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Rwanda Commercial

Commercial High Court

MWIZA v. MUKANDAMAGE

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Professional case brief

Research organized from the available case record

Source document

01

Holding and result

The court held that since MUKANDAMAGE and KAYINAMURA were married under a community property regime, both assets and debts are jointly owned and liable. The lower court erred by applying provisions relating to jointly owned property by unrelated persons. The appellant's claim was properly admitted under the law, and the respondent is liable for costs and attorney fees due to unnecessary litigation.

Court disposition

appeal allowed; lower court decision reversed

Orders

  • Order No. 014/BMG/2012 annulling Order No. 005/BMG/2012 is set aside.
  • Order No. 005/BMG/2012 regains its effect.
  • MUKANDAMAGE is ordered to pay MWIZA MUTAGOMA 500,000 RWF for costs and attorney fees.
  • MUKANDAMAGE is ordered to pay 14,550 RWF for court fees.

02

Material facts

Parties

MWIZA MUTAGOMA

Appellant Counsel: Me MUTABAZI

MUKANDAMAGE

Respondent Counsel: Me NDAGIJIMANA

Amounts and remedies

  • Damages for Costs and Attorney Fees: RWF 500,000
  • Court Fees: RWF 14,550

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Commercial Appeal / Judgment on Appeal

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
MWIZA argued that the lower court erred by treating the property as jointly owned by unrelated persons rather than as community property between spouses, and that both assets and debts are shared under the marriage contract. She also claimed entitlement to costs and attorney fees due to unnecessary litigation caused by the respondent.
Respondent
MUKANDAMAGE, through counsel, argued that the appeal lacked merit because the original claim should not have been admitted at first instance, as the procedural requirements for challenging the president's order were not met within the prescribed time.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Law No. 21/2012 of 14/06/2012, Article 330

    Any person not party to a one-sided application may challenge a judge's order within one month of learning of it if it affects their interests.

  2. 02

    Law No. 22/99 of 12/11/1999, Article 3

    Community property includes all assets and debts acquired by spouses who have agreed to such a regime.

  3. 03

    Law of 30/07/1888, Article 258

    Any act by a person causing harm to another obliges the wrongdoer to compensate for the damage caused.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The court held that since MUKANDAMAGE and KAYINAMURA were married under a community property regime, both assets and debts are jointly owned and liable. The lower court erred by applying provisions relating to jointly owned property by unrelated persons. The appellant's claim was properly admitted under the law, and the respondent is liable for costs and attorney fees due to unnecessary litigation.

Obiter and limits

  • A spouse cannot prevent enforcement of a judgment against community property for a debt incurred by the other spouse, as both share assets and liabilities under the marriage contract.

Court disposition

appeal allowed; lower court decision reversed

  • Order No. 014/BMG/2012 annulling Order No. 005/BMG/2012 is set aside.
  • Order No. 005/BMG/2012 regains its effect.
  • MUKANDAMAGE is ordered to pay MWIZA MUTAGOMA 500,000 RWF for costs and attorney fees.
  • MUKANDAMAGE is ordered to pay 14,550 RWF for court fees.

Source and reliance status

Commercial High Court · 21 August 2013

This page organises the available record for research. Confirm quotations, current status, and subsequent treatment against the official source before relying on the case.

Judgment reading view

Judgment text

The complete available source text.

Source document

Commercial High Court

Commercial· 21 August 2013

R COMA 0104/13/HCC

MWIZA v. MUKANDAMAGE

- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2013-08-21 - Case/document no.: R COMA 0104/13/HCC - Collection: Commercial High Court

Text

Page 1

MWIZA v. MUKANDAMAGE [Rwanda URUKIKO RUKURU RW’UBUCURUZI– R COMA 0104/13/HCC (Gatete, J.) 21 Kanama 2013] Amategeko agenga imiburanishirize y’imanza z’ubucuruzi – Gutambamira icyemezo cy’umucamanza ku kirego cyatanzwe n’umuburanyi umwe – Umuntu wese utaragobotse mu kibazo cyashyikirijwe umucamanza gitanzwe n’umuburanyi umwe ,ashobora, mu gihe cy’ukwezi kumwe (1) kuva abimenye gutambamira icyemezo cyafashwe n`umucamanza mu gihe kibangamira inyungu ze – Itegeko n° 21/2012 ryo kuwa 14/06/2012 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, ingingo ya 330. Amategeko agenga umuryango – Ivanga mutungo rusange – Umwenda wafashwe n’umwe mu bashakanye – Wishyurwa n’abasezeranye ivangamutungo bombi nkuko biyemeje mu masezerano yabo y’ubushyingirwe kuvanga umutungo n’imyenda – Itegeko n° 22/99 ryo kuwa 12/11/1999 ryuzuza igitabo cya mbere cy’urwunge rw’amategeko mbonezamubano kandi rishyiraho igice cya gatanu cyerekeye imicungire y’umutungo w’abashyingiranywe impano n’izungura, Ingingo ya 3. Amasezerano cyangwa imirimo nshinganwa – Indishyi – Indishyi z’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cy’Avoka –Igikorwa cyose cy’umuntu cyangirije undi gitegeka nyiri ugukora ikosa rigikomokaho kuriha ibyangiritse – Itegeko ryo kuwa 30/07/1888 rigenga ibyerekeye imirimo nshinganwa cyangwa amasezerano, ingingo ya 258. Incamake y’ikibazo: MWIZA MUTAGOMA yagiranye

urubanza n’uwitwa KAYINAMURA Fidèle, umugabo wa MUKANDAMAGE. Urwo rubanza rwaciwe bwanyuma n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rwemeza ko urubanza rwari rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru rw’ubucuruzi rudahindutse,rukaba rwari rwategetse KAYINAMURA kwishyura MWIZA 10.000 000 frw n’indishyi zitandukanye.Umuheshabubasha w’inkiko yasabye perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi rwa Nyarugenge icyemezo cyo guteza cyamunara inzu ya KAYINAMURA,icyemezo cyaratanzwe. MUKANDAMAGE nawe yaje gusaba perezida w’urwo rukiko gukuraho icyo cyemezo kuko iyo nzu ishakirwa gutezwa cyamunara ayisangiye na KAYINAMURA. Perezida w’urwo Rukiko yafashe icyemezo cya kabirigikuraho icyambere. MWIZA abibonye yatanze ikirego gitakambira icyo cyemezo cya kabiri kimubuza guteza cyamunara inzu ya KAYINAMURA avuga ko kidakurikije amategeko kuko abagize umuryango badashobora gutambamira irangizwa ry’imanza ry’umwe mubawugize watsinzwe, asaba ko icyemezo cya cyamunara cyagumishwaho. Urukiko rwemeje ko ikirego cye ntashingiro gifite, ko agomba kubanza kuregera urukiko rubifitiye ububasha kugirango abahuriye kuri iyo nzu ruyibagabanye cyangwa ruyigurishe abone guhabwa ubwishyu buturutse ku ruhande rwa KAYINAMURA. MWIZA yajuririye mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’ubucuruzi ku kuba umucamanza yarirengagije ko MUKANDAMAGE ari umugore wa KAYINAMURA, bityo umutungo bahuriyeho ukaba udakwiye gufatwa nk’umutungo usangiwe n’abantu benshi ahubwo byitwa umutungo rusange,bityo ingingo ya 289 y’itegeko rigenga imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi akaba atariyo yagombaga gukoreshwa kuko habayeho kwitiranya ibintu,yongeyeho ko abashakanye basangiye umutungo ariko ko banasangiye n’imyenda.Yasabye gusubizwa amafaranga y’ikurikirana rubanza n’igihembo cya avoka kubera

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gushorwa mu manza nta mpamvu.MUKANDAMAGE yasubije ko ubujurire nta shingiro bufite kuko urubanza rwajuririwe n’ubundi rutagombaga kwakirwa ku rwego rwa mbere kuko yatambamiye urubanza ashingiye ku cyemezo cyafashwe na perezida nyamara yaragombaga kukijuririra mu minsi 15,ikirego kikaba cyaratanzwe nabi. Incamake y’icyemezo: 1.Umuntu wese utaragobotse mu kibazo cyashikirijwe umucamanza n’umuburanyi umwe ashobora, mu gihe cy’ukwezi kumwe (1) kuva abimenye gutambamira icyemezo cyafashwe n`umucamanza mu gihe kibangamira inyungu ze. Bityo ko ikirego cyatanzwe na MWIZA cyagombaga kwakirwa nkuko byakozwe kuko yagitanze mu buryo bwemewe n’amategeko. 2.Ivangamutungo rusange ni amasezerano abashyingiranywe bagirana bumvikana gushyira hamwe umutungo wabo wose, ibyimukanwa n’ibitimukanwa kimwe n’imyenda yabo yose, bityo kuba MUKANDAMAGE na KAYINAMURA basangiye umutungo,ntabwo byakwirengagizwa ko banasangiye amadeni kuko basezeranye ivanga mutungo,ntabwo rero MUKANDAMAGE yarega avuga ko adashaka ko ubwishyu bw’umwenda wa KAYINAMURA bukurwa mu mutungo basangiye mugihe uwo mwenda nawo bawusangiye, bikaba bivuga ko ahubwo bagomba gufatanya kuwishyura kuko ari uwabo bombi nkuko biyemeje mu masezerano yabo y’ubushyingirwe kuvanga umutungo n’imyenda.

3. Igikorwa cyose cy'umuntu cyangirije undi gitegeka nyirugukora ikosa rigikomokaho kuriha ibyangiritse, bityo kuba imigirire ya MUKANDAMAGE ariyo yatumye MWIZA yiyambaza inkiko akagira ibyo ahatakariza mu gukurikirana urubanza no kwishyura uwamufashije kuburana aba agomba kwishyurwa na MUKANDAMAGE kuko ariwe nyirabayazana. Ubujurire bufite ishingiro; Urubanza rwajuririwe rurahindutse; Amagarama y’urubanza n’igihembo cya avoka aherereye k’uwarezwe. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko n° 21/2012 ryo kuwa 14/06/2012 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, ingingo ya 330; Itegeko n° 22/99 ryo kuwa 12/11/1999 ryuzuza igitabo cya mbere cy’urwunge rw’amategeko mbonezamubano kandi rishyiraho igice cya gatanu cyerekeye imicungire y’umutungo w’abashyingiranywe impano n’izungura, Ingingo ya 3; Itegeko ryo kuwa 30/07/1888 rigenga ibyerekeye imirimo nshinganwa cyangwa amasezerano, ingingo ya 258. Nta manza zashingiweho. Urubanza INCAMAKE Y’IKIBAZO

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[1] MWIZA MUTAGOMA yagiranye urubanza n’uwitwa KAYINAMURA Fidèle akaba umugabo wa MUKANDAMAGE. Urwo rubanza rwaciwe bwanyuma n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rufite N°RCOMA 0028/10/CS rwemeje ko urubanza rwari rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru rw’ubucuruzi rudahindutse kandi urwo rubanza rwari rwategetse KAYINAMURA kwishyura MWIZA10.000 000 fr y’igihombo yamuteje, 745 600 fr y’ibicuruzwa byangiritse na 6 000 000 fr y’indishyi zitandukanye. Mukurangiza urwo rubanza, huissier yasabye perezida wa TC Nyarugenge icyemezo cyo kugurisha mu cyamunara inzu ya KAYINAMURA iri mu kibanza n° simenti – Rukiri I – Remera – Gasabo, maze perezida atanga icyo cyemezo kuwa 31/10/2012 gifite N° 005/BMG/2012. Nyuma yaho, Me NDAGIJIMANA mu izina rya MUKANDAMAGE ahagarariye, yasabye perezida w’urwo Rukiko gukuraho cya cyemezo yari yafashe kuko iyo nzu yo gutezwa cyamunara MUKANDAMAGE ayisangiye na KAYINAMURA umugabo we. Icyemezo cyafashwe kuwa 05/12/2012 gifite N° 014/BMG/2012 gikuraho icyemezo cyavuzwe mbere. MWIZA MUTAGOMA abibonye yatanze ikirego atambamira icyo cyemezo cya kabiri N° 014/BMG/2012 kimubuza guteza cyamunara inzu ya KAYINAMURA avuga ko icyo cyemezo kidakurikije amategeko kuko abagize umuryango badashobora gutambamira irangizwa ry’imanza ry’umwe mubawugize watsinzwe, asaba ko icyemezo cya cyamunara cyagumishwaho. Urukiko rwaciye urubanza ruvuga ko ikirego cye ntashingiro gifite, ko agomba kubanza

kuregera urukiko rubifitiye ububasha kugirango abahuriye kuri iyo nzu ruyibagabanye cg ruyigurishe abone guhabwa ubwishyu buturutse ku ruhande rwa KAYINAMURA. MWIZA ntiyabyishimiye ajurira avuga ko urukiko rwirengagije ko MUKANDAMAGE ari umugore wa KAYINAMURA, bityo ngo amategeko yakoreshejwe nabi kuko ingingo ya 289 CPCCSA ntabwo yagombaga gukoreshwa. Yashoje asaba amafranga y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cy’avocat. ISESENGURA RY’IBIBAZO BIGIZE URUBANZA [2] Urukiko rugiye gusuzuma niba hari amategeko yakoreshejwe nabi, rusuzume kandi ibijyanye n’indishyi zasabwe n’uwajuriye. I. Ese mu ica ry’urubanza rujuririrwa hari amategeko yaba yarakoreshejwe nabi? [3] MWIZA MUTAGOMA na Me MUTABAZI umwunganira bavuga ko Urukiko rwirengagije ko MUKANDAMAGE ari umugore wa KAYINAMURA, bityo ngo umutungo bahuriyeho ntabwo ukwiye gufatwa nk’umutungo usangiwe n’abantu benshi (indivision) ahubwo byitwa umutungo rusange (biens commun), bityo ngo n’ingingo ya 289 CPCCSA ntabwo ariyo yagombaga gukoreshwa kuko habayeho kwitiranya ibintu. Basobanuye ko abashakanye basangiye umutungo ariko ko basangiye n’imyenda, bityo ko umwe adashobora kubangamira irangizwa ry’imanza undi yatsinzwemo, kandi ko bigenze gutyo ntarubanza rwajya rushoboka kurangizwa. [4] Me NDAGIJIMANA we yavuze ko ubujurire bwa MWIZA ntashingiro bufite kuko uru rubanza ajuririra nubundi ntirwagombaga kwakirwa kurwego rwa mbere kuko

yatambamiye urubanza ashingiye ku cyemezo cyafashwe na perezida nyamara yaragombaga kukijuririra mu minsi 15,bityo ngo ikirego yagitanze nabi. Yabajijwe icyo anenga impamvu yashingiweho n’umucamanza wa mbere wavuze ko ikirego gikwiye kwakirwa, asubiza ko ibyo yariyabisabye ku rwego rwa mbere ariko ntibyahabwa agaciro, akaba yongeye kubisaba kuko ngo hashingiwe kuri ngingo ya 309 CPCCSA ikirego nticyagombaga kwakirwa.

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[5] Urukiko rusanga mu myiregurire y’uhagarariye MUKANDAMAGE ashingira ko ubujurire butahabwa agaciro kuko n’ubundi ikirego kitagombaga kwakirwa no ku rwego rwambere.Rusanga ibyo avuga bitahabwa agaciro kuko yanabivuze ku rwego rwa mbere,umucamanza asobanura ko nta shingiro bifite, akaba mu bujurire abigarura ariko atagaragaje icyo anenga icyemezo cyafashwe n’Urukiko rubanza. Ingingo ya 309 CPCCSA yakomeje gushingiraho ivuga ko “Ibibazo byose byerekeye imihango y’ifatira bivutse mu gihe cy’ifatira bicyemurwan’icyemezo cya perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ibanze cg prezida w’Urukiko rw’ubucuruzi mu gihe harangizwa imanza zaciwe n’Inkiko z’ubucuruzi. Bene ibyo birego biburanishwa hakurikijwe imihango yo kuburanisha inyandiko nsobanurakirego itanzwe n’umuburanyi umwe.Icyakora icyo cyemezo kijuririrwa mu minsi cumi n’itanu (15) uhereye igihe ababuranyi bakimenyesherejwe”. Ibijyanye n’iyi ngingo Urukiko rusanga byarifashishijwe na MUKANDAMAGE kuko ariwe washyikirije ikibazo perezida w’Urukiko mu gihe yumvaga agize ikibazo kubijyanye n’ifatira. Cyari ikibazo atanze wenyine ninawe wari ufite uburenganzira bwo kukijuririra mu minsi 15 iyo hafatwa umwanzuro umubangamiye, ariko MWIZA ntiyari kukijuririra kandi atarigeze akibamo umuburanyi. Ibyo bikaba bisobanurwa neza n’ingingo ya 162 al.1 CPCCSA ivuga ko “Umuntu wese wabaye umuburanyi muru banza ku rwego rwa mbere ashobora kurujuririra iyo

abifitemo inyungu, keretse iyo amategeko abigena ukundi”. Ibyo bigaragaza ko MWIZA atari kujuririra icyemezo kandi atari akirimo nk’umuburanyi. Gutambamira icyo cyemezo niyo nzira yemewe n’amategeko yari asigaranye kuko cyari gishingiye ku kibazo cyatanzwe n’umuburanyi umwe ariwe MUKANDAMAGE,kandi ingingo ya 330 CPCCSA ikaba iteganya ko umuntu wese utaragobotse muri icyo kibazo ashobora kugitambamira mugihe kitarenze ukwezi kumwe kuva akimenye. Ibyo bimaze gusobanurwa bigaragaza ko ikirego cyatanzwe na MWIZA cyagombaga kwakirwa nkuko byakozwe kuko yagitanze mu buryo bwemewe n’amategeko. [6] Kubivugwa na MWIZA bijyanye n’amategeko yaba yarakoreshejwe nabi mu icibwa ry’urubanza rujuririrwa, Urukiko rwaciye urubanza rushingiye ku ngingo ya 289 CPCCSA ivuga ko “Iyo ikintu kitimukanwa gisangiwe n’abantu benshi, uberewemo umwenda abanza kuregera urukiko ngo rukibagabanye cg rukigurishe”. Urukiko rukaba rusanga koko iyo ngingo yarakoreshejwe ku kibazo kitajyanye nayo, kuko MUKANDAMAGE na KAYINAMURA ni umugabo n’umugore bashakanye mu buryo bwemewe n’amategeko kandi basezeranyeivangamutungo risesuye nkuko byemezwa na MWIZA kandi n’uhagarariye MUKANDAMAGE mu rubanza ntabihakana. Ingingo ya 3 y’itegeko n° 22/99 ryo kuwa12/11/1999 ryuzuza igitabo cya mbere cy’urwunge rw’amategeko mbonezamubano kandi rishyiraho igice cya gatanu cyerekeye imicungire y’umutungo w’abashyingiranywe

impano n’izungura, ivuga ko “Ivangamutungo rusange ni amasezerano abashyingiranywe bagirana bumvikana gushyira hamwe umutungo wabo wose, ibyimukanwa n’ibitimukanwa kimwe n’imyenda yabo yose”. Ibi bishaka kugaragaza ko MUKANDAMAGE na KAYINAMURAkoko basangiye umutungo, ariko hakaba harirengagijwe ko basangiye n’imyenda yabo yose.Bikaba bitumvikana ukuntu MUKANDAMAGE yarega avuga ko adashaka ko ubwishyu bw’umwenda wa KAYINAMURA butakurwa mu mutungo basangiye mugihe uwo mwenda nawo bawusangiye, bikaba bivuga ko ahubwo bagomba gufatanya kuwishyura kuko ari uwabo bombi nkuko biyemeje mu masezerano yabo y’ubushyingirwe kuvanga umutungon’imyenda.Ibyo bikaba bivuga ko icyemezo cyafashwe mu rubanza rujuririrwa ntashingiro gifite bityo n’icyemezo cyari cyatambamiwe gifite N° 014/BMG/2012 cyafashwe na perezidaw’Urukiko rw’ubucuruzi rwa Nyarugenge kikaba giteshejwe agaciro.

Page 5

II. Kubijyanye n’indishyi [7] MWIZA MUTAGOMA n’umwunganira bavuze ko MUKANDAMAGE yamukuruye mu nkiko ku kibazo cyumvikana, akaba agomba kumusubiza 500 000 fr y’ikurikirana rubanza no guhemba avocat. Izo ndishyi ntacyo uhagarariye uregwa yazivuzeho uretse kuvuga ko ubujurire ntashingiro bufite. [8] Urukiko rusanga ingingo ya 258 CCLIII ivuga ko “Igikorwa cyose cy'umuntu cyangirije undi gitegeka nyirugukora ikosa rigikomokaho kuriha ibyangiritse”. Iyo migirire ya MUKANDAMAGE yatumye MWIZA yiyambaza inkiko hakaba hari ibyo yatakaje akurikirana urubanza ndetse n’avocat wamufashije kuruburana akaba agomba kwishyurwa, bityo ibyo byose bikaba bigomba kwirengerwa na MUKANDAMAGE kuko ariwe nyirabayazana,akaba agomba kwishyura 500 000 fr yasabwe kuko ari murugero hakurikijwe ibyakozwe mu rubanza. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [9] RWEMEJE ko ubujurire bwa MWIZA MUTAGOMA bwakiriwe kandi ko bufite ishingiro muri byose. [10] RWEMEJE ko urubanza rwajuririwe ruhindutse. [11] RUTEGETSE ko icyemezo n° 014/BMG/2012 cyakuragaho icyemezo N°005/BMG/2012 giteshejwe agaciro naho icyemezo N° 005/BMG/2012 kikaba gisubiranye agaciro kacyo. [12] RUTEGETSE MUKANDAMAGE kwishyura MWIZA MUTAGOMA 500 000 fr y’ikurikiranarubanza no guhemba avocat, kandi akishyura 14 550 fr y’amagarama y’urubanza.

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Authorities

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Cases, legislation, regulations, and constitutional provisions identified in the available record.

Law No. 21/2012 of 14/06/2012, Article 330

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Law No. 22/99 of 12/11/1999, Article 3

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Law of 30/07/1888, Article 258

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

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