Re NGENDAHAYO KABUYE (ADD)

Re NGENDAHAYO KABUYE (ADD)

The Supreme Court held that the impugned provisions of Law Nº 27/2016 do not violate the constitutional principles of equality, non-discrimination, protection of the family, or the right to property. The distinctions made in favor of the surviving spouse are justified by the need to protect the spouse who shared...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
RLR V.3-2023
Parties
Applicant: Ngendahayo Kabuye; Respondent: Republic of Rwanda
Court
Supreme Court
Jurisdiction
Rwanda
Judgment Date
10 February 2023
Case Number
RS/INCONST/SPEC 00004/2021/SC
Procedural Posture
Constitutional Petition / Final Judgment
Outcome
petition dismissed
Legal Topics
Equality Before the Law, Non Discrimination, Protection of the Family, Right to Property, Succession Rights, Inheritance of Surviving Spouse
Source Language
rw
Constitutional Law Family Law Succession Law Equality Before the Law Non Discrimination Protection of the Family Right to Property Succession Rights +1 more

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Parties

Ngendahayo Kabuye

Applicant

Republic of Rwanda

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Constitutional Petition / Final Judgment

  1. 1 Whether Articles 8(2), 52(3), 75, and 76(1o) of Law Nº 27/2016 on management of matrimonial property, gifts and succession are inconsistent with Articles 15, 18, and 34 of the Constitution of Rwanda (as revised in 2015)

Ratio Decidendi

The Supreme Court held that the impugned provisions of Law Nº 27/2016 do not violate the constitutional principles of equality, non-discrimination, protection of the family, or the right to property. The distinctions made in favor of the surviving spouse are justified by the need to protect the spouse who shared responsibility for acquiring matrimonial property and to prevent family disputes. The law does not deprive other heirs of their rights, as succession opens only upon the death or remarriage of the surviving spouse, at which point all heirs' rights are recognized. The right to property under the Constitution and international law protects only existing property, not mere...

Court Disposition

petition dismissed

Orders

  • The petition by Ngendahayo Kabuye is dismissed for lack of merit.
  • Articles 8(2), 52(3), 75, and 76(1o) of Law Nº 27/2016 are not inconsistent with Articles 15, 18, and 34 of the Constitution of Rwanda.