobora kugabanya igihano, igifungo cya burundu kigashobora kugabanywa ariko ntikijye munsi y’igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15). [19] Mu gusesengura ibiteganywa n’ingingo imaze kuvugwa, mu rubanza NºRPAA 00037/2024/CA rwaciwe ku wa 24/01/2025 Ubushinjacyaha buburana na Niyonizera Antoine, Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwemeje ko iyo hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha zemejwe n’Umucamanza, igihano cy’igifungo cya burundu gishobora kugabanywa ariko ntikijye munsi y’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15)4. [20] Nk’uko imikirize y’urubanza rujurirwa ibigaragaza, Urukiko Rukuru rwagabanyirije Iradukunda François Régis igihano cy’igifungo cya burundu yari yahanishijwe ku rwego rwa mbere ku cyaha yahamijwe cyo gusambanya abana, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) rushingiye ku mpamvu nyoroshyacyaha zirimo kuba ari ubwa mbere akoze icyaha, kuba yari asanzwe yitwara neza no kuba yari akiva mu bugimbi, icyo gihano akaba aricyo asaba ko cyakongera kugabanywa. [21] Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rurasanga ariko igihano Iradukunda François Régis yahawe n’Urukiko Rukuru kitakongera kugabanywa, kubera ko ari cyo gito giteganywa n’amategeko ku cyaha yahamijwe mu gihe hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha nk’uko byasobanuwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire mu manza zavuzwe haruguru.
4 Ibyo byemejwe kandi mu rubanza Nº RPAA 00789/2024/CA rwaciwe ku wa 14/04/2025 haburana Ubushibjacyaha na DUSABIMANA Fabien n’izindi nyinshi.
## Page 5
[22] Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rurasanga kandi umurongo watanzwe mu rubanza N° RS/REV/INJUST/PEN 0001/17/CS-RP 00001/2017/SC, Iradukunda François Régis asaba ko washingirwaho agahabwa igihano kiri munsi y’igihano gito itegeko riteganya, utashingirwaho kuko wafashwe hashingiwe ku byateganywaga n’ingingo ya 71 y’Itegeko-Ngenga Nº 01/2012/OL ryo ku wa 02/05/2012 rishyiraho igitabo cy’amategeko ahana, ubu iryo Tegeko-Ngenga rikaba ryarasimbuwe n’Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange nk’uko ryahinduwe, kandi mu rubanza Nº RPAA 00048/2020/CA rwaciwe ku wa 26/05/2022, haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Bimenyimana Jean Paul, Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwasobanuye ko umurongo wari uriho udashobora gukomeza gukurikizwa mu gihe itegeko wari ushingiyeho ryavuyeho cyangwa ryahinduwe. [23] Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rurasanga rero ubujurire bwatanzwe na Iradukunda François Régis nta shingiro bufite, hakaba hagumyeho imikirize y’urubanza yajuririye. III. ICYEMEZO CY’ URUKIKO [24] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwatanzwe na Iradukunda François Régis nta shingiro bufite; [25] Rwemeje ko urubanza N° RPA 00598/2021/HC/KIG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru ku wa 22/11/2024 rugumanye agaciro mu ngingo zarwo zose; [26] Rutegetse ko igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) Iradukunda François Régis yahawe ku cyaha cyo gusambanya abana kigumyeho.