NIYOYITA vs. LETA Y’U RWANDA (MINISANTE)
The Court of Appeal held that Niyoyita's email of 03/08/2020, with attached documents, constituted a valid and timely appeal under the law, as electronic documents are recognized as written evidence and the Commission did not dispute receipt or authorship. The subsequent request for a signature did not alter the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- RADA 00001/2023/CA
- Parties
- Applicant: Niyoyita Hussein Zoubair; Respondent: Leta y’u Rwanda (Minisante)
- Court
- Court of Appeal
- Jurisdiction
- Rwanda
- Judgment Date
- 26 January 2024
- Case Number
- RADA 00001/2023/CA
- Procedural Posture
- Administrative Appeal / Appeal (court of Appeal)
- Outcome
- Appeal allowed; High Court judgment set aside; case remitted for substantive hearing.
- Legal Topics
- Electronic Documents as Legal Evidence, Dismissal of Public Employees, Procedural Deadlines, COVID 19 Impact on Procedure
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Niyoyita Hussein Zoubair
Applicant
Leta y’u Rwanda (Minisante)
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Administrative Appeal / Appeal (court of Appeal)
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether an electronic communication (email) constitutes a valid written appeal under Rwandan law
- 2 Whether the appeal to the Public Service Commission was filed within the statutory deadline
- 3 Whether the absence of a handwritten signature invalidates an electronic appeal document
Ratio Decidendi
The Court of Appeal held that Niyoyita's email of 03/08/2020, with attached documents, constituted a valid and timely appeal under the law, as electronic documents are recognized as written evidence and the Commission did not dispute receipt or authorship. The subsequent request for a signature did not alter the date of the original appeal. The High Court erred in equating the date of the signed document with the date of appeal filing.
Court Disposition
Appeal allowed; High Court judgment set aside; case remitted for substantive hearing.
Orders
- The High Court judgment RAD 00015/2022/HC/KIG is set aside in all respects.
- The case is remitted to the High Court for hearing on the merits without further fees.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
15 paragraphs
# NIYOYITA vs. LETA Y’U RWANDA (MINISANTE)
- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2024-01-26 - Case/document no.: RADA 00001/2023/CA - Collection: Court of Appeal
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NIYOYITA vs. LETA Y’U RWANDA (MINISANTE) [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’UBUJURIRE – RADA 00001/2023/CA (Kaliwabo, J. P.) 26 Mutarama 2024] Amategeko agenga imanza z’ubutegetsi – Icyemezo cy’umuyobozi – Kujuririra icyemezo cy’umuyobozi – Ubutumwa koranabuhanga nk’inyandiko ijuririra icyemezo cy’umuyobozi – Iyo itegeko risaba ko amakuru aba yanditse, inyandiko koranabuhanga iba ibyujuje mu gihe amakuru ayikubiyemo ashobora kugerwaho igihe cyose bikenewe. Iyo nyandiko yemerwa kandi ihabwa agaciro nk’ikimenyetso mu gihe umuyobozi wakiriye ubutumwa koranabuhanga adashidikanya ku muntu wabwanditse n'impamvu yabwo bityo, ntiyakwitwaza ko atajuririwe bishingiye ku kuba itariho umukono. Incamake y’ikibazo: Niyoyita wari umuforomo mu Kigo nderabuzima cya Mukarange yandikiye Umunyamabanga wa Leta muri Minisiteri y’ubuzima amusaba kumurenganura ku cyemezo yari yamufatiye cyo kumwirukana burundu mu bakozi ba Leta ariko amusubiza ko kidahindutse maze atakambira Komisiyo y’abakozi ba Leta akoresheje ikoranabuhanga. Komisiyo yamusubije imusaba kubanza gushyira umukono kuri iyo baruwa ye itakamba, maze ayohereza iminsi itanu yarenze n’ubundi Komisiyo ntiyamuha igisubizo ku bujurire bwe bituma aregera Urukiko Rukuru ko yirukanwe mu kazi mu buryo budakurikije amategeko. Uregwa yatanze inzitizi yo kutakira ikirego cy’Urega kubera ko yatakambiye Komisiyo y’abakozi ba Leta akererewe, nubwo we avuga ko yatakambiye icyo Kigo ku gihe maze cyakira ubujurire bwe ariko kibanza kumusaba gukosora ibaruwa ye akayishyiraho umukono. Urukiko Rukuru rwemeje kutakira ikirego cy’Urega, maze abijuririra mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire. Urega yajuririye uru Rukiko rw’Ubujurire avuga ko yagiriwe akarengane mu rubanza rujuririrwa, aho Urukiko Rukuru rwashingiye ku itariki yo kuwa 11/08/2020 yatangiyeho ibaruwa y’ubujurire amaze kuyishyiraho umukono nkuko yari yabisabwe na Komisiyo, rwirengagiza itariki yo ku wa 03/08/2020 yoherejeho email ajuririra icyemezo kimwirukana burundu mu bakozi ba Leta. Akomeza avuga ko urukiko rwitiranyije umunsi wo gukosora ibaruwa y’ubujurire kandi Komisiyo yari yarangije kwakira ubujurire bwe. Avuga kandi ko kuba yarifashishije ikoranabuhanga hari mu gihe cya COVID-19 aho byari bigoye kubona serivisi zifasha harimo na scaneur, ndetse na Komisiyo ikaba itaremerega kwakira amabaruwa mu ntoki, byiyongera ku kuba abantu bari babujijwe gukora ingendo zihuza uturere. Bityo, akaba asaba ko ikirego cye cyakirwa, agahabwa n’indishyi yasabye zitandukanye. Leta y’u Rwanda yasubije ivuga ko Urukiko Rukuru nta kosa rwakoze rwemeza ko ikirego cy’Urega nta shingiro gifite kubera ko atigeze y’ubuhiriza ibihe byo kujuririra Komisiyo, aho urwo Rukiko rwabyemeje rushingiye ku munsi Urega yatangiyeho inyandiko iriho umukono we kandi iyi nyandiko ikaba ariyo yari ikubiyemo ibisobanuro yatanze asaba kurenganurwa. Bityo, ubu bujurire
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nta shingiro bugomba guhabwa ndetse nta ndishyi Urega agomba kubona kuko ariwe washoye Leta mu manza. Incamake y’icyemezo: Iyo itegeko risaba ko amakuru aba yanditse, inyandiko koranabuhanga iba ibyujuje mu gihe amakuru ayikubiyemo ashobora kugerwaho igihe cyose bikenewe. Iyo nyandiko yemerwa kandi ihabwa agaciro nk’ikimenyetso mu gihe umuyobozi wakiriye ubutumwa koranabuhanga adashidikanya ku muntu wabwanditse n’impamvu yabwo bityo, ntiyakwitwaza ko atajuririwe bishingiye ku kuba itariho umukono. Ubujurire bufite ishingiro. Urubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru ruhindutse mu ngingo zarwo zose. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko N° 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo, ingingo ya 158. n’iz’ubutegetsi, Itegeko N° 24/2016 ryo kuwa 18/06/2016 rigenga ikoranabuhanga mu itangazabumenyi n’itumanaho, ingingo ya 135, 144 n’iya 145. Itegeko N° 86/2013 ryo kuwa 11/09/2013 rishyiraho sitati rusange igenga Abakozi ba Leta, ingingo ya 84. Iteka rya Perezida Nº 65/01 ryo ku wa 04/03/2014 rigena uburyo bwo gutanga ibihano ku bakozi ba Leta bakoze amakosa mu kazi, ingingo ya 32 n’iya 33. Nta manza zifashishijwe. Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Ku wa 17/07/2020 Umunyamabanga wa Leta muri Minisitiri w’Ubuzima yandikiye Niyoyita Hussein Zoubair, wari umuforomo mu Kigo Nderabuzima cya Mukarange, ibaruwa imwirukana burundu mu bakozi ba Leta kubera amakosa atandukanye yashinjwaga. Ku wa 21/07/2020 Niyoyita Hussein Zoubair yandikiye Umunyamabanga wa Leta amusaba kurenganurwa, maze mu ibaruwa ye yo ku wa 28/07/2020 amusubiza ko icyemezo yafatiwe kidahindutse.
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[2] Ku wa 03/08/2020 Niyoyita Hussein Zoubair, yifashishije ikoranabuhanga, yatakambiye Komisiyo ishinzwe abakozi ba Leta, ku wa 06/08/2020 Komisiyo imwandikira, nayo ikoresje ikoranabuhanga, imusaba gushyira umukono ku ibaruwa ye itakamba, uyu ayohereza ku wa 11/08/2020 ariko ntiyabona igisubizo cyayo, ariyo mpamvu yagannye Urukiko Rukuru arega Minisiteri y’Ubuzima ko yamuhagaritse mu kazi ku buryo budakurikije amategeko. [3] Uhagarariye Leta y’u Rwanda yatanze inzitizi asaba ko ikirego cya Niyoyita Hussein Zubair kitakirwa kuko yajuririye Komisiyo ishinzwe abakozi ba Leta akererewe, kuko icyemezo yajuririye yakimenyeshejwe ku wa 28/7/2020, akijuririra Komisiyo ishinzwe abakozi ba Leta ku wa 11/08/2020 (umunsi yatanzeho ibaruwa iriho umukono), nyuma y’iminsi itanu (5) igenwa n’Itegeko. [4] Niyoyita Hussein Zubair yireguye kuri iyo nzitizi avuga ko yajuririye Komisiyo y’abakozi ba Leta ku wa 03/08/2020, ko icyakozwe ku wa 11/08/2020 ari ugukosora ibaruwa yo ku wa 03/08/2011 ayishyiraho umukono nk’uko yabisabwe, ko kandi Komisiyo itigeze imusubiza ngo imubwire ko yakerewe kujurira. [5] Mu rubanza RAD 00015/2022/HC/KIG rwaciwe ku wa 14/04/2023, Urukiko Rukuru rushingiye ku ngingo ya 32 na 33 z’Iteka rya Perezida Nº 65/01 ryo ku wa 04/03/2014 rigena uburyo bwo gutanga ibihano ku bakozi ba Leta bakoze amakosa mu kazi ryakoreshwaga igihe Niyoyita yirukanwaga, rwemeje kutakira ikirego cya Niyoyita Houssein Zoubair kubera ko yajuririye Komisiyo y’Abakozi ba Leta akerewe, rumutegeka guha Leta y’u Rwanda amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cya Avoka. [6] Niyoyita Hussein Zoubair yajuririye Urukiko rw’Ubujurire kuri RADA 00001/2023/CA, urubanza ruburanishwa mu ruhame ku wa 8/1/2024 Niyoyita Hussein Zoubair yunganiwe na Me Bayingana Janvier, naho Leta y’u Rwanda ihagarariwe na Me Kanimba Nadia Bell. [7] Mu myanzuro y’ubujurire no mu miburanire ye, Niyoyita anenga Urukiko Rukuru kuba rwarirengagije ko yajuririye Komisiyo y’abakozi ba Leta ku wa 03/08/2020 akoresheje ubutumwa kuri e-mail agashyira imigereke kuri ubu butumwa, ko kuba Komisiyo yaramusabye gushyira umukono ku ibaruwa yamaze kwakira, ibi akabyubahiriza ku wa 11/08/2020 bitavuze ko uwo munsi ariwo ugomba gufatwa nk’umunsi yajuririyeho, asaba ko ikirego cye cyakirwa, agahabwa n’indishyi zitandukanye yasabye. [8] Me Kanimba Nadia Bell, uburanira Leta y’u Rwanda yasubije avuga ko nta kosa Urukiko Rukuru rwakoze kuko rwasuzumye igihe Niyoyita yajuririye rushingiye ku munsi yatangiyeho inyandiko iriho umukono we (kuwa 11/08/2020) kandi iyi nyandiko ikaba ariyo yari ikubiyemo ibisobanuro yatanze asaba kurenganurwa, bityo ko ubujurire bwe nta shingiro bufite, akaba adashobora no guhabwa indishyi asaba kuko ari we washoye Leta mu manza.
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[9] Urukiko, rushingiye kuri izo mpaka, rurasuzuma niba Urukiko Rukuru rwarakoze ikosa ryo kwitiranya umunsi wo kujuriririra Komisiyo y’abakozi ba Leta rubishingiye ku munsi Niyoyita yashyize umukono ku ibaruwa ye; runasuzume ishingiro ry’indishyi z’ikurikiranarubanza zisabwa na Niyoyita Hussein. II. ISESENGURA RY’IBIBAZO BIGIZE URUBANZA 1. Kumenya niba Urukiko Rukuru rutaragombaga gushingira ku munsi Niyoyita yashyize umukono ku ibaruwa ye ngo rubyitiranye n’umunsi yajuririye Komisiyo y’Abakozi ba Leta [10] Niyoyita Hussein Zoubair yunganiwe Me Bayingana Janvier yanenze ko Urukiko Rukuru rwirengagije ubutumwa bwa e-mail yoherereje Komisiyo y’Abakozi ba Leta kuwa 03/08/2020 ajuririra icyemezo kimwirukana burundu mu bakozi ba Leta, ko ubu butumwa bwari buherekejwe n’inyandiko z’imigereka zirimo n’ibarwa itanga ibisobanuro birambuye ku karengane yagiriwe, iyi barwa akaba ariyo Komisiyo yamusabye gushyiraho umukono, aribyo yakosoye ku wa 11/08/2020, umunsi Urukiko rwitiranyije ko aribwo yajuriye nyamara icyo yakoze ari ukuzuza ibyo yasabwe na Komisiyo yari yamaze kwakira ubujurire bwe. [11] Niyoyita Hussein Zoubair akomeza avuga ko hasazumwe igihe Komisiyo ubwayo yamwandikiye ku wa 6/08/2020 imusaba gushyira umukono ku ibaruwa ye, biboneka ko iminsi itanu yo kujuririra yari yarangiye, bityo Komisiyo ikaba itari kumusaba kujurira impitagihe, ko kandi nyuma yo gukosora ibyo yasabwe, Komisiyo itigeze imusubiza ngo imubwire ko yakerewe kuyijuririra, Leta ikaba idashobora kubyitwaza ngo isabe kutakira ikirego cye. Avuga kandi ko Urukiko rudakwiye kwirengagiza ko ibi yabikoze mu gihe cya COVID-19, aho byari bigoye kubona serivisi zifasha harimo na scaneur, ndetse na Komisiyo ikaba itaremerega kwakira amabaruwa mu ntoki, byiyongera ku kuba abantu bari babujijwe gukora ingendo zihuza uturere. [12] Me Bayingana Janvier wunganira Niyoyita Hussein avuga ko Itegeko ritigeze ritegaka ko ibarwa yandikiwe Komisiyo igomba kuba iriho umukono w’uwayanditse, ko umukono ugira akamaro ko kwemeza ko nyirawo ari we koko wayanditse, ko Komisiyo itigeze ishidikanya ko Niyoyita Hussein ariwe wayandikiye ko ubutumwa bwe bwari buherekejwe n’inyandiko zitandukanye zimureba, ariyo mpamvu Komisiyo yamwandikiye ubutumwa (nayo kuri e-mail) imusaba gushyira umukono kuri imwe mu nyandiko zigize umugereka, bityo umunsi yakosoye ibyo yasabwe ukaba udakwiye gufatwa nk’aho aribwo yajuriye kuko Komisiyo yerekanye ko yakiriye inyandiko ze ku wa 03/08/2020, umunsi Niyoyita yajuriye nk’uko biboneka mu butumwa bwe. [13] Me Kanimba Nadia Bell uburanira Leta y’u Rwanda (Minisiteri y’Ubuzima mu izina ry’Intumwa Nkuru ya Leta /MINISANTE) yiregura avuga ko nta kosa Urukiko Rukuru rwakoze mu rubanza rwaciye kuko Komisiyo y’Abakozi ba Leta yashyikirijwe ubujurire bwa Niyoyita Hussein mu nyandiko iriho umukono we ku wa 11/08/2020, isanga ubujurire bwaratanzwe nyuma y’iminsi 5 y’akazi ivugwa mu ngingo ya 84 y’Itegeko N° 86/2013 ryo kuwa 11/09/2013 rishyiraho sitati
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rusange igenga Abakozi ba Leta, ryakoreshwaga icyo gihe, kimwe n’ibikubiye mu ngingo ya 33 z’Iteka rya Perezida Nº65/01 ryo ku wa 04/03/2014 rigena uburyo bwo gutanga ibihano ku bakozi ba Leta bakoze amakosa mu kazi. Akomeza avuga ko umukono uri ku nyandiko ariwo umenyekanisha uwayanditse, ko Komisiyo yasabye Niyoyita gushyira umukono ku nyandiko ye kuko itari gusuzuma inyandiko itazi uwayanditse. Ku kibazo cyo kumenya niba Komisiyo yaramenyesheje Niyoyita icyemezo cyayo cyo kutakira ubujurire bwe, Me Kanimba Nadia Bell avuga ko Komisiyo yabamenyesheje ko itakiriye ubujurire bwa Niyoyita ariko ko ntacyo yamenya ku kuba Niyoyita yarabimenyeshejwe. [14] Asoza asaba Urukiko rw’Ubujurire kwemeza ko ubujurire bwa Niyoyita Hussein Zoubair budakwiye guhabwa ishingiro, ko ikirego cye kitagombaga kwakirwa, kandi ko urubanza RAD 00015/2022/HC/KIG rwaciwe ku wa 14/04/2023 rudahindutse mu ngingo zarwo zose. UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [15] Impaka ziri muri uru rubanza zishingiye ku kumenya niba ubutumwa koranabuhanga Niyoyita Hussein Zoubair yandikiye Komisiyo y’Abakozi ba Leta bufatwa nk’ikimenyetso cy’ubujurire cyangwa niba umunsi Komisiyo yakiriye ibaruwa iriho umukono we ariwo ufatwa nk’umunsi yajuririyeho. [16] Ingingo ya 145 y’Itegeko N° 24/2016 ryo kuwa 18/06/2016 rigenga ikoranabuhanga mu itangazabumenyi n’itumanaho iteganya ko mu rwego rw’amategeko, inyandiko koranabuhanga yemerwa kandi ihabwa agaciro nk’ikimenyetso. Naho ingingo ya 135 y’iri Tegeko ikavuga ko iyo itegeko risaba ko amakuru aba yanditse, inyandiko koranabuhanga iba ibyujuje iyo amakuru ayikubiyemo ashobora kugerwaho igihe cyose bikenewe. [17] Urukiko rurasanga ku wa 3/08/2020, akoresheje ubutumwa kuri e-mail, Niyoyita Hussein yarandikiye Komisiyo y’Abakozi ba Leta ayisaba kumurenganura ku gihano yahawe na Ministeri y’Ubuzima kandi ko ku mugereka ashyizeho inyandiko isobanura uko ikibazo giteye n’ibisobanuro yagiye atanga1. Ubu butumwa bukaba bwari buherekejwe n’imigereka 2 igizwe n’ibaruwa Niyoyita yandikiye Komisiyo y’Abakozi ba Leta na dosiye ya Niyoyita igizwe n’inyandiko zitandukanye yiswe “dossier Hussein”. [18] Urukiko rurasanga, mu gihe itegeko ritagennye imiterere y’inyandiko igomba gukoreshwa, uburyo bwose bw’inyandiko, harimo n’ubw’ikoranabuhanga buba bwujuje ibisabwa mu gihe nta gushidikanya ku muntu wabutanze, uwabugenewe n’ubutumwa buri muri iyo nyandiko. Rurasanga, mu gihe Komisiyo idahakana ko yakiriye ubutumwa koranabuhanga bwo ku wa 03/08/2020 n’imigereka yabwo, mu gihe kandi iyi Komisiyo idashidikanya ku muntu wohereje ubutumwa2 kuko ubwayo yamusubije kuwa 06/08/2020 ikoresheje inzira imwe yakiririyemo ubutumwa ariyo 1 Muraho, nifuje kubandikira ngirango mbasabe kundenganura ku gihano nahawe na Moh cyo kwirukanwa burundu mu bakozi ba Leta, ku mugereka murahasanga uko ikibazo giteye ndetse n’ibisobanuro nagiye ntanga.
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y’ikoranabuhanga3, nta mpamvu yari gutuma Urukiko Rukuru rusanisha umunsi w’ubujurire n’umunsi ibaruwa isinye yagereye kuri Komisiyo, kuko inyandiko koranabuhanga yo kuwa 03/08/2020 yujuje ibisabwa kandi yatazwe mu gihe kitarenze iminsi 5 ivugwa mu ngingo ya 84 y’Itegeko N° 86/2013 ryo kuwa 11/09/2013 rishyiraho sitati rusange igenga abakozi ba Leta ryakoreshwaga igihe ikibazo cya Niyoyita gitangira. [19] Ingingo ya 158 y’Itegeko N° 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, mu gika cyayo cya 2 iteganya ko iyo Urukiko rwajuririwe rusanze urubanza rwari rwaregewe mu buryo bukurikije amategeko urukiko rwaruciye ku rwego rubanza rukavuga ko rutakiriwe kandi rwaragombaga kwakirwa, Urukiko rwajuririwe rurarwakira, rukagaragaza ko rwagombaga kwakirwa ku rwego rwa mbere; rukarutesha agaciro maze rukarusubiza Urukiko rwari rwaruciye kugira ngo ruruburanishe mu mizi, nta yindi ngwate y’amagarama itanzwe. [20] Urukiko rurasanga, urubanza RAD 00015/2022/HC/KIG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru kuwa 14/04/2023 rukwiye guteshwa agaciro, urubanza rugasubizwa Urukiko Rukuru kugira ngo rusuzume ikirego cya Niyoyita Hussein Zoubair mu mizi yacyo, nta rindi garama ritanzwe. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [21] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwa Niyoyita Hussein Zoubair bufite ishingiro. [22] Rwemeje ko urubanza RAD 00015/2022/HC/KIG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru kuwa 14/04/2023, ruhindutse mu ngingo zarwo zose. [23] Rwemeje ko Niyoyita Hussein Zoubair yajuririye Komisiyo y’Abakozi ba Leta mu gihe giteganywa n’amategeko. [24] Rwemeje ko iki kirego gisubira mu Rukiko Rukuru kugira ngo rugisuzume mu mizi nta yandi magarama atanzwe. [25] Rutegetse ko Niyoyita Hussein Zoubair asubizwa ingwate y’amagarama yatanze naho amagarama y’uru rubanza agaherezwa ku Isanduku ya Leta. 2 Ingingo ya 144, 2° y’Itegeko N° 24/2016 ryo kuwa 18/06/2016 rigenga ikoranabuhanga mu itangazabumenyi n’itumanaho iteganya ko imyitwarire y’uwandikiwe yereka uwanditse ku buryo buhagije, ko yabonye inyandiko koranabuhanga yamwoherereje. 3 Dear Niyoyita Hussein Zoubair, NPSC iragusaba kohereza ibaruwa isinye.