NYABYENDA N’UNDI v. BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY LTD

# NYABYENDA N’UNDI v. BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY LTD

- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2025-10-22 - Case/document no.: RCOMAA 00087/2024/CA - Collection: Court of Appeal

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NYABYENDA N’UNDI v. BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY LTD [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’UBUJURIRE – RCOMAA 00087/2024/CA (Ngagi, P.J.) 22 Ukwakira 2025] Amategko agenga ububasha bw’Inkiko – Ububasha bw’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire – Ubujurire bwa kabiri – Iyakirwa ry’ubujurire bwa kabiri – Iyo hari indishyi zagenwe mu rubanza, ni zo zigomba gushingirwaho, naho byaba ngombwa ko hashingirwa ku gaciro k’ikiburanwa hakarebwa agaciro kemejwe n’urukiko nyuma y’impaka z’ababuranyi; haba nta gaciro kagenwe n’inkiko hagashingirwa ku kagenwe n’umuhanga iyo bibaye ngombwa. Incamake y’ikibazo: SEAVMC Ltd yagiranye na BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY Ltd amasezerano y’ubucukuzi bw’amabuye y’agaciro, impande zombi zumvikana ko BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY Ltd itangira gushora mu bikorwa byose by’ubucukuzi bw’amabuye y’agaciro bugezweho bwari bukenewe butari ubwa gakondo, zumvikana kandi ko buri tariki ya gatanu (5) ya buri kwezi SEAVMC Ltd, izajya itwara 30% y’umusaruro wose w’amabuye y’agaciro, bikakirwa n’umunyamigabane wayo umwe rukumbi unayihagarariye ari we Nyabyenda Emmanuel. Nyuma y’imyaka 2, amasezerano hagati y’impande yarasheshwe bigizwemo uruhare na BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY Ltd, bituma SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda bayirega mu Rukiko rw’Ubucuruzi barusaba kubishyura inyungu n’indishyi byo kutubahiriza amasezerano yo ku wa 01/04/2019. Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi rwaciye urubanza rwemeza ko ikirego nta shingiro gifite, ko inyungu n’indishyi biregerwa bitakwemezwa, rutegeka SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda Emmanuel kwishyura BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY Ltd 500.000 Frw) y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cya Avoka. SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda Emmanuel bajuririye Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi, narwo mu guca urubanza rwemeza ko imikirize y’urubanza rujuririrwa idahindutse. SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda bajuririye kandi mu Rukiko Rw’Ubujurire bavuga ko Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha ubujurire bwa kabiri hashingiwe ku kuba icyaburanwe ari icyo kwemeza no gutegeka ko BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY Ltd yishe amasezerano yo ku wa 01/04/2019; inyungu yari itegerejwe ingana na 48,394,200 USD; indishyi ku bitakozwe zingana na 2.007.250.000 Frw kigaragaza ko zirenze 75.000.000 Frw cyane ko hari inyandiko y'umuhanga (expert) wabaze mu mafaranga icyaburanweho. Bavuga kandi ko bashingira ku ngingo ya 52, igika cya 2, agace ka 8, n’igika cya 4, y’Itegeko N°30/2018 ryo ku wa 02/06/2018 rigena ububasha bw’inkiko. Ku rundi ruhande BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY LTD ivuga ko kugira ngo Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rugire ububasha ari uko mu rubanza rujuririrwa haba hagomba kuba hagenwe indishyi zingana nibura na 75,000,000 Frw, ko ariko mu manza zabanje nta ndishyi zagenwe, ko icyagenwe ari amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cya Avoka. Bityo ko Urukiko rukwiye gusuzuma niba ubujurire bwa kabiri bwatanzwe bukurikije amategeko.

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Incamake y’icyemezo: Iyo hari indishyi zagenwe mu rubanza ni zo zigomba gushingirwaho, naho byaba ngombwa ko hashingirwa ku gaciro k’ikiburanwa hakarebwa agaciro kemejwe n’urukiko nyuma y’impaka z’ababuranyi; haba nta gaciro kagenwe n’inkiko hagashingirwa ku kagenwe n’umuhanga iyo bibaye ngombwa. Ubujurire bwa kabiri ntibwakiriwe. Amagarama ahwanye n’ibyakozwe mu rubanza. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko N°30/2018 ryo ku wa 02/06/2018 rigena ububasha bw’inkiko, Ingingo ya 52, igika cya 2, agace ka 8. Imanza zifashishijwe: RCOMAA 00035/2022/CA; Akarere ka Gicumbi vs WOORD GROUP Ltd rwaciwe ku wa 13/06/2022; RCAA 00015/2024/CA; Nyirandabaruta Spéciose Kibonge vs CHINA ROAD AND BRIDGE CORPORATION (CRBC) Ltd rwaciwe ku wa 27/09/2024. Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Ku wa 01/04/2019, SEAVMC Ltd yagiranye na BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY Ltd amasezerano y’ubucukuzi bw’amabuye y’agaciro, impande zombi zumvikana ko BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY Ltd itangira gushora mu bikorwa byose by’ubucukuzi bw’amabuye y’agaciro bugezweho bwari bukenewe butari ubwa gakondo, zumvikana kandi ko buri tariki ya gatanu (5) ya buri kwezi SEAVMC Ltd, izajya itwara 30% y’umusaruro wose w’amabuye y’agaciro, bikakirwa n’umunyamigabane wayo umwe rukumbi unayihagarariye ari we Nyabyenda Emmanuel. Bigeze mu mwaka wa 2021, impande zombi zumvikanye gutandukana, ariko kuri ubu zikaba zitumvikana ku buryo bwo kuyashyira mu bikorwa nk’uko zari zarabyumvikanyeho, ku buryo amasezerano yarangiyemo, ndetse no k’uwaba afite icyo agomba undi. [2] Ku wa 11/09/2023, SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda Emmanuel bareze BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY Ltd mu Rukiko rw’Ubucuruzi, barusaba kuyitegeka kubishyura inyungu n’indishyi byo kutubahiriza amasezerano yo ku wa 01/04/2019 yagiranye na SEAVMC Ltd, aho kuva kuri iyi tariki yagombaga guhita itangira kuyubahiriza, ariko ntibikore ngo ishore 100% mu bikorwa byose by’ubucukuzi bw’amabuye y’agaciro harimo expropriation, exploration, mining, tailing and processing of minerals, nk’uko impande zombi zabyumvikanyeho mu masezerano. [3] SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda Emmanuel basobanuye ko nyuma y’imyaka ibiri, ku wa 12/05/2021, BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY Ltd yandikiye SEAVMC Ltd iyimenyesha ko iseshe amasezerano yo ku wa 01/04/2019, mu gihe kutubahiriza inshingano kwayo byavukije SEAVMC Ltd inyungu ya 30% y’umusaruro wose ungana na 48.394.200 USD yari itegereje, ko kandi kuba BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY Ltd yari ifite inshingano yo kwimura abantu

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(expropriation), kutabikora na byo byateye SEAVMC Ltd igihombo, kuko amafaranga yagombaga kwishyura ku wa 01/04/2019, ikiguzi cy’ubutaka cyiyongereye, bityo ko isaba indishyi ku bitakozwe zingana na 2.007.250.000 Frw nk’uko bigaragazwa n’inyandiko yakozwe n’umuhanga agendeye ku ihindagurika ry’ikiguzi. [4] BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY Ltd yireguye ivuga ko ibyo SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda Emmanuel bavuga atari ukuri, kuko yashoye ibyo yagombaga gushora, ikabikora bitewe n’aho amasezerano yari ageze mu kuyashyira mu bikorwa, ikaba kandi itaraseshe amasezerano ku wa 12/05/2021, ahubwo impande zombi zarumvikanye ko zitandukana ku wa 25/04/2021, maze ku wa 26/04/2021, zikorana amasezerano y’ubwumvikane yo kwishyura imyenda, ayo masezerano akavanaho burundu ayo ku wa 01/04/2019 bavuga ko atubahirijwe. Bityo ko ibihombo n’indishyi SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda Emmanuel basaba ntaho bishingiye. [5] Mu rubanza RCOM 01912/2023/TC rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi ku wa 27/03/2024, urwo Rukiko rwemeje ko ikirego cya SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda Emmanuel nta shingiro gifite, ko inyungu n’indishyi biregerwa bitakwemezwa, rutegeka SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda Emmanuel kwishyura BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY Ltd 500.000 Frw) y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cya Avoka. [6] SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda Emmanuel bajuririye Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi, bavuga ko uburyo Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi rwasesenguye urubanza bigaragara ko rutumvise neza icyo ababuranyi baburanaga, kuko iyo urebye mu mikirize y’urubanza, amategeko yashingiweho ndetse n’isesengura (motivation) rwakoze, usanga rwaribanze ku mpamvu ya Covid-19 nk’iyatumye BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY Ltd itubahiriza amasezerano, aho kureba impamvu zaregewe zigaragaza uburyo amasezerano atubahirijwe ndetse n’inshingano BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANT Ltd yari ifite. [7] Mu rubanza RCOMA 00255/2024/HCC rwaciwe ku wa 23/10/2024, Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwemeje ko ubujurire bwatanzwe na SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda Emmanuel nta shingiro bufite, ko imikirize y'urubanza RCOM 01912/2023/TC rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi ku wa 27/03/2024 rwajuririwe, idahindutse, rutegeka ko SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda Emmanuel bishyura BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY Ltd amafaranga ibihumbi magana atanu (500.000Frw) y’ikurikiranarubanza n‘igihembo cy‘Avoka yategetswe ku rwego rwa mbere, no kuyishyura amafaranga ibihumbi magana atanu (500.000 Frw) y’igihembo cya Avoka n’amafaranga ibihumbi magana abiri (200.000Frw) y’ikurikiranarubanza yo ku rwego rw’ubujurire. [8] SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda Emmanuel bajuririye uru Rukiko, ubujurire bwabo bwandikwa kuri RCOMAA 00087/2024/CA. Iburanisha ryabaye mu ruhame ku wa 15/10/2025, SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda Emmanuel bahagarariwe na Me Nkurunziza Jean Pierre, Me Mbituyimana Jean de Dieu hamwe na Me Mutembe Protais, naho BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY Ltd ihagarariwe na Me Rwibasira Jean Claude, hasuzumwa ikibazo cyo kumenya niba ubujurire bwa kabiri bwa SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda Emmanuel buri mu bubasha bw’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire. II. IBIBAZO BIGIZE URUBANZA N’ISENGURA RYABYO

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1. Kumenya niba ubujurire bwa SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda Emmanuel buri mu bubasha bw’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire [9] Abahagarariye SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda Emmanuel, mu myanzuro no mu miburaniriye byabo, bavuga ko Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha ubu bujurire bwa kabiri hashingiwe ku kuba icyaburanwe ari icyo kwemeza no gutegeka ko BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY Ltd yishe amasezerano yo ku wa 01/04/2019; inyungu yari itegerejwe ingana na 48,394,200 USD; indishyi ku bitakozwe zingana na 2.007.250.000 Frw kigaragaza ko zirenze 75.000.000 Frw cyane ko hari inyandiko y'umuhanga (expert) wabaze mu mafaranga icyaburanweho. Bavuga kandi ko bashingira ku ngingo ya 52, igika cya 2, agace ka 8, n’igika cya 4, y’Itegeko N°30/2018 ryo ku wa 02/06/2018 rigena ububasha bw’inkiko. [10] Uhagarariye BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY Ltd avuga ko ingingo ya 52, igika cya 2, agace ka 8, y’Itegeko rigenga ububasha bw’inkiko iteganya ko kugira ngo Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rugire ububasha ari uko mu rubanza rujuririrwa haba hagomba kuba hagenwe indishyi zingana nibura na 75,000,000 Frw, ko ariko mu manza zabanje nta ndishyi zagenwe, ko icyagenwe ari amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cya Avoka.Bityo ko Urukiko rukwiye gusuzuma niba ubujurire bwa kabiri bwatanzwe na SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda Emmanuel bukurikije amategeko. Uko Urukiko rubibona [11] Ingingo ya 52, igika cya 2, agace ka 8, y’Itegeko N°30/2018 ryo ku wa 02/06/2018 rigena ububasha bw’inkiko iteganya ibikurikira: “Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rufite kandi ububasha bwo kuburanisha mu rwego rw’ubujurire bwa kabiri imanza zaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru, Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi n’Urukiko Rukuru rwa Gisirikare, iyo izo manza: 8° zagenwemo n’urukiko indishyi zingana nibura na miliyoni mirongo irindwi n’eshanu z’amafaranga y’u Rwanda (75.000.000 Frw) cyangwa zifite agaciro kagenwe n’umucamanza mu gihe habaye impaka kangana na miliyoni mirongo irindwi n’eshanu z’amafaranga y’u Rwanda (75.000.000 Frw)”. [12] Mu rubanza RCOMAA 00035/2022/CA rwaciwe ku wa 13/06/2022, haburana Akarere ka Gicumbi na WOORD GROUP Ltd, uru Rukiko rwasobanuye ko icyo iyi ngingo ivuga, nk’uko byagiye binagarukwaho mu manza zitandukanye zaciwe n’uru Rukiko1, ari uko iyo hari indishyi zagenwe mu rubanza ni zo zigomba gushingirwaho, naho byaba ngombwa ko hashingirwa ku

1 Ni ko byemejwe mu rubanza Nº RCOMAA 00050/2020/CA rwaciwe ku wa 24/12/2020 mu bika bya 23 na 24, haburana RUTABINGWA Jean Paul na MINERALS SUPPLY AFRICA Ltd (MISA Ltd)1. Uyu murongo ni nawo Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwakomeje gukurikiza mu manza zitandukanye zirimo urubanza No RCOMAA 00013/2021/CA haburana HABYARIMANA Charles na MTN RWANDACELL Ltd n’abandi mu gika cyarwo cya 39; mu rubanza Nº RSOCAA 0004/2018/CA rwaciwe ku wa 09/11/2018, haburana Georges NIHAL BOPEARATCHY na KARONGI TEA FACTORY Ltd, no mu rubanza Nº RCOMAA 00004/2020/CA rwaciwe ku wa 11/12/2020, hajuriyemo MABUYE Joseph, NZIZERA Alexandre, PAJ REAL ESTATE Ltd na WAREHOUSE barega SHANE Martin Dale na MUGIRANEZA Pascal, n’urubanza No RCOMAA 00035/2022/CA rwaciwe n’uru Rukiko ku wa 13/06/2022 haburana Akarere ka Gicumbi na WOORD GROUP Ltd.

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gaciro k’ikiburanwa hakarebwa agaciro kemejwe n’urukiko nyuma y’impaka z’ababuranyi; haba nta gaciro kagenwe n’inkiko hagashingirwa ku kagenwe n’umuhanga iyo bibaye ngombwa. Mu yandi magambo, ku bijyanye n’iyakirwa ry’ubujurire bwa kabiri, umushingamategeko ntiyashatse ko hashingirwa ku gaciro umuburanyi yigeneye ubwe. [13] Mu rubanza RCAA 00015/2024/CA, rwaciwe ku wa 27/09/2024, haburana Nyirandabaruta Spéciose Kibonge na CHINA ROAD AND BRIDGE CORPORATION (CRBC) Ltd, uru Rukiko rwasobanuye ko iyo haregewe indishyi, mu kugena ububasha bwarwo harebwa indishyi zagenwe mu rubanza rujuririrwa, ni ukuvuga izatanzwe n’Urukiko Rukuru, cyangwa Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi cyangwa se Urukiko Rukuru rwa Gisirikare. [14] Ku birebana n’uru rubanza, SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda Emmanuel bareze basaba Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi gutegeka ko BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY Ltd yishe amasezerano yo ku wa 01/04/2019, inyungu yari itegerejwe ingana na 48.394.200 USD n’Indishyi ku bitakozwe zingana na 2.007.250.000 Frw, Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi rusanga ikirego cyabo nta shingiro gifite, rubategeka kwishyura BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY Ltd 500.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cya Avoka, hanyuma bajuririra Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi, narwo mu rubanza RCOMA 00255/2024/HCC rwaciwe ku wa 23/10/2024, rwemeza ko ubujurire bwabo nta shingiro bufite, rubategeka kwishyura BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY Ltd 500.000 Frw y’igihembo cya Avoka na 200.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza yo ku rwego rw’ubujurire. [15] Urukiko rurasanga kuba SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda Emmanuel bararegeye indishyi zitandukanye, ariko akaba ari nta ndishyi bagenewe n’inkiko zabanje, birumvikana ko ubujurire bwabo butari mu bubasha bw’uru Rukiko kuko nta ndishyi zagenwe mu rubanza bajuririra, rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi zingana nibura na 75.000.000 Frw ziteganywa n’ingingo ya 52, igika cya 2, agace ka 8, y’Itegeko N°30/2018 ryo ku wa 02/06/2018 yavuzwe haruguru. [16] Urukiko rurasanga ibyo abahagarariye SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda Emmanuel bavuga ko Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha ubu bujurire bwa kabiri batanze kuko icyaburanwe cyangwa se indishyi baregeye zanabazwe n’umuhanga, zirenze 75.000.000 Frw, nta shingiro bifite, kuko nk’uko byemejwe mu rubanza RCOMAA 00013/2021/CA haburana Habyarimana Charles na MTN RWANDACELL Ltd n’abandi2, icyo itegeko ryibukijwe haruguru rivuga ni indishyi zagenwe n’Urukiko, aho kuba indishyi zasabwe n’umuburanyi igihe yatangaga ikirego cyangwa se mu miburanire ye imbere y’Urukiko nk’uko bo bashaka kubyumvikanisha. [17] Ku byo abahagarariye SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda Emmanuel bavuga ko bashingira no ku gika cya kane cy’ingingo 52, y’Itegeko N°30/2018 ryavuzwe haruguru, iteganya ko iyo icyaburanwe kitagenewe agaciro mu mafaranga mu manza zabanje, kigomba kuba gifite agaciro nibura kangana na 75.000.000 Frw kagenwe n’umuhanga iyo bibaye ngombwa, Urukiko rurasanga nta shingiro bifite, kuko ibikubiye muri iki gika bikoreshwa mu gihe haregewe umutungo utaragaragarijwe agaciro mu manza zabanje, bitandukanye no muri uru rubanza haregewe indishyi, kandi akaba ari ntazo bagenewe mu rubanza rujuririrwa rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi.

2 Reba igika cya 39 cy’urwo rubanza.

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[18] Hashingiwe ku mategeko no ku manza bimaze kugaragazwa haruguru, Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rurasanga ubujurire bwa kabiri bwatanzwe na SEAVMC Ltd na NYABYENDA Emmanuel butagomba kwakirwa kuko butari mu bubasha bw’uru Rukiko.

2. Kumenya niba amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cya Avoka asabwa muri uru rubanza afite ishingiro [19] Uhagarariye BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY Ltd ashingiye ku ngingo ya 111 y’Itegeko Nº 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, asaba Urukiko rw’Ubujurire gutegeka SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda Emmanuel gusubiza BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY Ltd 300.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza na 1.000.000 Frw y’igihembo cya Avoka yishyuye kuri uru rwego. [20] Abahagarariye SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda Emmanuel bavuga ko amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cya Avoka BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY Ltd isaba SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda Emmanuel nta shingiro afite. Uko Urukiko rubibona [21] Ingingo ya 111 y’Itegeko N° 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi iteganya ibikurikira: “Ikirego cy’amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza ni ikirego gishamikira ku kirego cy’iremezo kigamije kwishyuza ibyakoreshejwe mu rubanza. Ikirego cy’amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza kiburanishirizwa rimwe n’ikirego cy’iremezo. Gishobora kandi kwakirwa kikanaburanishwa n’iyo ikirego cy’iremezo cyaba kitakiriwe”. [22] Urukiko rurasanga, kuba BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY Ltd yaraburanye ihagarariwe na Avoka, byumvikana ko amafaranga isaba y’igihembo cya Avoka afite ishingiro, ariko ayo isaba ni menshi harebwe ibyakozwe ku rubanza; bityo mu bushishozi bwarwo ruyigeneye 500.000 Frw y’igihembo cya Avoka. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [23] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwa kabiri bwatanzwe na SEAVMC Ltd hamwe na Nyabyenda Emmanuel butakiriwe, kuko butari mu bubasha bw’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire. [24] Rutegetse SEAVMC Ltd na Nyabyenda Emmanuel guha BONANZA INVESTMENT COMPANY Ltd amafaranga ibihumbi magana atanu (500.000 Frw) y’igihembo cya Avoka, kuri uru rwego. [25] Ruvuze ko amafaranga y’ingwate y’amagarama yatanzwe ahwanye n’ibyakozwe mu rubanza.