UBUSHINJACYAHA vs KAYUMBA
The appellate court held that since the sentence of 18 years imprisonment and a fine of 10,000,000 Frw imposed on Kayumba Jean Baptiste was within the statutory range under the new law and proportionate to the seriousness of the offense, and given his status as a recidivist, there was no basis for further reduction....
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- RPAA00874/2024/CA
- Parties
- Prosecution: Ubushinjacyaha; Defendant: Kayumba Jean Baptiste
- Court
- Court of Appeal
- Jurisdiction
- Rwanda
- Judgment Date
- 16 May 2025
- Case Number
- RPAA00874/2024/CA
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Final Appellate Judgment
- Outcome
- Appeal dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Sentencing, Recidivism, Application of New Law, Reduction of Sentence
- Source Language
- rw
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Ubushinjacyaha
Prosecution
Kayumba Jean Baptiste
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Final Appellate Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether Kayumba Jean Baptiste should receive a further reduction of sentence under the new law despite being a recidivist
Ratio Decidendi
The appellate court held that since the sentence of 18 years imprisonment and a fine of 10,000,000 Frw imposed on Kayumba Jean Baptiste was within the statutory range under the new law and proportionate to the seriousness of the offense, and given his status as a recidivist, there was no basis for further reduction. The court is not obliged to impose the minimum penalty provided by the new law but must exercise discretion based on the gravity and circumstances of the offense.
Court Disposition
Appeal dismissed
Orders
- The judgment of the High Court, RPA00332/2021/HC/RWG, sentencing Kayumba Jean Baptiste to 18 years imprisonment and a fine of 10,000,000 Frw, is upheld.
- Court costs are to be borne by the State as the defendant is incarcerated and exempt from payment.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
15 paragraphs
# UBUSHINJACYAHA vs KAYUMBA
- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2025-05-16 - Case/document no.: RPAA00874/2024/CA - Collection: Court of Appeal
## Text
## Page 1
UBUSHINJACYAHA vs KAYUMBA [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’UBUJURIRE – RPAA00874/2024/CA (Kanyange, P.J.) 16 Gicurasi 2025] Amategeko Mpanabyaha – Ibihano – kugabanya ibihano – Itegeko rishya – Urukiko rushobora kwanga kongera kugabanya igihano mu gihe rusanga icyo uregwa yahanishijwe kiri mu rugero (fourchette) rw’igiteganywa n’Itegeko rishya kandi gikwiranye n’icyaha yakoze. Incamake y’ikibazo: uru rubanza rwatangiye Ubushinjacyaha burega Kayumba mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Ngoma bumukurikiranyeho icyaha cyo gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi, bumusabira igihano cy’igifungo cya burundu n’ihazabu y’amafaranga y’u Rwanda miliyoni makumyabiri n’eshanu (25.000.000Frw) kuko ari isubiracyaha. Kayumba yaburanye yemera icyaha aregwa, ariko avuga ko atari isubiracyaha kuko urumogi yafatanwe ari urwo yari yarasize mu rugo mbere y’uko afungwa ku nshuro ya mbere, afunguwe asanga rugihari ararugumana ngo azajye arunywa. Urukiko mu rubanza RP01082/2019/TGI/NGOMA rwasanze hari ibimenyetso byemeza ko Kayumba yakoze icyaha akurikiranweho, birimo kuba yemera ko yafatanwe urumogi, raporo y’Inzego z’Ibanze n’imvugo z’abatangabuhamya, rwemeza ko habayeho isubiracyaha. rushingira no ku mpamvu nkomezacyaha rumuhanisha igifungo cya burundu n’ihazabu y’amafaranga y’u Rwanda miliyoni mirongo itatu (30.000.000 Frw). Kayumba yajuriye mu Rukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Rwamagana, asaba kugabanyirizwa ibihano kuko yemera icyaha. Ubushinjacyaha buvuga ko nubwo busanga yagabanyirizwa ibihano kuko yemeye icyaha agasaba imbabazi, nyamara kuko ari isubiracyaha akwiye guhanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka makumyabiri (20) n’ihazabu y’amafaranga y’u Rwanda miliyoni icumi (10.000.000Frw). Urukiko mu rubanza RPA00332/2021/HC/RWG rwasanze Kayumba yagabanyirizwa igihano mu rwego rwo guhuza igihano n’uburemere bw’icyaha yakoze, ariko kuko ari isubiracyaha akaba atagabanyirizwa ibihano kugeza ku gihano gito itegeko riteganya, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’umunani (18) n’ihazabu y’amafaranga y’u Rwanda miliyoni icumi (10.000.000Frw). Kayumba yatanze ubujurire bwa kabiri mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire, avuga ko yajurijwe no gusaba kongera kugabanyirizwa igihano kuko icyo yahawe ari kirekire, kandi yaragororotse. Ubushinjacyaha buvuga ko impamvu y’ubujurire bwa Kayumba ifite ishingiro, ko igihano yahawe cyagabanywa agahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) n’ihazabu ya miliyoni eshanu (5.000.000Frw). Urukiko mu rubanza RPAA00874/2024/CA, rwemeje ko ubujurire bwa Kayumba nta shingiro bufite, ko igihano yahawe gikwiranye n’uburemere bw’icyaha yakoze, bityo rwemeza ko adakwiye kongera kugabanyirizwa igihano. Incamake y’icyemezo: Urukiko rushobora kwanga kongera kugabanya igihano mu gihe rusanga icyo uregwa yahanishijwe kiri mu rugero (fourchette) rw’igiteganywa n’Itegeko rishya kandi gikwiranye n’icyaha yakoze. Bityo, n’ubwo itegeko rishya ryaba riteganya igihano cyoroheje, Urukiko ntiruhita ruhanisha uregwa igihano gito riteganya, ahubwo rugabanya igihano mu bushishozi bwarwo rurebye uburemere bw’icyaha n’ingaruka zacyo, rugatanga igihano gikwiranye n’icyaha cyakozwe, mu mbago z’igihano giteganywa n’itegeko rishya.
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Ubujurire nta shingiro bufite. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko Nº 059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 rihindura Itegeko Nº68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, ku ngingo ya 2, agace ka (a) Imanza zifashishijwe: Urubanza RPAA00752/2021/CA, Ubushinjacyaha buburana na Ndayambaje Eugène. Rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 28/02/2024, Urubanza RPAA00594/2024/CA, haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Uwayezu Claudette, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 26/02/2025 Urubanza. I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Ku wa 24/10/2019, Ubuyobozi bw’Inzego z’Ibanze bwahawe amakuru ko Kayumba Jean Baptiste arimo gucuruza ikiyobyabwenge cy’urumogi, bajya aho yari ari bamusangana amagarama mirongo itanu (50g), bagiye iwe bahasanga urumogi rungana n’udupfunyika magana abiri na mirongo inani na turindwi (287) hamwe na garama magana atatu (300g) zidafunze yari abitse, atangira gukurikiranwa. [2] Nyuma y’iperereza Ubushinjacyaha bwareze Kayumba Jean Baptiste mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Ngoma bumukurikiranyeho icyaha cyo gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi, bushingiye ku bimenyetso birimo kuba yemera ko yarufatanwe n’imvugo z’abatangabuhamya, bumusabira igihano cy’igifungo cya burundu n’ihazabu y’amafaranga y’u Rwanda miliyoni makumyabiri n’eshanu (25.000.000Frw) kuko ari isubiracyaha, hagafatwa n’icyemezo ku biyobyabwenge byafatiriwe. [3] Kayumba Jean Baptiste yaburanye yemera icyaha aregwa, ariko avuga ko atari isubiracyaha kuko urumogi yafatanwe ari urwo yari yarasize mu rugo mbere y’uko afungwa ku nshuro ya mbere, afunguwe asanga rugihari ararugumana ngo azajye arunywa. [4] Mu rubanza RP01082/2019/TGI/NGOMA rwaciwe ku wa 15/02/2021, Urukiko rwasanze hari ibimenyetso byemeza ko Kayumba Jean Baptiste yakoze icyaha akurikiranweho, birimo kuba yemera ko yafatanwe urumogi, raporo y’Inzego z’Ibanze n’ubuhamya bw’abamufatanye urumogi, urubanza RP00035/2017/TB/NZG rwamuhanishije igifungo cy’imyaka 4 ku cyaha cyo gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi, n’icyemezo nº3455/2017/RWAM cya Gereza ya Rwamagana kigaragaza ko yafunguwe ku wa 09/06/2019 ku mbabazi za Perezida wa Repubulika, rwemeza ko ahamwa n’icyaha cyo gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi, rushingira ku mpamvu nkomezacyaha y’isubiracyaha rumuhanisha igifungo cya burundu n’ihazabu y’amafaranga y’u Rwanda miliyoni mirongo itatu (30.000.000Frw), runategeka ko urumogi rwafatiriwe rutwikwa. [5] Kayumba Jean Baptiste yajuriye mu Rukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Rwamagana, asaba kugabanyirizwa ibihano kuko ibyo yahawe ari birebire kandi yaremeye icyaha. [6] Ubushinjacyaha bwavuze ko nabwo busanga yagabanyirizwa ibihano hashingiwe ku ngingo ya 2 y’itegeko Nº059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 rihindura Itegeko Nº68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange mu duce twayo twa (a) na (d), kuko yemeye icyaha agasaba imbabazi, ariko kuko ari isubiracyaha agahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka makumyabiri (20) n’ihazabu y’amafaranga y’u Rwanda miliyoni icumi (10.000.000Frw).
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[7] Mu rubanza RPA00332/2021/HC/RWG rwaciwe ku wa 26/07/2024, Urukiko rwasanze Kayumba Jean Baptiste yagabanyirizwa igihano mu rwego rwo guhuza igihano n’uburemere bw’icyaha yakoze, rushingiye ku kuba yaremeye icyaha no ku biteganywa n’ingingo ya 2 agace ka (a) na (d) y’Itegeko Nº 059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 rihindura Itegeko Nº68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange1, ariko kuko ari isubiracyaha akaba atagabanyirizwa ibihano kugeza ku gihano gito itegeko riteganya, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’umunani (18) n’ihazabu y’amafaranga y’u Rwanda miliyoni icumi (10.000.000Frw). [8] Kayumba Jean Baptiste yatanze ubujurire bwa kabiri mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire, urubanza rwandikwa kuri RPAA00874/2024/CA, ruburanishwa ku wa 06/05/2025, yunganiwe na Me Zitoni Francis, Ubushinjacyaha buhagarariwe na Uwizeye Jean Marie, Umushinjacyaha ku rwego rw’Igihugu. [9] Mu myanzuro y’ubujurire no mu miburanire, Kayumba Jean Baptiste n’umwunganira bavuga ko yajurijwe no gusaba kongera kugabanyirizwa igihano kuko icyo yahawe ari kirekire, kandi yaragororotse. [10] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko impamvu y’ubujurire bwa Kayumba Jean Baptiste ifite ishingiro, ko igihano yahawe cyagabanywa agahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) n’ihazabu ya miliyoni eshanu (5.000.000Frw). [11] Ikibazo kigomba gusuzumwa muri uru rubanza ni ukumenya niba Kayumba Jean Baptiste yakongera kugabanyirizwa igihano. II. ISESENGURA RY’IKIBAZO KIGIZE URUBANZA Kumenya niba Kayumba Jean Baptiste yakongera kugabanyirizwa igihano. [12] Kayumba Jean Baptiste n’umwunganira bavuga ko ubujurire yatanze bugamije gusaba kongera kugabanyirizwa igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 18 n’ihazabu y’amafaranga y’u Rwanda miliyoni icumi (10.000.000Frw) yahanishijwe, kuko yakoze icyaha abitewe n’ubukene bitewe n’uko aribwo yari afunguwe, agurisha urumogi yari yarasize rubitse mu nzu, ko rero icyo gihano kiremereye kandi yaragororotse, basaba ko cyagabanywa hashingiwe ku ngingo ya 2, agace ka (a) y’Itegeko Nº 059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 rihindura Itegeko Nº68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, ihazabu nayo ikagabanywa ikagezwa kuri kimwe cya kabiri. [13] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko na mbere Kayumba Jean Baptiste yakoze icyaha nk’icyo akurikiranweho ubu ahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 4 hagendewe ku itegeko ryari ririho, nyuma ahabwa imbabazi za Perezida wa Repubulika arataha, ariko bikaba bigaragara ko atagororotse neza kuko yongeye agafatwa acuruza urumogi, ko ariko kuba ingingo ya 2, agace ka a na d, y’Itegeko Nº 059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 ryavuzwe haruguru iteganya ko igihano gishobora kugabanywa kugeza ku gifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) n’ihazabu itajya munsi y’amafaranga y’u Rwanda miliyoni eshanu (5.000.000Frw), Kayumba Jean Baptiste nawe yahanishwa icyo gihano nk’uko abisaba kuko kuva yafatwa yemeye icyaha anagisabira imbabazi. UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA
1 Iyo ngingo iteganya ko: “Iyo umucamanza yemeje impamvu nyoroshyacyaha, ashobora kugabanya igihano ku buryo bukurikira: (a) igifungo cya burundu gishobora kugabanywa ariko ntikijye munsi y’igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 15; […] (d) igihano cy’ihazabu gishobora kugabanywa kugeza kuri kimwe cya kane cy’igihano cy’ihazabu gito giteganyirijwe icyaha cyakozwe;”
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[14] Impaka ziri muri uru rubanza zishingiye ku kumenya niba igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’umunani (18) n’ihazabu y’amafaranga y’u Rwanda miliyoni icumi (10.000.000Frw), Kayumba Jean Baptiste yahanishijwe cyakongera kugabanywa. [15] Ku birebana no kugabanya ibihano, mu rubanza RPAA00752/2021/CA rwaciwe ku wa 28/02/2024 Ubushinjacyaha buburana na Ndayambaje Eugène, Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwasobanuye ko n’ubwo itegeko rishya ryaba riteganya igihano cyoroheje, Urukiko rudahita ruhanisha uregwa igihano gito riteganya, ahubwo ko rugabanya igihano mu bushishozi bwarwo rurebye uburemere bw’icyaha n’ingaruka zacyo, rugatanga igihano gikwiranye n’icyaha cyakozwe, mu mbago z’igihano giteganywa n’itegeko rishya. Bivuze ko Urukiko rushobora kwanga kongera kugabanyiriza igihano mu gihe rusanga icyo uregwa yahanishijwe kiri mu rugero (fourchette) rw’igiteganywa n’Itegeko rishya kandi gikwiranye n’icyaha yakoze. Uyu murongo wanakurikijwe mu zindi manza zaciwe nyuma, harimo urubanza RPAA00594/2024/CA2. [16] Nk’uko byagaragajwe haruguru, Urukiko Rukuru rwashingiye ku ngingo ya 2, uduce twa (a) na (d), y’itegeko Nº 59/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 ryavuzwe haruguru ivuga ko iyo Umucamanza yemeje impamvu nyoroshyacyaha, igifungo cya burundu gishobora kugabanywa ariko ntikijye munsi y’igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15), naho igihano cy’ihazabu kikaba gishobora kugabanywa kugeza kuri kimwe cya kane cy’igihano cy’ihazabu gito giteganyirijwe icyaha cyakozwe, rugabanyiriza Kayumba Jean Baptiste igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka makumyabiri (20) n’ihazabu y’amafaranga y’u Rwanda miliyoni icumi (10.000.000Frw) yari yahanishijwe ku rwego rwa mbere, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’umunani (18) n’ihazabu y’amafaranga y’u Rwanda miliyoni icumi (10.000.000Frw), rushingiye ku kuba yaremeye icyaha, ariko rusanga atagabanyirizwa kugeza ku gihano gito itegeko riteganya kuko ari isubiracyaha. [17] Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rurasanga bigaragara ko mu kugabanyiriza igihano Kayumba Jean Baptiste, Urukiko Rukuru rwaramuhaye igihano kiri mu mbago z’igiteganywa n’Itegeko harebwe ko icyaha yahamijwe gihanishwa igifungo cya burundu n’ihazabu ingana na miliyoni makumyabiri (20.000.000Frw) ariko itarenze miliyoni mirongo itatu (30.000.000Frw), kikaba cyarashoboraga kugabanywa ariko ntikijye munsi y’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) n’ihazabu ya miliyoni eshanu (5.000.000Frw). [18] Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rurasanga rero igihano Kayumba Jean Baptiste yahanishijwe kitakongera kugabanywa kubera impamvu ngo ahanishwe igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) n’ihazabu y’amafaranga y’u Rwanda miliyoni eshanu (5.000.000Frw) nk’uko we n’umwunganira ndetse n’Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha babisaba, kuko hashingiwe ku byibukijwe mu manza zagaragajwe haruguru, Urukiko rudategetswe guhita rumugabanyiriza kugeza ku gihano gito giteganyirijwe icyaha yahamijwe, ahubwo rugabanya igihano mu bushishozi bwarwo rurebye uburemere bw’icyaha, ndetse n’ingaruka zacyo, bityo igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’umunani (18) n’ihazabu y’amafaranga y’u Rwanda miliyoni icumi (10.000.000Frw) Kayumba Jean Baptiste yahanishijwe kikaba gikwiranye n’uburemere bw’icyaha yakoze harebwe cyane cyane ko atari ubwa mbere ahaniwe icyo cyaha (isubiracyaha), kikaba ari cyo kigomba kugumaho, bityo hakaba hagumyeho imikirize y’urubanza rwajuririwe. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [19] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwa Kayumba Jean Baptiste nta shingiro bufite;
2 Urwo rubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 26/02/2025 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na UWAYEZU Claudette.
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[20] Rwemeje ko imikirize y’urubanza RPA00332/2021/HC/RWG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Rwamagana ku wa 26/07/2024, rwamuhanishije igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’umunani (18) n’ihazabu y’amafaranga y’u Rwanda miliyoni icumi (10.000.000Frw), idahindutse; [21] Rutegetse ko amagarama y’urubanza aherereye ku isanduku ya Leta, kuko Kayumba Jean Baptiste afunze, akaba asonewe kuyatanga.