MUKESHIMANA v. UBUSHINJACYAHA
The court held that the sentence imposed was the minimum permitted by law for the offence, and further reduction or suspension was legally impossible. The appeal lacked merit.
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- RPAA 00606/2024/CA
- Parties
- Applicant: Mukeshimana Cadette; Respondent: Ubushinjacyaha
- Court
- Court of Appeal
- Jurisdiction
- Rwanda
- Judgment Date
- 12 September 2025
- Case Number
- RPAA 00606/2024/CA
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Final Appellate Judgment
- Outcome
- appeal dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Drug Offences, Sentencing, Mitigation, Suspended Sentence
- Source Language
- rw
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Mukeshimana Cadette
Applicant
Ubushinjacyaha
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Final Appellate Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the sentence imposed on Mukeshimana Cadette could be further reduced or suspended given her admission of guilt and mitigating circumstances
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that the sentence imposed was the minimum permitted by law for the offence, and further reduction or suspension was legally impossible. The appeal lacked merit.
Court Disposition
appeal dismissed
Orders
- Mukeshimana Cadette remains sentenced to 15 years imprisonment and a fine of 5,000,000 Frw for aggravated drug trafficking.
- Mukeshimana Cadette is exempted from court costs due to pretrial detention.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
18 paragraphs
# MUKESHIMANA v. UBUSHINJACYAHA
- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2025-09-12 - Case/document no.: RPAA 00606/2024/CA - Collection: Court of Appeal
## Text
## Page 1
MUKESHIMANA v. UBUSHINJACYAHA [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’UBUJURIRE – RPAA 00606/2024/CA (Kaliwabo, P.J.,) 12 Nzeli 2025] Amategeko agenga ibyaha n’ibihano – Icyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge bihambaye byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi – Kugabanyirizwa ibihano – Ku cyaha uregwa yahamijwe cyo gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge bihambaye, nta rindi gabanyagihano yahabwa iyo yahanishijwe ibihano bito ntarengwa biteganywa n’itegeko. Amategeko agenga ibyaha n’ibihano – Isubikagahano – Uregwa ntiyahabwa isubikagihano asaba iyo yahanishijwe igifungo cy’imyaka 15 kiruta icyo itegeko ryemerera umucamanza gusubika (igifungo kitarenze imyaka 5). Incamake y’ikibazo: Ubushinjacyaha bwareze Mukeshimana Cadette mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Rubavu bumushinja icyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge bihambaye byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi, maze aburana yemera icyaha avuga ko yarucuruzaga agamije kubona amaramuko y’abana be, asaba kugabanyirizwa ibihano no kubisubikirwa hitawe ko ari umubyeyi w’abana 5 batagira undi muntu ubitaho kuko n’umugabo we afunzwe. Urukiko rwemeje ko Mukeshimana ahamwa n’icyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge by’urumogi, rushingiye ku kwemera icyaha kwe, ku mvugo z’abatangabuhamya bamushinja, maze rumuhanisha igifungo cya burundu. Mukeshimana Cadette yajuririye Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Musanze asaba kugabanyirizwa igihano avuga ko ataruhije ubutabera kandi akaba afite abana badafite kivurira, bityo asaba gusubikirwa ibihano kuko ari bwo bwa mbere aguye mu cyaha. Uhagarariye ubushinjacyaha yashyigikiye ubusabe bwa Mukeshimana ku birebana n’igabanyagihano, asaba ko yahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000frw; naho ku birebana n’isubika gihano, avuga ko bidashoboka ugereranyije n’ingano y’igihano. Urukiko Rukuru rwasanze, kuba Mukeshimana Cadette yaraburanye yemera icyaha byamubera impamvu yo kugabanyirizwa ibihano bihagije, maze rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000frw. Mukeshimana Cadette yajuririye Urukiko rw’Ubujurire, avuga ko atagabanyirijwe igihano ku buryo buhagije mu gihe yaburanye yemera icyaha ku buryo budashidikanywaho, bityo akaba asaba ko igihano yahawe cyagabanywa kugera ku gifungo cy’imyaka itanu kugira ngo atabare abana be badafite ubitaho. Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha yasubije avuga ko igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw Mukeshimana yahanishijwe ku cyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge, aricyo gihano gito ntarengwa ateganyirizwa n’amategeko, bityo ubujurire bwe bukaba nta shingiro bufite kuko asaba ibyo yamaze guhabwa.
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Uru Rukiko rwasuzumye ikibazo cyo kumenya niba Urukiko Rukuru rwarahanishije Mukeshimana Cadette ibihano biremereye ku buryo byakongera kugabanywa ndetse bigasubikwa. Urukiko rw’ubujurire rwasanze kutajya munsi y’igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw bitari umwihariko kuri Mukeshimana Cadette ahubwo ibi bihano aribyo byagumyeho mu manza zifitanye isano n’uru , abazishinjwamo bajuririye uru Rukiko basaba guhabwa ibihano biri munsi y’igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw nyamara babihamishwaho kuko aribyo bito bishoboka. Incamake y’icyemezo: 1.Ku cyaha uregwa yahamijwe cyo gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge bihambaye, nta rindi gabanyagihano yahabwa iyo yahanishijwe ibihano bito ntarengwa biteganywa n’itegeko. 2.Uregwa ntiyahabwa isubikagihano asaba iyo yahanishijwe igifungo cy’imyaka 15 kiruta icyo itegeko ryemerera umucamanza gusubika (igifungo kitarenze imyaka 5).
Ubujurire nta shingiro. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko Nº 059/2023 ryo ku wa 4/12/2023 rihindura Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/8/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano, ingingo ya 2. Imanza zifashishijwe: Urubanza RPAA 01353/2024/CA rw’ Ubushinjacyaha na Mushumba Eric; rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 18/07/2025; Urubanza RPAA 00889/2024/CA rw’ Ubushinjacyaha na Niringiyimana alias Bishyimbo; rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 18/07/2025; Urubanza RPAA 01037/2024/CA rw’ Ubushinjacyaha na Nizeyimana Alphonse; rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 18/07/2025; Urubanza RPAA 01356/2024/CA rw’ Ubushinjacyaha na Nsabimana David; rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 18/07/2025; Urubanza RPAA 00857/2024/CA rw’ Ubushinjacyaha na Uwimana Emmanuel; rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 18/07/2025. Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Kuwa 03/07/2023, Mukeshimana Cadette, ari mu Mudugudu wa Cyanika, Akagari ka Rwaza, Umurenge wa Rugerero mu Karere ka Rubavu, yafatanywe udupfunyika 92 tw’urumogi bivugwa ko ari urwo kugurisha.
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[2] Nyuma y’iperereza, Ubushinjacyaha bwareze Mukeshimana Cadette mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Rubavu bumushinja icyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge bihambaye byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi, aburana yemera icyaha avuga ko yarucuruzaga agamije kubona amaramuko y’abana be, asaba kugabanyirizwa ibihano no kubisubikirwa hitawe ko ari umubyeyi w’abana 5 batagira undi muntu ubitaho kuko n’umugabo we afunzwe. [3] Mu rubanza RP 00485/2023/TGI/RBV rwaciwe ku wa 13/06/2024, Urukiko rwemeje ko Mukeshimana Cadette ahamwa n’icyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge by’urumogi, rushingiye ku kwemera icyaha kwe, ku mvugo z’abatangabuhamya bamushinja, kuri raporo y’inzego z’ibanze bemeje ko asanzwe acuruza urumogi no ku nyandiko-mvugo y'ifatira yashyizeho umukono yemeza ko udupfunyika 92 tw’urumogi dufatiriwe ari utwe, maze rumuhanisha igifungo cya burundu. [4] Mukeshimana Cadette yajuririye Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Musanze asaba kugabanyirizwa igihano kubera ko ataruhije ubutabera kandi akaba afite abana badafite kivurira, asaba no gusubikirwa ibihano kuko ari bwo bwa mbere aguye mu cyaha. [5] Uhagarariye ubushinjacyaha yashyigikiye ubusabe bwa Mukeshimana Cadette ku birebana n’igabanyagihano, asaba ko yahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000frw; naho ku birebana n’isubika gihano, avuga ko bidashoboka ugereranyije n’ingano y’igihano. [6] Mu Rubanza RPA00523/2023/HC/MUS rwaciwe kuwa 13/06/2024, Urukiko Rukuru rwasanze, kuba Mukeshimana Cadette yaraburanye yemera icyaha byamubera impamvu yo kugabanyirizwa ibihano bihagije, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000frw. [7] Mukeshimana Cadette yajuririye Urukiko rw’Ubujurire, urubanza ruhabwa RPAA 00606/2024/CA, iburanisha ribera mu ruhame kuwa 5/9/2025, Mukeshimana Cadette yunganiwe na Me Musabwa K.Frederic naho Ubushinjacyaha buhagarariwe na Rukaka Gallican, Umushinjacyaha ku rwego rw’Igihugu. [8] Mu myanzuro y’ubujurire no mu miburanire ye, Mukeshimana Cadette avuga ko atagabanyirijwe igihano ku buryo buhagije mu gihe yaburanye yemera icyaha ku buryo budashidikanywaho, asaba ko igihano yahawe cyagabanywa kugera ku gifungo cy’imyaka itanu kugira ngo atabare abana be badafite ubitaho. [9] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko ushinjwa yahanishijwe ibihano bito ntarengwa biteganyirizwa icyaha ashinjwa bityo ubujurire bwe bukaba nta shingiro bufite kuko ibyo asaba yamaze kubihabwa. [10] Urukiko rurasuzuma niba Urukiko Rukuru rwarahanishije Mukeshimana Cadette ibihano biremereye ku buryo byakongera kugabanywa ndetse bigasubikwa. II. ISESENGURA RY’IKIBAZO KIGIZE URUBANZA Kumenya niba Urukiko Rukuru rwarahanishije Mukeshimana Cadette ibihano biremereye ku buryo byakongera kugabanywa ndetse bigasubikwa a.Ku birebana n’igabanyagihano
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[11] Mukeshimana Cadette yajuriye asaba kugabanyirizwa ibihano kugeza ku gifungo cy’imyaka 5 kubera ko yaburanye yemera icyaha, ko abana 5 yasize babayeho nabi cyane kubera ko n’umugabo we afunzwe. Urukiko rwamubajije aho ashingira ubusabe bwe asubiza ko adasobanukiwe n’amategeko. [12] Me Musabwa K. Frederic yavuze ko ibihano Mukeshimana yahanishijwe mu rubanza ajuririra, nubwo bikabije kuremera, nyamara ko aribyo bito bigenwa n’Itegeko, asaba Urukiko gusumana ubushishozi icyifuzo cy’ushinjwa. [13] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha yasubije avuga ko igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw Mukeshimana yahanishijwe ku cyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge, aricyo gihano gito ntarengwa ateganyirizwa n’amategeko, bityo ubujurire bwe bukaba nta shingiro bufite kuko asaba ibyo yamaze guhabwa. UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [14] Icyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi, Mukeshimana Cadette yahamijwe kandi yemera, gihanishwa igifungo cya burundu, hashingiwe ku biteganywa mu ngingo ya 11 y’Itegeko N° 69/2019 ryo kuwa 08/11/2019 rihindura Itegeko N° 68/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange iteganya ko umuntu uhamwe n’icyaha cyo gutunda, kubika, guhinga cyangwa kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge bihambaye, ahanishwa igifungo cya burundu n’ihazabu itari munsi y’amafaranga 20.000.000 ariko itarenze amafaranga 30.000.000. [15] Ingingo ya 2 (a) y’Itegeko Nº 059/2023 ryo ku wa 4/12/2023 rihindura Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/8/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange 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; naho mu gace ka (d) ikavuga ko ihazabu ishobora kugabanywa kugeza kuri ¼ cy’igihano cy’ihazabu ntoya yateganyirijwe icyaha cyakozwe“. [16] Mukeshimana Cadette wahanishijwe igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw ku cyaha yahamijwe cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge bihambaye, nawe avuga ko nta tegeko azi rishyigikira ubusabe bwe ndetse n’ubwunganizi bwe bukemera ko ibihano yahanishijwe aribyo bito bigenwa n’itegeko. [17] Urukiko rurasanga ingingo ya 2 y’Itegeko Nº 059/2023 ryo ku wa 4/12/2023 rihindura Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/8/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, yaragennye ibihano bito umucamanza adashobora kujya munsi mu gihe asanze hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha zituma ushinjwa agabanyirizwa ibihano. Ku birebana na Mukeshimana Cadette wahamijwe icyaha gihanishwa igifungo cya burundu, iyi ngingo iteganya ko igabanyagihano ridashobora kujya munsi y’igifungo cy’imyaka 15; naho ku birebana n’ihazabu igateganya ko igabanyagihano ritajya munsi ya ¼ cy’ihazabu ntoya yagenewe icyaha bireba. Kuri Mukeshimana iyi hazabu ikaba idashobora kujya munsi ya 5.000.000Frw kuko ariyo ingana na ¼ cya 20.000.000Frw ariyo hazabu ntoya yagenewe icyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge bihambaye nk’uko biteganywa n’ingingo yagenwe n’Itegeko 11 y’Itegeko N° 69/2019 ryo kuwa 08/11/2019 rihindura Itegeko N° 68/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange.
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[18] Urukiko rurasanga kutajya munsi y’igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw bitari umwihariko kuri Mukeshimana Cadette ahubwo ibi bihano aribyo byagumyeho mu manza zifitanye isano n’uru1 , abazishinjwamo bajuririye uru Rukiko basaba guhabwa ibihano biri munsi y’igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw nyamara babihamishwaho kuko aribyo bito bishoboka.
b.Ku birebana n’isubikagihano [19] Mukeshimana Cadette yajuriye asaba Urukiko kumusubikira ibihano kugira ngo ashobore kujya kwita ku buzima bw’abana 5 batagira ubarengera kubera ko n’umugabo afunzwe, abana bakaba babayeho ubuzima buruhije. Ubushinjacyaha bwasubije kuri iyi ngingo buvuga ko Mukeshimana adashobora guhabwa isubikagihano asaba kuko yahanishijwe igifungo kirenze imyaka 5. UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [20] Ingingo ya 64 y’Itegeko Nº 068/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, mu gika cyayo cya 1, iteganya ko “isubikagihano ari icyemezo cy’urukiko gihagarika irangizarubanza ku gihano itegeko riteganyiriza igifungo kitarengeje imyaka itanu (5). [21] Hakurikijwe ibivugwa mu ngingo ya 64 y’Itegeko Nº 068/2018 ryavuzwe mu gika kibanziriza iki, Urukiko rurasanga Mukeshimana Cadette adashobora guhabwa isubikagihano asaba kubera ko yahanishijwe igifungo cy’imyaka 15 kiruta icyo itegeko ryemerera umucamanza gusubika (igifungo kitarenze imyaka 5). III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [22] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwa Mukeshimana Cadette nta shingiro bufite. [23] Rwemeje ko imikirize y’urubanza RPA00523/2023/HC/MUS rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Musanze ku wa 13/06/2024, igumyeho mu ngingo zarwo zose. [24] Rwemeje ko Mukeshimana Cadette agumishwa ku gihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15ans) no gutanga ihazabu y’amafaranga miliyoni eshanu (5.000.000frw) kubw’icyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge bihambaye byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi kimuhama.
1 - Urubanza RPAA 01353/2024/CA rwaciwe ku wa 18/07/2025 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Mushumba Eric. -Urubanza RPAA 00889/2024/CA rwaciwe ku wa 18/07/2025 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Niringiyimana alias Bishyimbo. -Urubanza RPAA 01037/2024/CA rwaciwe ku wa 18/07/2025 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Nizeyimana Alphonse. -Urubanza RPAA 01356/2024/CA rwaciwe ku wa 18/07/2025 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Nsabimana David. - Urubanza RPAA 00857/2024/CA rwaciwe ku wa 18/07/2025 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Uwimana Emmanuel.
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[25] Rutegetse ko Mukeshimana Cadette asonerwa amagarama y'urubanza kuko yaburanye afunzwe.