NIYOMUGABO v. UBUSHINJACYAHA
The Court held that the sentence of 15 years imprisonment and a fine of 5,000,000 Frw is the statutory minimum for the offence of trafficking significant quantities of cannabis, and cannot be further reduced regardless of mitigating factors. The appeal was dismissed as the applicant had already received the minimum...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- RPAA 01030/2024/CA
- Parties
- Applicant: Niyomugabo Emmanuel; Respondent: Ubushinjacyaha
- Court
- Court of Appeal
- Jurisdiction
- Rwanda
- Judgment Date
- 18 September 2025
- Case Number
- RPAA 01030/2024/CA
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Final Appellate Judgment
- Outcome
- appeal dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Drug Offences, Sentencing, Mitigating Circumstances
- Source Language
- rw
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Niyomugabo Emmanuel
Applicant
Ubushinjacyaha
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Final Appellate Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the sentence imposed on Niyomugabo Emmanuel was excessive given his admission of guilt and the small quantity of drugs involved
- 2 Whether the High Court erred by not further reducing the sentence below the statutory minimum
Ratio Decidendi
The Court held that the sentence of 15 years imprisonment and a fine of 5,000,000 Frw is the statutory minimum for the offence of trafficking significant quantities of cannabis, and cannot be further reduced regardless of mitigating factors. The appeal was dismissed as the applicant had already received the minimum possible sentence.
Court Disposition
appeal dismissed
Orders
- The judgment of the High Court (RPA 00169/2022/HC/MUS) is upheld in all its provisions.
- Niyomugabo Emmanuel remains sentenced to 15 years imprisonment and a fine of 5,000,000 Frw for trafficking significant quantities of cannabis.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
16 paragraphs
# NIYOMUGABO v. UBUSHINJACYAHA
- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2025-09-18 - Case/document no.: RPAA 01030/2024/CA - Collection: Court of Appeal
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NIYOMUGABO v. UBUSHINJACYAHA
[Rwanda URUKIKO RW’UBUJURIRE – RPAA 01030/2024/CA (Kaliwabo, P.J.,) Ku wa 18 Nzeli 2025] Amategeko agenga ibyaha n’ibihano – Icyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge bihambaye byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi – Umuburanyi wahamijwe icyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge bihambaye byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi ahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw, kandi ibi bikaba aribyo bihano bito ntarengwa umucamanza wahaye agaciro impamvu nyoroshyacyaha ashobora gutanga. Incamake y’ikibazo: Niyomugabo Emmanuel yafashwe akekwaho kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge, bishingiye ku dupfunyika 50 tw’urumogi twabonetse mu nzu asanzwe acururizamo imikino y’amahirwe. Nyuma y’iperereza, Ubushinjacyaha bwareze Niyomugabo Emmanuel mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Rubavu icyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge bihambaye byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi. Maze aburana yemera icyaha aregwa, asaba imbabazi no kugabanyirizwa ibihano. Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Rubavu, rushingiye ku mvugo y’uregwa wemera icyaha, rushingiye ku mvugo z’abatangabuhamya bamushinja no ku nyandikomvugo y'ifatira yashyizeho umukono yemeza ko urumogi rufatiriwe ari urwe, rwemeje ko ahamwa n’icyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge by’urumogi, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka makumyabiri n’itanu (25) n’ihazabu y’amafaranga y’u Rwanda miliyoni makumyabiri n’ibihumbi magana atanu (20.500.000 Frw). Niyomugabo Emmanuel yajuririye Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Musanze asaba kugabanyirizwa ibihano ku cyaha cyo gufatanwa ibiyobyabwenge kuko yacyemeye, ariko ko ibyo ntaho ahuriye n’ubucuruzi bw’ibiyobyabwenge kuko ntabwo yakoze. Ubushinjacyaha bwasubije buvuga ko ubujurire bwa Niyomugabo nta shingiro bufite kuko mu bimenyetso byashingiweho harimo n’imvugo ye yemera icyaha cyo gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge, bityo bwasabye ko, nubwo bimeze bityo ntacyabuza ko agabanyirizwa ibihano kugeza ku gifungo cy’imyaka 15 n'ihazabu ya 5,000,000frw kubera ko ari ubwa mbere aguye mu cyaha. Urukiko Rukuru rurabyemeza. Niyomugabo Emmanuel yajuririye Urukiko rw’Ubujurire, anenga Urukiko Rukuru ko rwamuhanishije igihano kiremereye rwirengagije ko yaburanye yemera icyaha kandi ko yafatanywe ingano nto y’ibiyobyabwenge, bityo asaba guhanishwa igifungo kiri munsi y’imyaka 15 no kugisubikirwa. Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko ubujurire bwa Niyomugabo Emmanuel nta shingiro bufite kuko, nubwo yahinduye imvugo ku cyaha ashinjwa, Urukiko rwamuhanishije ibihano bito biteganyirizwa icyaha ashinjwa, akaba atagaragaza ikosa ryakozwe mu rubanza ajuririra.
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Urukiko rurasuzuma ikibazo cyo kumenya niba Niyomugabo yahanishijwe ibihano biremereye hirengagijwe ko yaburanye yemera icyaha no kuba yarafanwe ingano nto y’ibiyobyabwenge. Incamake y’icyemezo: Umuburanyi wahamijwe icyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge bihambaye ahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw kandi ibi bikaba aribyo bihano bito ntarengwa umucamanza wahaye agaciro impamvu nyoroshyacyaha ashobora gutanga. Ubujurire nta shingiro bufite.
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 muri rusange, ingingo ya 2. Nta manza zifashishijwe. Urubanza IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Mu ijoro ryo ku wa 31/01/2022, Niyomugabo Emmanuel yafashwe akekwaho kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge, bishingiye ku dupfunyika 50 tw’urumogi twabonetse mu nzu asanzwe acururizamo imikino y’amahirwe iherereye mu mu Mudugudu wa Bihinga, Akagali ka Rega, Umurenge wa Jenda. [2] Nyuma y’iperereza, Ubushinjacyaha bwareze Niyomugabo Emmanuel mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Rubavu icyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge bihambaye byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi. Niyomugabo yaburanye yemera icyaha aregwa, asobanura ko urwo rumogi ari urwo yahawe na Ndatimana David ngo arumugurishirize, asaba imbabazi no kugabanyirizwa ibihano kugira ngo ajye kwita ku mukecuru we n’abana babiri batagira kivurira. [3] Mu rubanza RP 00086/2022/TGI/RBV rwaciwe kuwa 23/03/2022 Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Rubavu, rushingiye ku mvugo ya Niyomugabo wemera icyaha, rushingiye ku mvugo z’abatangabuhamya bamushinja no ku nyandikomvugo y'ifatira yashyizeho umukono yemeza ko urumogi rufatiriwe ari urwe, rwemeje ko Niyomugabo Emmanuel ahamwa n’icyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge by’urumogi, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka makumyabiri n’itanu (25) n’ihazabu y’amafaranga y’u Rwanda miliyoni makumyabiri n’ibihumbi magana atanu (20.500.000 Frw). [4] Niyomugabo Emmanuel yajuririye Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Musanze asaba kugabanyirizwa ibihano ku cyaha cyo gufatanwa ibiyobyabwenge kuko aricyo yemera, ko ibiyobyabwenge yafatanwe byari umuti w’inka kandi ko amafaranga yafatanwe ntaho ahuriye n’ubucuruzi bw’ibiyobyabwenge kuko ntabwo yakoze.
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[5] Ubushinjacyaha bwasubije buvuga ko ubujurire bwa Niyomugabo nta shingiro bufite kuko mu bimenyetso byashingiweho harimo n’imvugo ye yemera icyaha cyo gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge ndetse akaba yaravuze n’uwabimuhaye ngo abimucururize. Ubushinjacyaha bwasabye ko, nubwo bimeze bityo ntacyabuza ko agabanyirizwa ibihano kugeza ku gifungo cy’imyaka 15 n'ihazabu ya 5,000,000frw kubera ko ari ubwa mbere aguye mu cyaha. [6] Mu rubanza RPA 00169/2022/HC/MUS rwaciwe ku wa 23/09/2024, Urukiko Rukuru rwasanze nta kosa ryakozwe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye mu guhamya Niyomugabo icyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge kuko mu bimenyetso byashingiweho harimo n’imvugo ye yemera icyaha. Rwasanze ariko, kuba ari ubwa mbere Niyomugabo Emmanuel aguye mu cyaha, ari mpamvu nyoroshyacyaha yatuma agabanyirizwa ibihano nk’uko n’Ubushinjacyaha bubimusabira, agahanishwa igifungo cy’ imyaka cumi n’ itanu (15) n’ihazabu ya miliyoni eshanu y’ amafaranga y’ u Rwanda (5,000,000frw). [7] Niyomugabo Emmanuel yajuririye Urukiko rw’Ubujurire, Urubanza ruhabwa RPAA 01030/2024/CA, iburanisha ribera mu ruhame ku wa 5/9/2025, Niyomugabo Emmanuel yunganiwe na Me Musabwa K.Frederic naho Ubushinjacyaha buhagarariwe na Rukaka Gallican, Umushinjacyaha ku rwego rw’Igihugu. [8] Niyomugabo Emmanuel yajuriye anenga Urukiko Rukuru ko rwamuhanishije igihano kiremereye rwirengagije ko yaburanye yemera icyaha kandi agafatanwa ingano nto y’ibiyobyabwenge, asaba guhanishwa igifungo kiri munsi y’imyaka 15 no kugisubikirwa. [9] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko ubujurire bwa NIyomugabo Emmanuel nta shingiro bufite kuko, nubwo yahinduye imvugo ku cyaha ashinjwa, Urukiko rwamuhanishije ibihano bito biteganyirizwa icyaha ashinjwa, akaba atagaragaza ikosa ryakozwe mu rubanza ajuririra. [10] Urukiko rurasuzuma niba Niyomugabo Emmanuel yarahanishijwe ibihano biremereye hirengagijwe ko yaburanye yemera icyaha no kuba yarafanwe ingano nto y’ibiyobyabwenge. II. ISESENGURA RY’IKIBAZO KIGIZE URUBANZA Kumenya niba Urukiko Rukuru rwarakoze ikosa ryo guhanisha Niyomugabo ibihano biremereye hirengagijwe ko yaburanye yemera icyaha kandi agafatanwa ingano nto y’ibiyobyabwenge [11] Niyomugabo Emmanuel yajuriye asaba kugabanyirizwa ibihano kugeza munsi y’igito giteganywa n’itegeko kubera ko yaburanye yemera icyaha, kuba nta ngaruka zikomeye cyateje, kuba ari ubwa mbere aguye mu cyaha no kuba yarasanganwe ingano nto y’ibiyobyabwenge (50 boules), asaba guhanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 5 no kugisubikirwa. [12] Me Musabwa K.Frederic avuga ko yemeranywa na Niyomugabo Emmanuel ko igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw bikabije kuremera ugereranyije n’uburemere bw’icyaha yakoze, ko ariko ibyo ari byo bihano bito itegeko riteganyiriza icyaha yakoze, asaba Urukiko gusuzumana ubushishozi icyifuzo cy’ushinjwa. [13] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha yasubije avuga ko igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw Niyomugabo Emmanuel yahanishijwe ku cyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge
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bihambaye by’urumogi aribyo bihano bito biteganyirizwa icyaha yahamijwe, ko nta rindi gabanyagihano rishoboka, bityo ko ubujurire bwe nta shingiro bufite kuko asaba ibyo yamaze guhabwa. UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [14] Ikibazo kiri muri uru rubanza ni ukumenya niba Niyomugabo Emmanuel yakwongera kugabanyirizwa igihano kugeza munsi y’igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw yahanishijwe ku cyaha yahamijwe cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge. [15] Icyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi, Niyomugabo Emmanuel 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 cyangwa kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge bihambaye, ahanishwa igifungo cya burundu n’ihazabu itari munsi y’amafaranga 20.000.000 ariko itarenze amafaranga 30.000.000. [16] 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“. [17] Urukiko rurasanga Niyomugabo Emmanuel usaba kugabanyirizwa ibihano kugeza ku gifungo cy’imyaka 5, ubwe avuga ko nta tegeko abishingiraho, ndetse n’ubwunganizi bwe bukaba buvuga ko ibihano yahanishijwe aribyo bito ntarengwa hashingiwe ku biteganywa n’ingingo ya 2 y’Itegeko N° 059/2023 rihindura Itegeko N° 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange. [18] Urukiko rurasanga, nk’uko n’ababuranyi babyiyemerera, ingingo ya 2 y’Itegeko Nº 059/2023 ryo ku wa 4/12/2023 rihindura Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryavuzwe haruguru, yaragennye ibihano bito umucamanza adashobora kujya munsi mu gihe asanze hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha zituma ushinjwa agabanyirizwa ibihano. Ku birebana na Niyomugabo Emmanuel wahamijwe icyaha gihanishwa igifungo cya burundu n’ihazabu idashobora kujya munsi ya 20.000.000Frw, iyi ngingo iteganya ko igabanyagihano ridashobora kujya munsi y’igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw (ariyo ingana na ¼ cy’ihazabu ntoya yagenewe). [19] Kuba Niyomugabo Emmanuel yarahanishijwe igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw kandi ibi bikaba aribyo bihano bito ntarengwa umucamanza wahaye agaciro impamvu nyoroshyacyaha ashobora gutanga ku cyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge bihambaye, Urukiko rurasanga nta handi rwashingira rugabanya ibihano kugeza ku gifungo cy’imyaka 5 nk’uko Niyomugabo Emmanuel abyifuza. [20] Urukiko rurasanga kutajya munsi y’igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw bitari umwihariko kuri Niyomugabo Emmanuel wenyine, ahubwo ibi bihano aribyo
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byagumyeho mu manza zose zifitanye isano n’uru, zimwe muri zo zikaba zirondowe muri iki gika1, bityo ubujurire bwe bukaba nta shingiro bufite. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [21] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwa Niyomugabo Emmanuel nta shingiro bufite. [22] Rwemeje ko imikirize y’urubanza RPA 00169/2022/HC/MUS rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru , Urugereko rwa Musanze kuwa 23/09/2024, igumyeho mu ngingo zarwo zose. [23] Rwemeje ko Niyomugabo Emmanuel 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. [24] Rutegetse ko Niyomugabo Emmanuel asonerwa amagarama y'urubanza kuko yaburanye afunz
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.