RLR V. 1- 2023

RLR V. 1- 2023

- Source: Amategeko - Section: Rwanda law reports - Date: 2023-01-30 - Collection: Supreme Court

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REPUBLIC OF RWANDA

SUPREME COURT P.o. Box. 2197 KIGALI www.judiciary.gov.rw ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO Icyegeranyo V. 1 - 2023 Mutarama, 2023 Law Reports V. 1 - 2023 January, 2023

RWANDA LAW REPORTS

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Icyegeranyo V. 1 - 2023 Mutarama, 2023 Law Reports V. 1 - 2023 January, 2023

REPUBLIC OF RWANDA

SUPREME COURT Po. Box. 2197 KIGALI www.judiciary.gov.rw

ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

RWANDA LAW REPORTS

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ISHAKIRO

ABAGIZE KOMITE Y’UBWANDITSI ...................................iii I. ITSINDA RY’ABANYAMATEGEKO BATEGUYE IMANZA................................................................................iii II. KOMITE YEMEZA IMANZA .......................................... v IRIBURIRO ............................................................................... ix IBIKUBIYE MURI IKI CYEGERANYO................................. xi INYITO ...................................................................................... xi AMATEGEKO YASHINGIWEHO ........................................xiii IMANZA ZIFASHISHIJWE .................................................... xv AMAGAMBO MPINE ........................................................... xvii SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI N’ABANDI ....................... 1 MUNYABURANGA v ECOBANK Plc (yahoze yitwa BCDI) ................................................................................................... 31 ERJB v. UWAMARIYA .......................................................... 49 BAYINGANA N’UNDI v NDABAMENYE ........................... 67 UWIMANA v KAGITARE ...................................................... 89 SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA ................................................................................................. 117 UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO N’UNDI .................................................................................. 157 NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA N’UNDI ................................. 187 i

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ABAGIZE KOMITE Y’UBWANDITSI

I.

ITSINDA RY’ABANYAMATEGEKO

BATEGUYE

IMANZA

KAGABO U. Stephanie

KAVUTSE M. Claude

KUBWIMANA Jean Claude

MUJABI K. Naphtal

UWINKINDI Angelique

UWIMANA Jean Marie Vianney

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II. KOMITE YEMEZA IMANZA

Prof. Dr. NGAGI M. Alphonse : Perezida wa Komite, Umucamanza mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire

Dr. MUHIRE G. Yves : Visi Perezida wa Komite, Umwarimu muri Kaminuza y’u Rwanda

NSENGIYUMVA Jean Claude : Umwanditsi wa Komite, Umugenzuzi w’Inkiko

RUKUNDAKUVUGA F. Regis : Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire

Dr. KARIMUNDA M. Aimé : Umucamanza mu Rukiko rw’Ikirenga

NDAHAYO Xavier : Perezida w’Urukiko Rukuru

RUTAZANA Angeline : Umugenzuzi Mukuru w’Inkiko

KALIWABO Charles : Umucamanza w’ Urukiko rw’Ubujurire

Dr. SEZIRAHIGA Yves :

BURAYOBERA UMUZAYIRE Bibiane : Umuyobozi wa ILPD

Visi Perezida wa Komisiyo y`u Rwanda ishinzwe Ivugururwa ry`Amategeko v

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BWIZA N. Blanche : Umugenzuzi w’Inkiko

KIBUKA Jean Luc : Umucamanza w’Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi

HABARUREMA Jean Pierre : Umushinjacyaha ku Rwego rw’Igihugu

BUNYOYE Grace : Umushinjacyaha ku Rwego rw’Igihugu

KABIBI Specioza : Intumwa ya Leta

MUREREREHE Saouda : Umucamanza mu Rukiko Rukuru

Lt. col. MADUDU A. Charles :

Umucamanza mu Rukiko rwa Gisirikare

Dr. NSHIMIYIMANA Didace :

GIRANEZA Clémentine :

TASHOBYA Benon : Perezida w’Urukiko Rwisumbuye

Umucamanza mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye

Umucamanza mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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BAGABO Faustin :

Dr. SHEMA Pierre :

KARAKE Canisius :

Dr HABIMANA Pie :

UMUTESI Vestine :

YANKURIJE Dorothée : Avoka mu Rugaga rw’Abavoka

Umwarimu muri ULK

Umwarimu muri UNILAK

Avoka mu Rugaga rw’Abavoka

Umucamanza mu Rukiko rw’Ubucuruzi

Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ibanze

KOMITE YEMEZA IMANZA

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IRIBURIRO Basomyi bacu, Tunejejwe no kubagezaho Icyegeranyo cy’Ibyemezo by’Inkiko, Volime 1 [2023]. Nk’uko mubizi, tubahitiramo imanza zikubiyemo bimwe mu bisubizo by’ibibazo muhura nabyo kenshi, haba mu mirimo yanyu ndetse no mu buzima bwa buri munsi. Muri iyi nomero murasangamo imanza umunani (8) zikurikira: imanza ebyiri (2) z’imbonezamubano, urubanza rumwe (1) rw’umurimo, urubanza rumwe (1) rw’ubucuruzi, urubanza rumwe (1) rw’inshinjyabyaha n’imanza eshatu (3) zerekeranye n’imiburanishirize y’imanza. Nk’uko mumaze kubimenyera imanza ziri muri iki cyegeranyo ziboneka no ku rubuga rwa murandasi rw’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga: http://decisia.lexum.com/rlr/kn/nav.do. Dr NTEZILYAYO Faustin Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga akaba na Perezida w’Inama Nkuru y’Ubucamanza

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IBIKUBIYE MURI IKI CYEGERANYO Iki Cyegeranyo gikubiyemo imanza zaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga, Urukiko rw’Ubujurire n’Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi.

INYITO Imanza ziri muri iyi volime zikoreshwa muri ubu buryo: [2023] 1 RLR

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AMATEGEKO YASHINGIWEHO

a. Amategeko akoreshwa ubu Itegeko Nshinga rya Repubulika y’u Rwanda ryo muri 2003 ryavuguruwe mu 2015, ingingo ya 30…………………………...121 Itegeko Nº 027/2019 ryo ku wa 19/09/2019 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’inshinjabyaha, ingingo ya 6,7,107 n’iya 118……………………………………………………………190 Itegeko N° 30/2018 ryo ku wa 02/06/2018 rigena ububasha bw’inkiko, ingingo ya 55, 62 n’iya 63…………………………………..5 ingingo ya 55 n’iya 63……………………………………122 Itegeko Nº 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, Ingingo 12 n’iya 111…………………………………………5 Ingingo ya 171 na 278……………………………………..34 Ingingo ya 183,184, 241 n’iya 242……………………….50 Ingingo ya 9, 121…………………………………………...70 Ingingo ya 111…………………………………………….121 Ingingo ya 161…………………………………………….163 Itegeko Nº 32/2016 ryo ku wa 28/08/2016 rigenga abantu n’umuryango, Ingingo ya 113 na 150……………………………………..34 Ingingo ya 15………………………………………………..69 Ingingo ya 6 na 2……………………………………………92 Itegeko nº 27/2016 ryo ku wa 08/07/2016 rigenga imicungire y’umutungo w’abashyingiranywe, impano n’izungura, ingingo ya 8……………………………………………………………………92 xiii

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Itegeko Nº 83/2013 ryo ku wa 11/09/2013 rishyiraho Urugaga rw’Abavoka mu Rwanda rikanagena imitunganyirize n’imikorere yarwo, ingingo ya 2 n’iya 47……………………………………………………………………...69 Itegeko Nº 15/2004 ryo ku wa 12/06/2004 ryerekeye ibimenyetso mu manza n’itangwa ryabyo, ingingo ya 3…………………………………………………..5 ingingo ya 65………………………………………………..92 Ingingo ya 2………………………………………………..191 Iteka rya Minisitiri N° 002/2008 ryo ku wa 01/04/2008 rigena uburyo iyandikishwa ry’ubutaka rikorwa, ingingo ya 8………….5

b. Amategeko yakuweho ariko yakoreshwaga igihe ikibazo cyavukaga Itegeko Ngenga N° 01/2012/OL ryo ku wa 02/05/2012 rishyiraho Igitabo cy’amategeko ahana, Ingingo ya 22, 609 n’iya 610….191 Itegeko N° 43/2013 ryo ku wa 16/06/2013 rigenga ubutaka mu Rwanda, ingingo ya 10……………………………………………....5 Itegeko nº 30/2013 ryo ku wa 24/5/2013 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’inshinjabyaha, Ingingo ya ya 5, 1° n’iya 6……………………………………………………………….190 Itegeko N° 21/2012 ryo ku wa 14/06/2012 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, ingingo ya 208 niya 309…………163 Itegeko N° 13/2009 ryo kuwa 27/05/2009 rigenga umurimo mu Rwanda, ingingo ya 83……………………………………………122

ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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IMANZA ZIFASHISHIJWE Busoro Gervais na Busoro Mugunga Desire n’abandi, RS/INJUST/RC 00022/2018/SC, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 28/06/2019……………………………………………………..5 Cour de Cassation, Chambre sociale, N° 07-42-107, 16 décembre 2008, Bull Civ, V. N° 250……………………………..122 Nditiribambe n’undi na Nyamwasa Faustin, RS/INJUST/RC 00007/2018/SC rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’ikirenga ku wa 13/03/2020, Mukamana n’abandi n’Umuhoza, RCOM RS/ INJUST/ RC 00004/2019/SC rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 28/07/2020……………………………………………………..122 Ngizweninshuti na Muhima, RS/INJUST/RC 00024/2018/SC rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 21/02/2020……………122 Nyamuhungu na Rusenyi Coffee Growers, RS/REV/RCOMA003/12/CS rwaciwe n’Uurukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 06/09/2013……………………………………………………….70 Ubushinjacyaha na RWIGASS CIGARETTE COMPANY SARL n’undi, RPAA 0056/06/CS- RPAA 0155/06/CS rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 30/05/2008………………………..70 Urubanza RCOM 00014/2019/HCC rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi kuwa 10/04/2019, haburana CELA CompanyLtd na Philip Cotton igika cya 8 & 27…………………………………50 Urubanza RCOMAA 00018/2018/CA-RCOMAA00024/2018/CA rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire kuwa 16/11/2018, haburana Murekatete Laetitia, Kajeguhakwa Valens, SGP Ltd, SP Ltd na GT Bank, igika cya 41………………………………………………51 xix xv

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Urubanza RCAA 00015/2017/SC, haburana COOPILAK, Sebahire Roger David na Nesongane Marina rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 27/04/2018…………………………………...163 Urubanza RSOC 0001/2017/CS, haburana Mutuyubutatu Joséphine na MINERALS SUPPLY AFRICA Ltd (MSA) rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 07/07/2017………………………163 Uwitonze n’abandi na Rwigema, RCAA0028/11/CS rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 11/05/2012, Icyegeranyo cy’Ibyemezo by’inkiko, Igitabo cya gatatu, Nº 14, Nyakanga, 2012, P. 58-60……………………………………………………….70

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AMAGAMBO MPINE 1. Amategeko agenga imanza mbonezamubano – Amasezerano – Amasezerano y’ubutumwa – Avoka – Amasezerano y’ubutumwa bwo guhagararira umuburanyi mu rukiko – N’ubwo ubusanzwe Avoka afatwa nk’ufite ubutumwa (présumé) bwo guhagararira uwo aburanira, iyo habaye ugukemanga ku butumwa yaba yarahawe, asabwa kubugaragaza kugira ngo iburanisha ry’urubanza rigende neza. BAYINGANA N’UNDI v NDABAMENYE………….67 Amasezerano – Amasezerano y’ubutumwa bwo guhagararira umuburanyi – Ingaruka zo guhagarira umuburanyi utaguhaye ubutumwa –Abahagararira abandi mu nkiko babikora mu rwego rw’ubutumwa baba barahawe – Iyo Avoka yaburanye urubanza nta butumwa yahawe ibyo yakoze byose biteshwa agaciro, ibintu bigasubira uko byari bimeze mbere y’uko izo manza zibaho BAYINGANA N’UNDI v NDABAMENYE………….67 2. Amategeko agenga imanza z’ubucuruzi – Amasezerano y’ubutumwa n’igikorwa gituma uhagarariwe (mandant/représenté) aha ubutumwa umuhagarariye (mandataire/représentant) bwo kugira ibyo akorana n’abandi mu izina rye nk’aho ariwe ubyikoreye – Amasezerano hagati y’uwabaye umuburanyi n’umuhesha w’inkiko w’umwuga wahawe inshingano zo kurangiza urubanza si amasezerano yerekeye ubutumwa bwo gahagararirwa (contrat de mandat), ahubwo n’ amasezerano yo gukora akazi ko kurangiza urubanza (contrat de prestation de services d’exécution de jugement). xvii

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UBURIYEMUYE v

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SACCO KIMIRONKO N’UNDI……………………………...157 3. Amategeko agenga imanza z’umurimo – Umushahara w'umukozi – Kureshyeshya abakozi mu bijyanye n'umushahara – Abakozi bakora imirimo imwe, banganya ubumenyi, uburambe n’ubushobozi bagomba guhembwa kimwe, iyo bitabaye ibyo haba habayeho ivangura. – Umukozi unganya na bagenzi be ubumenyi, uburambe n’ubushobozi, udahembwa kimwe n’abo bari ku rwego rumwe afite uburenganzira bwo guharanira guhembwa kimwe na bagenzi be cyangwa bwo gusaba ko ahembwa umushahara ukwiye SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA……………………………………………...117 Umushahara w'umukozi – Kureshyeshya abakozi mu bijyanye n'umushahara – Icyatuma imishahara y’abakozi bari ku rwego rumwe itandukana ni igihe umukoresha abashije kugaragariza Urukiko mu buryo bufatika (objectivement/ objectively) ko abakozi bahembwaga umushara uri hejuru bafite ubumenyi budasanzwe kandi bwihariye bufitiye akamaro umurimo bakora, ibyo kandi byemezwa n’Urukiko mu bushishozi bwarwo. SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA……………………………………………...117 Umushahara w'umukozi – Kureshyeshya abakozi mu bijyanye n'umushahara – Ishimwe – Nubwo nta kibuza umukoresha kuba yagenera bamwe mu bakozi ishimwe, iyo iryo shimwe rishyizwe ku mushahara rihabwa abakozi bose. Igihe cy’ubusaze gitangira kubarwa guhera igihe umukozi yagombaga guhemberwaho, kigahagarikwa n’uko umukoresha yakoze umubaruro w'amafaranga, ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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umukoresha n'umukozi bemeranijwe ko hari umwenda, urubanza rw'umukozi rwaregewe urukiko cyangwa se n’uko ibiro bigenzura umurimo byasabwe kubakiranura bitaratanga umwanzuro wabyo SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA……………………………………………...118 Umushahara w'umukozi – Ubusaze bw’imishahara – Ubusaze bw’imishahara bubarwa nk’ubusaze bw’ubundi burenganzira bwite cyangwa ubundi burenganzira ku mutungo. Ibarwa ryabwo rihera igihe ufite uburenganzira yamenye cyangwa yashoboraga kumenya impamvu zatuma abukurikirana. SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA……………………………………………...118 4. Amategeko agenga imiburanishirije y’imanza zasabiwe gusubirishwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane – Iyo Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga asuzumye raporo yashyikirijwe ku rubanza rw’akarengane, akemeza ko rwongera kuburanishwa, Urukiko ruburanisha urubanza mu mizi bundi bushya nta zindi nzitizi zitanzwe zatuma urubanza rutaburanishwa mu mizi uretse inzitizi ndemyagihugu. SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI N’ABANDI………1 Ingingo zagaruwe mu karengane zitarajuririwe – Umuburanyi utarajuririye ingingo atanyuzwe nazo hakurikijwe inzira zisanzwe kandi yari abyemerewe n’amategeko, aba yivukije inzira y’ubujurire yari gutuma ibyo yanengaga bikosorerwa mu bujurire – Ntabwo ashobora kwifashisha inzira yo gusubirishamo urubanza ku mpamvu z’akarengane.

AMAGAMBO MPINE

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SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA……………………………………………...118 5. Amategeko agenga imiburanishirize y’imanza z’ubucuruzi – Igihe ntarengwa cyo kuregera gusubirishamo urubanza ingingo nshya – Uburwayi bwafatwa nk’impamvu ikomeye itunguranye yatuma ibihe byo kwiyambaza inzira z’ubujurire byongerwa – Uburwayi bufatwa nk’impamvu ikomeye itunguranye yatuma ibihe byo kwiyambaza inzira z’ubujurire byongerwa, ni ubushyira umuntu mu mimerere (conditions) ituma atabasha gutekereza, kuvuga, kumva, kwandika, nk’igihe yaba ari muri coma, ku buryo atashobora no kugira uwo aha ububasha bwo kumutangira ikirego. MUNYABURANGA v ECOBANK Plc (yahoze yitwa BCDI)…………………………………………………..31 Ububasha bw’Urukiko – Irangizwa ry’ibyemezo nkemurampaka bihatira umuyobozi ishyirwa mu bikorwa byabyo – Ikirego gihatira umuyobozi gushyira mu bikorwa icyemezo cy'ubukempurampaka kiri mu bubasha bw’Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi. ERJB v. UWAMARIYA………………………………49 Gutambamira urubanza – Umuntu ushobora gutambamira urubanza ari utararubayemo nk’urega cyangwa nk’uregwa, kandi we ubwe cyangwa abo ahagarariye bakaba batarigeze barutumirwamo, nyamara akaba arufitemo inyungu.

UBURIYEMUYE v

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SACCO KIMIRONKO N’UNDI……………………………...157 Impaka zishingiye kw’irangizarubanza – Ibibazo byerekeye imihango y’ifatira – Gusaba gutesha agaciro cyamunara kubera ko hari imihango itarubahirijwe ntaho ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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bihuriye n’impaka zishingiye ku irangiza ry’ urubanza – Itandukaniro hagati y’impaka zishingiye ku irangiza ry’urubanza n’ibibazo byerekeye imihango y’ifatira – Impaka zishingiye ku irangiza ry’ urubanza ari impaka ababuranyi bajya hagati yabo cyangwa n’Umuhesha w’Inkiko ku birebana n’icyo Urukiko rwemeje (dispositif) n’ishyirwa mu bikorwa ryacyo – Naho ibibazo byerekeye imihango y’ifatira ni ibigamije guhagarika cyamunara cyangwa kuyitesha agaciro kubera imihango iyibanziriza itarubahirijwe, cyamunara yaba igikorwa cyangwa yararangiye – Impaka zishingiye ku irangiza ry’urubanza zikemurwa n’Urukiko rwaciye urwo urubanza.

UBURIYEMUYE v

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SACCO KIMIRONKO N’UNDI……………………………...158 6.Amategeko agenga imiburanishirize y’imanza z’inshinjabyaha – Icyaha cy’imaragihe – Ku byerekeye icyaha cyo gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano, kubara igihe cy’ubuzime bitangira ku uhereye igihe igikorwa cya nyuma cyarangiriyeho. NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA N’UNDI……………...187 7. Amategeko agenga umuryango – Ubutane – Kugabana imitungo kubashyingiranywe igihe cy’ubutane – Urubanza rw’Ubutane rusesa uburyo bw’imicungire y’ivangamutungo y’abashyingiranywe, bakagabana mu buryo bungana imitungo yabo cyangwa mu bundi buryo bumvikanyeho – Mu gihe hari imitungo bari basangiye itaragaragajwe igihe cy’ubutane, nta kibuza ko ubifitemo inyungu ayiregera igihe imenyekaniye, kugira ngo nayo igabanwe UWIMANA v KAGITARE…………………………...89

AMAGAMBO MPINE

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IMANZA ZEREKERANYE N’IMIBURANISHIRIZE Y’IMANZA

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URUBANZA

RWEREKERANYE N’IMIBURANISHIRIZE Y’IMANZA

ZASABIWE

GUSUBIRISHAMO KU MPAMVU Z’AKARENGANE

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SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI N’ABANDI [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’IKIRENGA – RS/INJUST/RAD 00002/2020/SC – (Ntezilyayo, P.J., Nyirinkwaya, Cyanzayire, Hitiyaremye na Karimunda, J.) 10 Ukuboza 2021] Amategeko agenga imiburanishirije imanza zasabiwe gusubirishywamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane – Iyo Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga asuzumye raporo yashyikirijwe ku rubanza rw’akarengane, akemeza ko rwongera kuburanishwa, Urukiko ruburanisha urubanza mu mizi bundi bushya nta zindi nzitizi zitanzwe zatuma urubanza rutaburanishwa mu mizi uretse inzitizi ndemyagihugu. Incamake y’ikibazo: Semapondo yatanze ikirego mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo arusaba gutegeka Koperative Goboka kumuha icyangombwa gituma yiyandikishaho ikibanza baguze, gukuraho amasezerano y’ubukode burambye afitwe na Rwasimpenzi no kumuha indishyi z’akababaro kuberako icyo kibanza ariwe wakiguze ubwo yishyuraga amafaranga miliyoni ene n’ibihumbi magana cyenda kuri konti yiyo Koperative ariko yajya kukiyandikishaho agasanga cyanditseho undi muntu ariwe Rwasimpenzwe. Urukiko rwemeje ko icyo kibanza ari icye, ko amasezerano y’ubukode buramye ateshejwe agaciro ndetse agabwa n’amafaranga y’indishyi. Uregwa yajuririye urwo rubanza mu Rukiko Rukuru avuga ko ikirego cy’Urega kitagombaga kwakirwa kuko kirebana n’umutungo waburanywe mu rubanza rwabaye itegeko. Indi mpamvu ni uko urukiko rwirengagije ibimenyetso yarushyikirije 1

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ahubwo rukagendera ku magambo y’urega gusa. Urukiko rwemeje ko iyo nzitizi ifite ishingiro, rwemeza ko urubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye ruvanyweho, rutegeka urega kumuha indishyi zitandukanye. Urega yajuririye mu Rukiko rw’Ikirenga ariko ubujurire bwe bwimurirwa mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire nyuma y’ivugururwa ry’urwego rw’ubucamanza, aho avuga ko Urukiko Rukuru rwibeshye mu kwemeza ko urubanza RC 1207/14/TB/KCY rwabaye itegeko kandi ataribyo. Uru rukiko rwarabisuzumye, rwemeza ko rutabaye itegeko, ruvuga ko urubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru ruhindutse ku birebana n’iyakirwa ry’ikirego cye mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye, rusanga cyaragombaga kwakirwa, bityo ko rutagombaga kuvanwaho. Ku birebana n’ubujurire ku mizi y’urubanza rw’uregwa yari yaratanze mu Rukiko Rukuru, Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwemeje ko bufite ishingiro kuri bimwe, ko ikibanza kiburanwa ari icye, ko amasezerano y'ubukode burambye kuri icyo kibanza yabaye hagati ye na Leta y’u Rwanda agumaho, rutegeka Urega kumuha indishyi no kuziha Koperative Goboka. Nyuma yo kwemererwa n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ko urubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rusubirwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane, Urega avuga ko muri urwo rubanza Urukiko rwirengagije ibimenyetso yarugaragarije byerekana ko ari we waguze ikibanza kiburanwa, ariko Abaregwa hamwe n’ Ikigo cy’Igihugu gishinzwe imicungire n’imikoreshereze y’ubutaka bo bakavuga ko nta bimenyetso byirengagijwe, ko ahubwo rwabisuzumye rugasanga nta shingiro bifite. Mbere y’uko uru rubanza ruburanishwa mu mizi, abaregwa batanze inzitizi ko nta mpamvu mu ziteganywa n’ingingo ya 55 y’Itegeko rigena ububasha bw’inkiko urega agaragaza kugirango ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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urwo rubanza rusubirwemo ku mpamvu z’akarengane ariko Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rwafatiye icyemezo mu ntebe, ruvuga ko iyo nzitizi itakiriwe. Iburanisha ryakomereje ku ngingo irebana no kumenya uwaguze na Koperative Goboka ikibanza kiburanwa hagati y’urega n’uregwa, aho urega avuga ko Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwamurenganyije rwima agaciro ibimenyetso byanditse, n’ibishingiye ku buhamya bw’abatangabuhamya bari bazi neza uburyo iyo Koperative yatangaga ibibanza mu mwaka wa 2007. Avuga ko abatangabuhamya birengagijwe baguze ikibanza na mu mwaka wa 2007 harimo n’uwari ingénieur wa Koperative Goboka, uyu akaba ariwe wari ushinzwe gukora amakarita (maps) y’ibibanza no kwereka abaguzi aho ibibanza byabo biherereye. Akomeza avuga ko n’ubwo Urukiko ari rwo rwemeza abatangabuhamya rugomba kumva, rutagombaga kwanga kumva abo batangabuhamya bari bazi neza uburyo ibibanza byagurwaga icyo gihe, ibimenyetso by’ubugure byatangwaga n’uburyo nimero z’ibibanza zagiye zihindagurika, iryo akaba ari ikosa rwakoze, ko iyo ibyo bimenyetso biza kwitabwaho, Urukiko rwari kubona ko ikibanza kiburanwa ari we wakiguze mbere mu mwaka wa 2007. Avuga ko ikindi kimenyetso yerekanye kikirengagizwa ari “bordereau de versement” ya 4.900.000 Frw yishyuye kuri compte ya Koperative ikaba yarayakiriye igasinyaho ko yakiriye iyo versement espèces ku itariki ya 19/11/2007, ko ibyo bigaragaza ko habayeho ubwumvikane ku kigurwa no ku kiguzi, kuko iyo bitaba ibyo, nta mpamvu ubwo bwishyu buba bwarabayeho. Uregwa avuga ko nta bimenyetso byirengagijwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire mu kwemeza ko atari urega Goboka yagurishije ikibanza kiburanwa. Asobanura ko ikimenyetso kigizwe na SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI N’ABANDI

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“bordereau de versement” urega yishyuriyeho 4.900.000 Frw kuri compte ya Association GOBOKA, Urukiko rwagisuzumye rugasanga ntacyo cyafasha mu kwemeza ko byanze bikunze ayo mafaranga yari ayo kugura icyo kibanza, cyane cyane ko n’amagambo agaragara kuri iyo bordereau yanditswe n’umukozi wa Banki, atagaragaza nimero y’ikibanza, ingano yacyo, aho giherereye n’abo gihana imbibi. Akomeza avuga ko ibyo urega avuga ko yaguze ikibanza mu mwaka wa 2007 bitahabwa ishingiro, kuko bitumvikana ukuntu yaba yarageze mu mpera za 2015 ataragishakira ibyangombwa, cyane cyane ko kwandikisha ubutaka ku bantu babutunze ari itegeko. Avuga ko ikindi kigaragaza ko ibyo Urega avuga ko yaguze ikibanza kiburanwa nta shingiro bifite, ari uko atigeze agitangira umusoro, byongeye kandi akaba yarabonaga buri mwaka agihingamo ibihingwa bitandukanye, ntamwegere ngo amubaze impamvu amuhingira mu kibanza cyangwa ngo amuregere ubuyobozi bw’inzego z’ibanze; iyo myitwarire ikaba igaragaza neza ko ikibanza atari icye kandi ko nta na rimwe cyigeze kiba icye. Ku bijyanye n’abatangabuhamya, uregwa avuga ko Urukiko nta kosa rwakoze mu kudatumiza abo batangabuhamya, kuko rwasanze imvugo zabo zitasimbura ibimenyetso Urega yakagombye kuba yari afite bishyigikira “bordereau de versement” aburanisha, cyane cyane ko n’ubwo avuga ko atashoboraga guhabwa ibyangombwa by’icyo kibanza avuga ko yaguze, ngo kuko Goboka itamuhaye “attestation d’attribution de parcelled”, ntiyashoboye nibura kugaragariza Urukiko ko yifashishije abo batangabuhamya avuga, kugira ngo agaragarize ubuyobozi ko icyo kibanza kirimo amakimbirane, kugira ngo hatagira undi ucyibaruzaho. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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Incamake y’icyemezo: Iyo Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga asuzumye raporo yashyikirijwe ku rubanza rw’akarengane, akemeza ko rwongera kuburanishwa, Urukiko ruburanisha urubanza mu mizi bundi bushya nta zindi nzitizi zitanzwe zatuma urubanza rutaburanishwa mu mizi uretse inzitizi ndemyagihugu. Ikirego gisaba gusubirishamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane, nta shingiro gifite.

Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko N° 30/2018 ryo ku wa 02/06/2018 rigena ububasha bw’inkiko, ingingo ya 55, 62 n’iya 63. Itegeko Nº 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, ingingo 12 n’iya 111. Itegeko N° 43/2013 ryo ku wa 16/06/2013 rigenga ubutaka mu Rwanda, ingingo ya 10. Itegeko Nº 15/2004 ryo ku wa 12/06/2004 ryerekeye ibimenyetso mu manza n’itangwa ryabyo, ingingo ya 3. Iteka rya Minisitiri N° 002/2008 ryo ku wa 01/04/2008 rigena uburyo iyandikishwa ry’ubutaka rikorwa, ingingo ya 8. Imanza zifashishijwe: Busoro Gervais na Busoro Mugunga Desire n’abandi, RS/INJUST/RC 00022/2018/SC, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 28/06/2019.

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Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Ku itariki ya 19/11/2007, Semapondo Charles yishyuye kuri konti ya Association Goboka muri Banki y’Abaturage y’u Rwanda amafaranga 4.900.000, handikwa ko impamvu y’ubwo bwishyu ari achat parcelle Goboka. Avuga ko ayo mafaranga yari ayo kugura na Association Goboka yahindutse Koperative, ikibanza nimero 12438 cyaje guhinduka nnimero 1418 kiri mu Mudugudu wa Nyirabwana, Akagari ka Kibagabaga, Umurenge wa Kimironko, Akarere ka Gasabo, Umujyi wa Kigali; nyuma y’ubwo bugure, Ikigo gishinzwe imicungire n’imikoreshereze y’ubutaka mu Rwanda kimubwira ko icyo kibanza cyanditse kuri Rwasimpenzi Wellars, bituma atanga ikirego mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo arusaba gutegeka Koperative Goboka kumuha icyangombwa gituma yiyandikishaho ikibanza baguze, gukuraho amasezerano y’ubukode burambye afitwe na Rwasimpenzi Wellars no kumuha indishyi z’akababaro. [2] Ku itariki ya 30/06/2017, urwo Rukiko rwaciye urubanza RAD 00073/2016/TGI/GSBO, rwemeza ko ikibanza kiburanwa ari icya Semapondo Charles, ko amasezerano y'ubukode burambye afitwe na Rwasimpenzi Wellars ateshejwe agaciro, rutegeka Ikigo Gishinzwe Imicungire n'Imikoreshereze y'ubutaka mu Rwanda kwandika icyo kibanza kuri Semapondo Charles, rutegeka Koperative Goboka kumwishyura indishyi zihwanye na 3.700.000 Frw. [3] Mu gufata icyo cyemezo, urwo rukiko rwashingiye ku mpamvu zikurikira: ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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- Kuba ikimenyetso kigizwe na bordereau de versement iriho 4.900.000 Frw Semapondo Charles atanga kidaherekejwe n’amasezerano y’ubugure cyangwa ngo hagaragare ikibanza nyirizina yaguze, ntibigomba gutatesha agaciro icyo kimenyetso kuko gisobanutse ku byerekeye impamvu zacyo (ubugure bw’ikibanza) n’igiciro cyacyo, hakanagaragara uguze n’ugurishije, ibyo bikaba ntaho bitaniye n’ubugure bwabaye hagati y’impande zimaze kuvugwa, cyane cyane ko Koperative Goboka itigeze isubiza Semapondo Charles amafaranga yishyuye, bityo ngo igaragaze ko amasezerano bakoranye yasheshwe. Ikindi ni uko icyo kibanza yacyeretswe na Ingénieur wakoreraga Koperative Goboka. - Kuba amasezerano y’ubukode burambye Rwasimpenzi Wellars afite ku kibanza nimero 1418 atahabwa agaciro kubera ko atagaragaza aho yagikomoye, nk’amasezerano y’ubugure, bityo ngo hamenyekane niba na we yarakiguze, cyangwa indi nkomoko nk’uko biteganywa n’ingingo ya 10 y’Itegeko N° 43/2013 ryo ku wa 16/06/2013 rigenga ubutaka mu Rwanda. Ikindi ni uko, n’ubwo yaba afite amasezerano y’ubugure, yaba yaraguze ikintu cy’undi kuko Semapondo Charles ariwe waguze mbere. [4] Rwasimpenzi Wellars yajuririye urwo rubanza mu Rukiko Rukuru avuga ko ikirego cya Semapondo Charles mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo kitagombaga kwakirwa kuko kirebana n’umutungo waburanywe mu rubanza RC 1207/14/TB/KCY rwabaye itegeko. Indi mpamvu y’ubujurire yari iy’uko Urukiko rwirengagije ibimenyetso yarushyikirije ahubwo rukagendera ku magambo y’urega gusa. SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI N’ABANDI

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[5] Ku itariki ya 09/11/2017, urwo Rukiko rwaciye urubanza RADA 00037/2017/HC/KIG rwemeza ko inzitizi yo kutakira ikirego kubera ko ikiburanwa cyaburanywe mu rundi rubanza rwabaye itegeko ifite ishingiro, rwemeza ko urubanza rwaciwe n'Urukiko Rwisumbuye ruvanyweho, rutegeka Semapondo Charles guha Rwasimpenzi Wellars 200.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza na 1.000.000 Frw y’igihembo cya Avoka. [6] Semapondo Charles yajuririye icyo cyemezo mu Rukiko rw’Ikirenga avuga ko Urukiko Rukuru rwibeshye mu kwemeza ko urubanza RC 1207/14/TB/KCY rwabaye itegeko kandi ataribyo. Nyuma y’ivugururwa ry’Urwego rw’Ubucamanza, ubujurire bwe bwimuriwe mu Rukiko rw'Ubujurire, urubanza ruhabwa RADAA 00006/2018/CA. [7] Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwasuzumye niba urubanza RC 1207/14/TB/KCY rwari rwarabaye itegeko nk’uko byari byaremejwe n’Urukiko Rukuru, maze ku itariki ya 14/06/2019, rwemeza ko atari byo, ruvuga ko urubanza

RADA 00037/2017/HC/KIG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru ruhindutse ku birebana n’iyakirwa ry’ikirego cya Semapondo Charles mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo, rusanga ikirego cye cyaragombaga kwakirwa muri urwo Rukiko, bityo ko urubanza RAD 00073/2016/TGI/GSBO rutagombaga kuvanwaho. [8] Ku birebana n’ubujurire ku mizi y’urubanza Rwasimpenzi Wellars yari yaratanze mu Rukiko Rukuru, ku itariki ya 04/10/2019, Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwemeje ko bufite ishingiro kuri bimwe, ko ikibanza nimero 1418 giherereye mu Mudugudu wa Nyirabwana, Akagari ka Kibagabaga, Umurenge wa Kimironko, Akarere ka Gasabo, Umujyi wa Kigali ari icya Rwasimpenzi Wellars, ko amasezerano y'ubukode burambye kuri icyo kibanza yabaye hagati ye na Leta y’u Rwanda agumaho, ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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rutegeka Semapondo Charles kumuha 1.000.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cya Avoka kuri urwo rwego, no guha Koperative Goboka iri mu iseswa 600.000 Frw y’igihembo cya Avoka kuri urwo rwego. [9] Mu gufata icyo cyemezo, Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwashingiye ku mpamvu y’uko bordereau de versement yo ku itariki ya 19/11/2007 itashingirwaho nk’ikimenyetso cyerekana ko 4.900.000 Frw ayigaragaraho Semapondo Charles yayishyuye agura ikibanza nimero 1418 kiburanwa, ko kandi ntaho rwahera rwemeza ko ikibanza ingénieur Musheja Innocent yeretse Semapondo Charles aricyo kiburanwa, mu gihe Rwasimpenzi Wellars yerekana ibimenyetso by’uko ubutaka ari ubwe bigizwe na “facture” igaragaza ko ari iy’ubugure bw’ikibanza gifite nimero 12438, ikavuga ubuso bwacyo, aho giherereye (Nyirabwana) hamwe n’ikiguzi, mu bayisinyeho hakaba harimo ingénieur Musheja Innocent (nk’uwabigenzuye) na Bayito Innocent (nk’ubyemeza), inyandiko yishyuriyeho ikiguzi kivugwa muri iyo “facture”, icyemezo cy’uko ahawe ikibanza (attestation d’attribution de parcelle), n’ibindi byangombwa byatanzwe n’Ubuyobozi kugeza ku masezerano y’ubukode burambye. [10] Mu izina no mu mwanya wa Semapondo Charles, Me Mutembe Protais yandikiye Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga asaba ko urubanza RADAA 00006/2018/CA rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku itariki ya 04/10/2019 rwasubirwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane. Nyuma yo gusuzuma ubwo busabe, ku itariki ya 21/08/2020, Perezida w’Urukiko rw'Ikirenga yafashe icyemezo nimero 016/CJ/2020 ko urubanza

RADAA 00006/2018/CA rusubirwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane, ruhabwa RS/INJUST/RAD 00002/2020/SC. SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI N’ABANDI

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[11] Me Mutembe Protais uburanira Semapondo Charles yavuze ko impamvu basabye ko urubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwasubirwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane ari uko rwirengagije ibimenyetso yarugaragarije byerekana ko ari we waguze ikibanza gifite nimero 1418, ariko abahagarariye Rwasimpenzi Wellars na Koperative Goboka iri mu iseswa, kimwe n’uhagarariye Ikigo cy’Igihugu gishinzwe imicungire n’imikoreshereze y’ubutaka bo bakavuga ko nta bimenyetso Urukiko rwirengagije, ko ahubwo rwabisuzumye rugasanga nta shingiro bifite. [12] Urubanza rwaburanishijwe mu ruhame ku itariki ya 14/04/2021, Semapondo Charles yunganiwe na Me Mutembe Protais, Rwasimpenzi Wellars ahagarariwe na Me Rugeyo Jean, Koperative Goboka iri mu iseswa ihagarariwe na Me Barahira Eric, Ikigo cy’Igihugu gishinzwe imicungire n’imikoreshereze y’ubutaka kititabye ariko cyarahamagawe mu buryo bukurikije amategeko. [13] Me Rugeyo Jean uhagarariye Rwasimpenzi Wellars yatanze inzitizi yo kutakira ikirego cya Semapondo Charles avuga ko nta mpamvu mu ziteganywa n’ingingo ya 55 y’Itegeko rigena ububasha bw’inkiko agaragaza, Me Barahira Eric na we ashyigikira iyo nzitizi, ariko Me Mutembe Protais we avuga ko iyo nzitizi nta shingiro ifite kubera ko mu rubanza hagaragayemo kwirengagiza amategeko nk’uko bivugwa mu ngingo ya 55 y’Itegeko rimaze kuvugwa. [14] Nyuma yo kumva ibisobanuro birambuye byatanzwe n’ababuranyi kuri iyo nzitizi, rushingiye ku murongo rwatanze ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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mu rubanza RS/INJUST/RC 00022/2018/SC1 aho rwasesenguye ingingo ya 62, igika cya mbere, n’iya 63 z’Itegeko N° 30/2018 ryo ku wa 02/06/2018 rigena ububasha bw’inkiko, rugasanga zumvikanisha ko iyo Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga asuzumye raporo yashyikirijwe ku rubanza rw’akarengane, akemeza ko rwongera kuburanishwa, ayoherereza Umwanditsi Mukuru w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga kugira ngo urwo rubanza rushyirwe kuri gahunda y’iburanisha, Urukiko ruburanisha urubanza mu mizi bundi bushya nta zindi nzitizi zitanzwe zatuma urubanza rutaburanishwa mu mizi uretse inzitizi ndemyagihugu, rwafatiye icyemezo mu ntebe, ruvuga ko iyo nzitizi itakiriwe. [15] Iburanisha ryakomereje ku ngingo irebana no kumenya uwaguze na Koperative Goboka ikibanza kiburanwa gifite nimero 1418 hagati ya Semapondo Charles na Rwasimpenzi Wellars. Nyuma yo kumva ibisobanuro n’ibimenyetso byatanzwe n’ababuranyi kuri icyo kibazo, urubanza rwarapfundikiwe, Urukiko rumenyesha ababuranyi ko ruzasomwa ku itariki ya 30/04/2021, ariko kuri uwo munsi ntirwasomwa kubera ko umwe mu bacamanza bari bagize inteko yahinduriwe imirimo. [16] Urubanza rwapfunduwe ku itariki ya 31/05/2021, ababuranyi bongera kumenyeshwa ko urubanza ruzasomwa ku itariki ya 25/06/2021, ariko mu mwiherero warwo rusanga mbere yo guca urubanza ari ngombwa kugira abatangabuhamya ruhamagaza kugira ngo bazagire ibisobanuro barugezaho ku birebana n’ikiburanwa, iburanisha ryishyirwa ku itariki 08/09/2021. Uwo munsi ugeze, rumaze kumva abatangabuhamya

1 Urubanza RS/INJUST/RC 00022/2018/SC hagati ya Busoro Gervais na Busoro Mugunga Desire n’abandi, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 28/06/2019, igika cya 18. SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI N’ABANDI

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bari bahamagajwe, Urukiko rwifuje ko na Rwasimpenzi Wellars yarwitaba ubwe, iburanisha ryimurirwa ku itariki ya 16/11/2021. [17] Nyuma y’iyo mihango yose, Urukiko rwasuzumye ikibazo nyamukuru kiri muri uru rubanza aricyo cyo kumenya ufite uburenganzira ku kibanza gifite nimero 1418 hagati ya Semapondo Charles na Rwasimpenzi Wellars. II. IKIBAZO KIRI MU RUBANZA N’ISUZUMWA RYACYO 1.

1. Kumenya ufite uburenganzira ku kibanza nimero 1418 hagati ya Semapondo Charles na Rwasimpenzi Wellars. [18] Me Mutembe Protais uhagarariye Semapondo Charles avuga ko Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwamurenganyije rwima agaciro ibimenyetso byanditse, n’ibishingiye ku buhamya bw’abatangabuhamya bari bazi neza uburyo Koperative Goboka yatangaga ibibanza mu mwaka wa 2007, ibyo bikaba bigaragara mu gika cya 8, mu gika cya 30 kugeza mu cya 33 by’urubanza rusubirishwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane, bikagaragara kandi no muri kopi y’urubanza RADA 00037/2017/HC/KIG mu gika cya 25. Avuga ko abatangabuhamya birengagijwe ari Munyanshongore Viateur waguze ikibanza na Koperative Goboka mu mwaka wa 2007 na Musheja Innocent wari ingénieur wa Koperative Goboka, uyu akaba ariwe wari ushinzwe gukora amakarita (maps) y’ibibanza no kwereka abaguzi aho ibibanza byabo biherereye. [19] Akomeza avuga ko n’ubwo Urukiko ari rwo rwemeza abatangabuhamya rugomba kumva, rutagombaga kwanga kumva ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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abo batangabuhamya bari bazi neza uburyo ibibanza bya Koperative Goboka byagurwaga icyo gihe mu mwaka wa 2007, ibimenyetso by’ubugure byatangwaga n’iyo Koperative, n’uburyo nimero z’ibibanza zagiye zihindagurika, iryo akaba ari ikosa rwakoze, ko iyo ibyo bimenyetso biza kwitabwaho, Urukiko rwari kubona ko ikibanza kiburanwa ari Semapondo Charles wakiguze mbere mu mwaka wa 2007. [20] Avuga nanone ko ikindi kimenyetso yerekanye kikirengagizwa ari “bordereau de versement” ya 4.900.000 Frw Semapondo Charles yishyuye kuri compte ya Koperative Goboka, Goboka ikaba yarayakiriye igasinyaho ko yakiriye iyo versement espèces ku itariki ya 19/11/2007, ko ibyo bigaragaza ko habayeho ubwumvikane ku kigurwa no ku kiguzi, kuko iyo bitaba ibyo, nta mpamvu ubwo bwishyu buba bwarabayeho. [21] Me Mutembe Protais akomeza avuga kandi ko igitangaje ari uko mu rubanza RADAA 00006/2018/CA, Urukiko rwavuze ko rusanga n’ubwo byakwemerwa ko hari ikibanza cyishyuriwe amafaranga y’ubugure, ntaho rwahera rwemeza ko ari igifite nimero 1418, rukavuga kandi ko « nta kindi iyo nyandiko yafasha mu kumenya ibiranga icyo kibanza, haba nomero yacyo, ingano yacyo n’aho giherereye, ku buryo yashingirwaho hemezwa ko ubwishyu yakoze burebana n’ikibanza kiburanwa; akibaza niba nimero y’ikibanza ari cyo kimenyetso cy’ingenzi mu kwerekana ikibanza kiburanwa, mu gihe nyamara Urukiko rwemeye ko Rwasimpenzi Wellars ari we nyirikibanza nimero 1418, kandi ruvuga ko yaguze ikibanza nimero 12438. Avuga ko icy’ingenzi atari ukumenya inimero y’ikibanza, kuko inimero zigenda zihinduka, ko icy’ingenzi kwari ukumenya aho ubutaka buherereye kuko butimuka ngo bujye ahandi, ndetse no kureba ko habayeho ubwumvikane hagati y’ugurisha n’ugura. Avuga ko SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI N’ABANDI

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kuba harabayeho amasezerano y’ubugure hagati ya Semapondo Charles na Koperative Goboka, na Bayito Innocent wari umuyobozi wayo yabyemereye imbere ya Police ubwo yabazwaga kuri icyo kibazo. [22] Me Rugeyo Jean uhagarariye Rwasimpenzi Wellars avuga ko nta bimenyetso byirengagijwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire mu kwemeza ko atari Semapondo Charles iyari Association Goboka yagurishije ikibanza nimero 12438 cyaje guhinduka nimero 1418. Asobanura ko ikimenyetso kigizwe na “bordereau de versement” Semapondo Charles yishyuriyeho 4.900.000 Frw kuri compte ya Association Goboka, Urukiko rwagisuzumye rugasanga ntacyo cyafasha mu kwemeza ko byanze bikunze amafaranga Semapondo Charles yashyize kuri compte yari ayo kugura ikibanza nimero 1418, cyane cyane ko n’amagambo agaragara kuri iyo bordereau (VT pour achat parcelle Goboka) yanditswe n’umukozi wa Banki, atagaragaza nimero y’ikibanza, ingano yacyo, aho giherereye n’abo gihana imbibi. Ibi akaba ari nako Urukiko rw’Ibanze rwa Kacyiru rwari rwarabivuze mu gika cya 9 cy’urubanza RC 1207/14/TB/KCY rwaciwe ku itariki ya 15/10/2015. [23] Avuga nanone ko Association Goboka yaje guhinduka Koperative, ubwayo yahakanye ko itigeze igurisha Semapondo Charles ikibanza nimero 1418, ko uwo izi yagiranye nawe amasezerano kuri icyo kibanza ari Rwasimpenzi Wellars nk’uko bikubiye mu gika cya 22 cy’urubanza RADAA 00006/2018/CA. Avuga ko Semapondo Charles yakabaye yaragaragarije Urukiko ibindi bimenyetso byunganira bordereau de versement yatanze yonyine, kubera ko amagambo ayiriho yanditswe n’umukozi wa banki. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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[24] Me Rugeyo Jean akomeza avuga ko ibyo Semapondo Charles avuga ko yaguze ikibanza mu mwaka wa 2007 bitahabwa ishingiro, kuko bitumvikana ukuntu yaba yarageze mu mpera za 2015 ataragishakira ibyangombwa, cyane cyane ko kwandikisha ubutaka ku bantu babutunze ari itegeko hashingiwe ku biteganywa n’ingingo ya 8 y’Iteka rya Minisitiri N° 002/2008 ryo ku wa 01/04/2008 rigena uburyo iyandikishwa ry’ubutaka rikorwa. Avuga ko ikindi kigaragaza ko ibyo Semapondo Charles avuga ko yaguze ikibanza kiburanwa nta shingiro bifite, ari uko atigeze agitangira umusoro, byongeye kandi akaba yarabonaga buri mwaka Rwasimpenzi Wellars agihingamo ibihingwa bitandukanye, ntamwegere ngo amubaze impamvu amuhingira mu kibanza cyangwa ngo amuregere ubuyobozi bw’inzego z’ibanze; iyo myitwarire ikaba igaragaza neza ko ikibanza nimero 1418 atari icye kandi ko nta na rimwe cyigeze kiba icye. [25] Ku bijyanye n’abatangabuhamya Semapondo Charles avuga ko Urukiko rwanze kubaza, Me Rugeyo Jean avuga ko Urukiko nta kosa rwakoze mu kudatumiza Musheja Innocent na Munyanshongore Viateur, kuko rwasanze imvugo zabo zitasimbura ibimenyetso Semapondo Charles yakagombye kuba yari afite bishyigikira “bordereau de versement” aburanisha, cyane cyane ko n’ubwo avuga ko atashoboraga guhabwa ibyangombwa by’ikibanza avuga ko yaguze, ngo kuko Goboka itamuhaye “attestation d’attribution de parcelle”, ntiyashoboye nibura kugaragariza Urukiko ko yifashishije abo batangabuhamya avuga, kugira ngo agaragarize ubuyobozi ko icyo kibanza kirimo amakimbirane, kugira ngo hatagira undi ucyibaruzaho. [26] Avuga ko uretse n’ibyo kandi, uburanira Semapondo Charles yibwiriye Urukiko ko bareze uwitwa Bayito Innocent, SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI N’ABANDI

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wayoboraga Koperative Goboka, akaba yaravugiye mu Bushinjacyaha ko batigeze bagurisha Semapondo Charles icyo kibanza nimero 1418 nk’uko bigaragara mu gika cya 31 cy’urubanza RADAA 00006/2018/CA. [27] Avuga ko na Musheja Innocent uvugwa ko yakagombye kuba yarazanywe mu rubanza asanga ntacyo byari guhindura kuko atari kuvuguruza inyandiko y’inyemezabwishyu (facture) yashyizeho umukono ku itariki ya 30/07/2012 Koperative Goboka yakoreye Rwasimpenzi Wellars yemeza ko ari iy’ubugure bw’ikibanza nimero 12438 cyahindutse nimero 1418 mu gihe cy’ibarura. Avuga ko ahubwo Rwasimpenzi Wellars ariwe ufite ibimenyetso byerekana ko ari we waguze ikibanza kiburanwa, ibyo akaba ari bordereau de versement yacyishyuriyeho, attestation d’attribution de parcelle yahawe na Koperative Goboka, icyemezo cy’umutungo nimero 12438, icyangombwa cy’ubutaka nimero 1418 n’urubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ibanze rwa Kacyiru. Arangiza avuga ko kubera izo mpamvu zose asanga nta karengane kabaye mu rubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire. [28] Rwasimpenzi Wellars wari wifujwe n’Urukiko ko yarwitaba ubwe, yavuze ko kugira ngo agure ikibanza kiburanwa ari umuvandimwe we witwa Rurangwa Alexis wakimurangiye muri Goboka, ko ariko kubera ko we yabaga ari mu kazi nta mwanya afite, uwo muvandimwe we ariwe byose wabikoze mu izina rye, akaba ari na we wasobanurira Urukiko inzira zose yanyuzemo kugira ngo kiboneke. [29] Me Barahira Eric uhagararariye Koperative Goboka iri mu iseswa, avuga ko n’ubwo Semapondo Charles anenga ibyavuzwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire mu rubanza RADAA 000006/2018/CA ku birebana n’ikimenyetso cya bordereau de ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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versement, aho Urukiko rwasobanuye ko icyo kimenyetso kidafasha mu kumenya ibiranga ikibanza cyishyurirwaga, haba nimero yacyo, ingano yacyo n’aho giherereye, ko rero ntaho rwari guhera rwemeza ko igifite nimero 1418 aricyo kirebana n’ubwishyu yakoze, iyo usomye ibyo bisobanuro ukabihuza na bordereau de versement yonyine Semapondo Charles yatanze nk‘ikimenyetso, usanga ibyo Urukiko rwasobanuye ko iyari Association Goboka itigeze imugurisha ikibanza nimero 1418 byumvikana. [30] Me Barahira Eric akomeza avuga ko kuba Semapongo Charles yitwaza ko nimero Rwasimpenzi Wellars yahawe ari nimero 12438 kandi Urukiko rwaremeje ko ikibanza cye ari nimero 1418, asanga ari ugushaka kuzana urujijo kubera ko Goboka yabaruraga ibibanza byayo ikabiha nimero, uguze ikibanza akagihabwa hagendewe kuri izo nimero; ko rero iyo umuntu yajyaga gushaka icyangombwa cya burundu yahabwaga nimero yindi itandukanye n’iya Goboka, kuko Leta ariyo itanga ibyangombwa bya burundu, ifite n’uko yabibaruye ikabigenera nimero hakurikijwe aho ubutaka buherereye. [31] Ku birebana n’abatangabuhamya Urukiko rwanze guhamagaza, Me barahira Eric avuga ko nta kosa ryakozwe ndetse nta n’akarengane kabayemo kuko Urukiko rutari kumva abatangabuhamya mu gihe hari ibimenyetso by’inyandiko zakozwe n’ababifitiye ububasha, kandi nabo bakaba babyivugira. Avuga ko Urukiko rwabisobanuye neza mu gika cya 33 n’icya 34, ko uretse n’ibyo Urukiko rufite ububasha bwo kutumva umutangabuhamya mu gihe rubona ntacyo yarwungura mu mikirize y’urubanza. [32] Me Habiyambere Clément uhagarariye Ikigo cy’Igihugu Gishinzwe Imicungire n’Imikoreshereze y’ubutaka, mu SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI N’ABANDI

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mwanzuro we, avuga ko Semapondo Charles yaguze ikibanza ariko ntiyashobora kucyandikisha, kuko avuga ko Koperative Goboka yamugoye ntiyamuha inyandiko za ngombwa ngo yiyandikisheho ubutaka. Avuga ko Rwasimpenzi Wellars wabuguze akanabwandikisha ariwe nyirabwo, kuko kwandikisha ubutaka ari itegeko, nk’uko biteganywa n’ingingo ya 20 y'Itegeko rigenga ubutaka mu Rwanda. Avuga kandi ko kumva abatangabuhamya bitari ngombwa, mu gihe hari inyandiko zakozwe na Koperative Goboka yari ifite uburyo itanga ibibanza. [33] Abatangabuhamya Urukiko rwari rwifuje ko bazabazwa ku byo bazi ku kibanza kiburanwa, barutangarije ibi bikurikira: - Ruzindana Munana Jean wari Perezida w’Inama y’Ubutegetsi ya Goboka mu mwaka wa 2007, yasobanuriye Urukiko ko Leta imaze kubaha umusozi wa Kibagagaba bakawucamo ibibanza, uwashakaga kugura yabanzaga kurambagiza ikibanza yifuza, yagishima akajya kuri Banki y’Abaturage akacyishyura, nyuma akazana inyemezabwishyu muri serivisi y’icungamutungo, bakamuha icyangombwa kimwegurira ikibanza, cyangwa se hagakorwa amasezerano y’ubugure. Avuga ko muri izo nyandiko zombi hagaragaragamo nimero y’ikibanza. Ku bijyanye n’uburyo Semapondo Charles yaba yarahawe ikibanza, yabwiye Urukiko ko amakuru yayamenye ari uko uyu areze Goboka, ko ariko amakuru yari yarahawe ari uko uyu yishyuye ikibanza ntiyazana inyemezabwishyu, hanyuma ibibanza bigashira. - Bayito Innocent wari umuyobozi w’iyo Koperative, yabwiye Urukiko ko icyemezaga ko umuntu ahawe ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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ikibanza muri Goboka ari icyangombwa kimwegurira ikibanza. Yasobanuye ko mbere yo kwishyura, uwashakaga ikibanza yabanzaga kugisura, yagishima akishyura, agashyikiriza ubuyobozi inyemezabwishyu ariko agakomeza gukurikirana kugira ngo abone icyo cyangombwa. Avuga ko iyo uwishyuye atabikurikiranaga imyaka ibiri cyangwa itatu igashira, icyo gihe nta kibanza yabaga afite. Yakomeje abwira Urukiko ko kuba Semapondo Charles afite inyemezabwishyu iteyeho kashe ya Goboka, ko bashobora kuba barayimutereyeho ariko ntayijyane muri serivisi zishinzwe gutanga ibibanza, kuko uwahitaga ayijyana yatahanaga icyemezo kimwegurira ikibanza, naho utarayijyanaga mu buyobozi bubishinzwe, ikibanza cyabaga kikiri ku isoko. - Musheja Innocent wari ingénieur wa Goboka, avuga ko mu kugurisha ibibanza byakorwaga mu buryo bubiri, ko hari abazaga bakiyandikisha, rimwe na rimwe bagatanga avansi, ubundi abandi bakaza bakarambagiza ibibanza bakajya kwishyura. Ku birebana na Semapondo Charles, avuga ko yaje amwereka ikibanza gifite nimero 12438, ajya kwishyura azana inyemezabwishyu, ko ibindi byakurikiyeho atabimenya kuko bitari mu nshingano ze. Ku bijyanye no kuba ikibanza cya Semapondo Charles yaba yarahindukiye akacyereka Rwasimpenzi Wellars, avuga ko uyu atamuzi, ko nta kibanza yigeze amwereka. Amaze kwerekwa facture yasinyeho yemeza ko ikibanza gifite nimero 12438 ari icya Rwasimpenzi Wellars, yavuze ko mu mwaka wa 2012 habaye ikibazo cya facturation, abo muri finance SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI N’ABANDI

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bavuga ko inyemezabwishyu zari zisanzweho zidahagije, bakora izindi factures ziriho nimero z’ibibanza ndetse n’ingano yabyo, bategeka abo muri technique kubigenzura, ko bishoboka ko aribwo Rwasimpenzi Wellars yanditsweho ikibanza gifite nimero 12438 kiburanwa, ko we yasinye kuri iyo facture yemeza ko ingano y’ikibanza ihuye na nimero yacyo, ko atitaye ku mazina ya nyiracyo. - Munyanshongore Viateur, umwe mu baguze ikibanza na Goboka muri icyo gihe, yabwiye Urukiko ko uwashakaga ikibanza yagendaga akareba ingénieur akamwereka ikarita, ikibanza yagishima akajya kwishyura akazana inyemezabwishyu, bakamuha “attestation d’attribution de parcelle”. Avuga ko ubutaka bwagurishijwe Semapondo Charles abuzi kuko hagati yabo haciyemo ikibanza kimwe, ko ariko amakuru yamenye ari uko Goboka yongeye ikabugurisha. - Havumiragira Théophile, wari ushinzwe iseswa rya Koperative Goboka, avuga ko ikibazo cy’uko Semapondo Charles yaguze ikibanza na Goboka, hanyuma Goboka ikongera ikakigurisha Rwasimpenzi Wellars, bakimenye kigeze mu nkiko bakagiharira umunyamategeko wabo ngo agikurikirane, ko ariko bibaye byarakozwe haba harabayemo ikosa. - Rurangwa Alexis wari witabye Urukiko ku bwe aherekeje Rwasimpenzi Wellars yahawe ijambo kugira ngo agire amakuru atangariza Urukiko ku birebana n’ikibanza kiburanwa, asobanura ko ariwe wagiranye ibiganiro n’abakozi ba Goboka aribo ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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Musheja Innocent, Bayito Innocent n’umucungamari wabo witwa Julie, mu izina rya Rwasimpenzi Wellars wari wamutumye. Avuga ko bamweretse ibibanza bitanu (5) agashimamo bibiri (2) birimo n’ikiburanwa, ari nabyo yishyuye akabazanira inyemezabwishyu, na bo bamuha facture ayisinyaho mu izina rya Rwasimpenzi Wellars kuko atariwe nyir’ikibanza, nyuma bamuha na “attestation d’attribution de parcelled” ayishyira Rwasimpenzi Wellars atangira imihango yo kwiyandikishaho ubutaka bwe.

UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [34] Impaka ziri muri uru rubanza ababuranyi bifuje ko Urukiko rwabakemurira, ni ukumenya hagati ya Semapondo Charles na Rwasimpenzi Wellars ufite ibimenyetso bidashidikanywaho byerekana ko ariwe waguze na Goboka ikibanza nimero 12438 cyaje guhinduka nimero 1418, kuko buri wese avuga ko ari icye. Semapondo Charles avuga ko ari we wakiguze mbere mu mwaka wa 2007, mu gihe Rwasimpenzi Wellars avuga ko akigura mu mwaka wa 2012 nta muntu cyari cyanditseho. Koperative Goboka iri mu iseswa uwo yemera yagurishije icyo kibanza ni Rwasimpenzi Wellars n’ubwo idahakana ko na Semapondo Charles yamugurishije ikibanza, ko ariko atari igifite nimero1418. [35] Ingingo ya 12, igika cya mbere, y’Itegeko Nº 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, iteganya ko urega agomba kugaragaza ibimenyetso by’ibyo aregera. Iyo abibuze, uwarezwe aratsinda. Ibiteganywa n’iyo SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI N’ABANDI

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ngingo, binahura n’ibivugwa mu ngingo ya 3, igika cya mbere, y’Itegeko Nº 15/2004 ryo ku wa 12/06/2004 ryerekeye ibimenyetso mu manza n’itangwa ryabyo, iteganya ko “buri muburanyi agomba kugaragaza ukuri kw’ibyo aburana. [36] Mu kwemeza ko ikibanza ubu gifite nimero 1418 ari nacyo kiburanwa ari icya Rwasimpenzi Wellars, Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwasanze ikimenyetso kigizwe na bordereau de versement Semapondo Charles yashingiragaho avuga ko ari we waguze icyo kibanza kitahabwa agaciro kubera ko iyo nyandiko iterekanaga ibiranga ikibanza nka nimero yacyo, ingano yacyo, n’aho giherereye ku buryo yari gushingirwaho hemezwa ko ubwishyu yakoze burebana n’icyo kibanza. Urwo Rukiko rwemeje ko ikibanza ari icya Rwasimpenzi Wellars kuko yarugaragarije facture yerekana ko ari iy’ubugure bw’ikibanza nimero 12438 cyahindutse nimero 1418, ikavuga ubuso bwacyo, aho giherereye (Nyirabwana) hamwe n’ikiguzi, mu basinyeho hakaba harimo Musheja Innocent nk’uwabigenzuye na Bayito Innocent nk’ubyemeza, icyemezo cy’uko ahawe ikibanza n’ibindi byangombwa byatanzwe n’ubuyobozi kugeza ku masezerano y’ubukode burambye. [37] Ibimenyetso Semapondo Charles agaragaza byemeza ko ikibanza kiburanwa ariwe wakiguze ni ibi bikurikira:

- Bordereau de versement yishyuriyeho muri Banki y’Abaturage ku itariki ya 19/11/2007. Iyo bordereau igaragaraho 4.900.000 Frw, igisobanuro cyayo akaba ari “versement pour achat parcelled Goboka”; - Ubuhamya bwa Bayito Innocent wiyemereye imbere ya Police ko yagurishije Semapondo Charles ikibanza; ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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- Ubuhamya bwa Musheja Innocent wari ingénieur wa Goboka na we uvuga ko Semapondo Charles yaguze ikibanza muri Koperative Goboka ko kandi yacyishyuye 4.900.000 Frw, ko impamvu abihamya ari uko ntawe berekaga ikibanza atabanje kwishyura; - Ubuhamya bwa Munyanshongore Viateur uvuga ko azi ko ikibanza kiburanwa ari icya Semapondo Charles. [38] Ibimenyetso Rwasimpenzi Wellars atanga avuga ko ikibanza kiburanwa ari icye ni ibi bikurikira:

- Facture ya 14.000.000 Frw yakorewe na Koperative Goboka ku itariki ya 30/07/2012, iyo facture ikaba yararebanaga n’ubugure bwa parcelle n° 12438 yaje guhinduka 1418; - Bordereau de versement yishyuriyeho ikibanza nimero 12438; - Attestation d’attribution de parcelle yahawe na KoperativeGoboka; - Icyemezo cy’umutungo nimero 12438; - Icyangombwa cy’ubutaka nimero 1418 cyatanzwe n’Ikigo gishinzwe imicungire n’imikoreshereze y’ubutaka ku itariki ya 17/12/2012; - Urubanza RC 1207/14/TB/KCY rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ibanze rwa Kacyiru ku itariki ya 15/10/2015 rukemeza ko nta masezerano abiri atandukanye yabayeho ku kibanza nimero 1418. SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI N’ABANDI

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[39] Ku birebana na bordereau de versement Semapondo Charles yishyuriyeho muri Banki y’Abaturage ku itariki ya 19/11/2007 atanga nk’ikimenyetso ko yaguze ikibanza kiburanwa, Urukiko rurasanga nta gushidikanya ko hari ikibanza yishyuye muri Goboka, ndetse na Bayito Innocent wayiyoboraga imbere y’uru Rukiko akaba atarabihakanye. Urukiko rurasanga ariko, nk’uko n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwabibonye, nta kimenyetso na kimwe kigaragaza ko ikibanza yishyuraga ari icyari gifite nimero 12438 cyaje guhinduka nimero 1418 ari nacyo kiburanwa muri uru rubanza kubera ko kuri iyo bordereau nta nimero y’ikibanza igaragaraho. [40] Ku birebana n’ubuhamya bwa Musheja Innocent uvuga ko mbere y’uko Semapondo Charles ajya kwishyura yamweretse ikibanza cyari gifite nimero 12438 ari nacyo ubu kiburanwa, ndetse n‘ubuhamya bwa Munyanshongore Viateur uvuga ko ubutaka bwagurishijwe Semapondo Charles abuzi, ko hari amakuru yamenye ko Goboka yongeye ikabugurisha, Urukiko rurasanga ubwo buhamya butahabwa ishingiro kubera ko ku itariki ya 30/07/2012, Musheja Innocent yasinye ku nyemezabwishyu yemeza ko icyo kibanza ari icya Rwasimpenzi Wellars, bikaba bitumvikana ukuntu mu mwaka wa 2007 yari kuba yaracyeretse Semapondo Charles hanyuma ngo ahindukire yemeze ko ari icya Rwasimpenzi Wellars. Ibyo avuga ko icyari kigenderewe kwari ukugenzura ko nimero z’ibibanza zihuye n’ubuso bwabyo, ntibyagenderwaho kuko ataribyo byanditse kuri iyo nyemezabwishyu, kandi iyo umuntu asinye ku nyandiko aba asinyiye ibiyanditsemo byose. Iyo nyemezabwishyu igaragaza Rwasimpenzi Wellars nk’uguze ikibanza gifite nimero 12438 ku gaciro ka 14.000.000 Frw, yasinyweho na Kayisinga Claudien nk’uwayiteguye, Musheja Innocent ayisinya nk’uwabigenzuye, hanyuma isinywa na Bayito Innocent abyemeza. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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[41] Hashingiwe ku ngingo ya 12, igika cya mbere, y’Itegeko Nº 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryavuzwe haruguru, no ku ngingo ya 3, igika cya mbere, y’Itegeko Nº 15/2004 ryo ku wa 12/06/2004 naryo ryavuzwe haruguru, ndetse no ku bisobanuro byatanzwe, nk’uko n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwabibonye, uru Rukiko narwo rurasanga ibimenyetso Semapondo Charles atanga bidahagije mu kumvikanisha ko ariwe waguze ikibanza nimero 12438 cyaje guhinduka nimero 1418, mu gihe ibimenyetso bya Rwasimpenzi Wellars baburana byavuzwe haruguru byerekana ibiranga icyo kibanza byose birimo nimero yacyo, aho giherereye n’ubuso bwacyo, byongeye kandi n’uwo bakiguze akaba abyemeza. Kubera izo mpamvu zose rero, Urukiko rukaba rusanga ikirego cyatanzwe na Semapondo Charles asaba gusubirishamo urubanza ku mpamvu z’akarengane nta shingiro gifite. 2.

2. Ku birebana n’indishyi zasabwe muri uru rubanza [42] Semapondo Charles asaba Urukiko gutegeka Koperative Goboka na Rwasimpenzi Wellars kumuha indishyi kubera ko bamuvukije amahirwe yo kubaka mu kibanza cye ibiciro bitarazamuka. Asobanura ko uruhare rwa Koperative Goboka ari uko yamwimye “lettre d’attribution de parcelle”, ikibanza cye ikakigurisha undi muntu bigatuma agana inkiko kuva mu mwaka wa 2013 kugeza uyu munsi. Avuga ko uruhare rwa Rwasimpenzi Wellars ari uko yamenye ko ikibanza yaguze na Koperative Goboka cyari cyaragurishijwe undi muntu, aho gusaba gusubizwa amafaranga ye, agakomeza guhanyanyaza mu manza, bigatuma akomeza gutakaza amafaranga yishyura Abavoka. [43] Kubera izo mpamvu zose, Semapondo Charles arasaba indishyi zikurikira zigomba gutangwa na Goboka ifatanyije na Rwasimpenzi Wellars: SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI N’ABANDI

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- 2.500.000 Frw y’igihembo cy’Avoka; - 1.300.000 Frw yishyuye Rwasimpenzi Wellars hiyongereyeho inyungu zayo zibazwe nk’iza banki (16% ku mwaka); - 10.000.000 Frw y’ibiciro byo kubaka byazamutse no kudashobora kubyaza umusaruro ikibanza cye mu myaka irenze icumi (10); hamwe n’akababaro yatewe n’akarengane yagiriwe. [44] Me Rugeyo Jean uhagarariye Rwasimpenzi Wellars avuga ko nta ndishyi Semapondo Charles akwiriye kuko ariwe wishoye mu manza, akaba akwiriye kwirengera ingaruka zazo zose. Avuga ko ahubwo ariwe Urukiko rukwiye gutegeka guha Rwasimpenzi Wellars indishyi kubera kumuhoza mu manza z’urudaca nta mpamvu. Indishyi basaba akaba ari 3.000.000 Frw y’igihembo cy’Avoka hamwe na 500.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza kuri uru rwego. [45] Me Barahira Eric uhagarariye Koperative Goboka iri mu iseswa, avuga ko ashingiye ku ngingo ya 111 y’Itegeko ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, asaba Urukiko gutegeka Semapondo Charles kwishyura Koperative Goboka iri mu iseswa 500,000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza na 1.000.000 Frw y’igihembo cy’Avoka kubera kuyishora mu manza zidafite aho zishingiye. [46] Me Habiyambere Clément uhagarariye Ikigo cy’Igihugu Gishinzwe Imikoreshereze n’Imicungire y’Ubutaka mu Rwanda, mu mwanzuro we, avuga ko asanga iki Kigo cyarashowe mu rubanza ku maherere, kuko Semapondo Charles yiyemerera ko ikosa ari irya Koperative Goboka itaramuhaye ibyangombwa ngo yiyandikisheho ubutaka yamugurishije, ko kubera izo mpamvu ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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asabira Ikigo aburanira indishyi zingana na 600.000 Frw, harimo 100.000 Frw yo gukurikirana urubanza na 500.000 Frw yo kurutegura.

UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [47] Ku birebana n’indishyi zisabwa na Semapondo Charles, Urukiko rurasanga ntazo agomba guhabwa kuko ntacyo atsindiye muri uru rubanza. [48] Urukiko rurasanga amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza n’ay’igihembo cy’Avoka Rwasimpenzi Wellars na Koperative Goboka iri mu iseswa basaba bagomba kuyahabwa kuko byabaye ngombwa gukurikirana urubanza no gushyiraho Abavoka bababuranira, ariko kuko ayo basaba ari menshi kandi bakaba badasobanura uko bayabara, mu bushishozi bw’Urukiko bakaba bagenewe buri wese 500.000 Frw y’igihembo cy’Avoka na 300.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza, yose hamwe akaba 800.000 Frw buri wese. [49] Ku birebana n’amafaranga asabwa n’Ikigo gishinzwe Imicungire n’Imikoreshereze y’ubutaka mu Rwanda, Urukiko rurasanga gikwiye kugenerwa 100.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza yonyine kuko ayo gutegura urubanza basaba batashoboye kuyasobanura, cyane cyane ko batigeze bitabira inama ntegurarubanza, n’amaburanisha yabaye bakaba nta na rimwe bitabiriye. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [50] Rwemeje ko ikirego cyatanzwe na Semapondo Charles gisaba gusubirishamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane urubanza SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI N’ABANDI

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RADAA 00006/2018/CA rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku itariki ya 04/10/2019, nta shingiro gifite. [51] Rwemeje ko nta karengane kari muri urwo rubanza. [52] Rwemeje ko ikibanza nimero UPI 1/02/09/02/1418 kiri mu Mudugudu wa Nyirabwana, Akagari ka Kibagabaga, Umurenge wa Kimironko, Akarere ka Gasabo, Umujyi wa Kigali, ari icya Rwasimpenzi Wellars. [53] Rwemeje ko amasezerano y’ubukode burambye kuri icyo kibanza yabaye hagati ya Rwasimpenzi Wellars na Leta y’u Rwanda agumaho. [54] Rutegetse Semapondo Charles guha Rwasimpenzi Wellars amafaranga ibihumbi magana inani (800.000 Frw) akubiyemo ay’igihembo cy’Avoka n’ay’ikurikiranarubanza. [55] Rutegetse Semapondo Charle guha Koperative Goboka iri mu iseswa ibihumbi magana inani (800.000 Frw) akubiyemo ay’igihembo cy’Avoka n’ay’ikurikiranarubanza. [56] Rutegetse Semapondo Charles guha Ikigo Gishinzwe Imicungire n’Imikoreshereze y’ubutaka mu Rwanda ibihumbi ijana (100.000 Frw) y’ikurikiranarubanza. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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IMANZA

ZEREKERANYE N’IMIBURANISHIRIZE Y’IMANZA MBONEZAMUBANO, Z’UBUCURUZI, IZ’IBUCURIZI, IZ’UMURIMO N’IZ’UBUTEGETSI IZ’UMURIMO N’IZ’UBUTEGETSI

IMANZA

ZEREKERANYE N’IMIBURANISHIRIZE Y’IMANZA MBONEZAMUBANO, Z’UBUCURUZI, IZ’IBUCURIZI, IZ’IBUCURIZI, Z’UBUCURUZI,

IZ’UMURIMO N’IZ’UBUTEGETSI

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MUNYABURANGA v ECOBANK Plc (yahoze yitwa BCDI) [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’IKIRENGA – RS/REV/RCOM 00001/2022/SC (Mukamulisa, PJ, Cyanzayire na Karimunda, J.) 15 Nyakanga 2022] Amategeko agenga imiburanishirize y’imanza z’ubucuruzi – Igihe ntarengwa cyo kuregera gusubirishamo urubanza ingingo nshya – Uburwayi bwafatwa nk’impamvu ikomeye itunguranye yatuma ibihe byo kwiyambaza inzira z’ubujurire byongerwa – Uburwayi bufatwa nk’impamvu ikomeye itunguranye yatuma ibihe byo kwiyambaza inzira z’ubujurire byongerwa, ni ubushyira umuntu mu mimerere (conditions) ituma atabasha gutekereza, kuvuga, kumva, kwandika, nk’igihe yaba ari muri coma, ku buryo atashobora no kugira uwo aha ububasha bwo kumutangira ikirego. Incamake y’Ikibazo: ECOBANK Plc (yasimbuye BCDI) yareze Munyaburanga Jean Damascène imwishyuza umwenda yari ayibereyemo, aratsindwa, Urukiko rumumutegeka kwishyura BCDI umwenda wose hamwe ungana na 40.217.971 Frw. Nyuma y’urwo rubanza, Munyaburanga Jean Damascène yatanze ikirego mu Bugenzacyaha arega Umuhesha w’Inkiko Mudenge Didace icyaha cy’inyandiko mpimbano, avuga ko inyandiko yo ku wa 02/08/2001 yamuhamagaraga kuburana mu Rukiko rwa Mbere rw’Iremezo rwa Kigali ku wa 18/12/2001 ari impimbano. Urubanza rwanditswe kuri Nº RP 0772/10/TGI/NYGE, ruburanishwa Mudenge Didace adahari, ECOBANK Plc (yasimbuye BCDI) yahatiwe kugoboka mu rubanza nk’uryozwa indishyi yitabye, rucibwa ku wa 13/01/2012. Urukiko rwemeje 31

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ko Mudenge Didace ahamwa n’icyaha cyo gukora no gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 5 n’ihazabu y’amafaranga 50.000, rutegeka ECOBANK Plc guha Munyaburanga Jean Damascène indishyi zingana na 500.000 Frw. ECOBANK Plc yajuririye urubanza mu Rukiko Rukuru, ruburanishwa ku wa 13/01/2014, rucibwa ku wa 07/02/2014. Urukiko rwemeza ko ubujurire bwa ECOBANK Plc bufite ishingiro, ko imikirize y’urubanza ihindutse gusa ku bijyanye n’indishyi zari zaciwe ECOBANK Plc zikaba zikuweho. Ku wa 07/12/2021, Munyaburanga Jean Damascène yatanze ikirego mu Rukiko rw’Ikirenga asaba gusubirishamo ingingo nshya urubanza

RCOMAA 0006/07/CS, ashingiye ku manza nshinjabyaha zemeje ko inyandiko imuhamagara kuburana mu Rukiko rwa Mbere rw’Iremezo rwa Kigali ibirebana n’umwenda yari afitiye BCDI ari impimbano, urubanza rwandikwa kuri RS/REV/RCOM 00001/2022/SC. Urukiko rwabanje gusuzuma inzitizi ijyanye no kutubahiriza ibihe byo gutanga ikirego yatanzwe na ECOBANK Plc. Uregwa avuga ko ingingo ya 171 y’Itegeko Nº 22/20018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi iteganya ko igihe cyo gusubirishamo urubanza ingingo nshya ari amezi abiri; mu gika cyayo cya 2, iyo ngingo ikavuga ko icyo gihe kitabarwa ku bantu badafite ubushobozi, kandi ko ko ikimenyetso ashingiraho ari urubanza rwaciwe ku wa 07/02/2014, bivuze ko akimara kubona urwo rubanza yagombaga gutanga ikirego bitarenze ku wa 6/04/2014; kuba rero atarabikoze, ikirego cye kikaba kidakwiye kwakirwa. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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Uwasubirishijemo urubanza ingingo nshya, avuga ko n’ubwo ingingo nshya igizwe n’urubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru ku wa 07/02/2014, yagize ibibazo by’uburwayi bwo mu mutwe kuva urwo rubanza rusomwe kugeza ku wa 03/11/2021 nk’uko byemezwa n’abaganga bamukurikiranye bito nta bushobozi (capacité) yari afite bwo guhita atanga ikirego mu meziabiri nyuma y’uko urubanza ashingiraho asaba gusubirishamo urubanza ingingo nshya rubaye itegeko. Incamake y’icyemezo: 1. Kugira ngo uburwayi bube bwafatwa nk’impamvu ikomeye itunguranye, yatuma ibihe byo kwiyambaza inzira z’ubujurire byongerwa, ni uko bwashyira umuntu mu mimerere (conditions) ituma atabasha gutekereza, kuvuga, kumva, kwandika, nk’igihe yaba ari muri coma, ku buryo atashobora no kugira uwo aha ububasha bwo kumutangira ikirego.

2. Kugirango uburwayi bwa diabète bube bwafatwa nk’impamvu ikomeye itunguranye yatuma ibihe byo kwiyambaza inzira z’ubujurire byongerwa, ni uko bwashyira umuntu mu mimerere (conditions) ituma atabasha gutekereza, kuvuga, kumva, kwandika, nk’igihe yaba ari muri coma, ku buryo atashobora no kugira uwo aha ububasha bwo kumutangira ikirego. . Ikirego cyo gusubirishamo ingingo nshya urubanza, nticyatanzwe mu gihe cyemewe n’amategeko, kikaba kitakwakirwa ngo gisuzumwe;

MUNYABURANGA v ECOBANK Plc (yahoze yitwa BCDI)

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Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko Nº 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, Ingingo ya 171 na 278 Itegeko Nº 32/2016 ryo ku wa 28/08/2016 rigenga abantu n’umuryango, Ingingo ya 113 na 150 Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Ku wa 08/08/1996, Munyaburanga Jean Damascène yagiranye amasezerano na BCDI y’inguzanyo ingana na 10.000.000 Frw yo gukoresha mu bucuruzi bwe, atanga ingwate y’inzu iri ku Kimihurura mu kibanza Nº 1089, yongeraho n’agaciro k’ubucuruzi bwe (Fonds de commerce) kugeza ku rugero rwa 20.000.000 Frw; iyo nguzanyo ikaba yaragombaga kurangira kwishyurwa ku wa 13/08/1997. Ku wa 31/01/1997, yongeye guhabwa indi nguzanyo ingana na 30.000.000 Frw yo kurangiza inzu y’igorofa yubakaga i Remera-Nyarutarama mu kibanza gifite Nº 5435, atanga ingwate ho iyo nzu n’agaciro k’ubucuruzi bwe (Fonds de commerce) ku kigero cya 60.000.000 Frw, bumvikana ko inguzanyo igomba kurangira kwishyurwa ku wa 31/01/2000. [2] Munyaburanga Jean Damascène ntiyishyuye nk’uko byari byemeranyijweho mu masezerano, bituma BCDI imwandikira amabaruwa yo kumwihanangiriza (mise en demeure) imusaba kwishyura umwenda wose, iya nyuma ikaba ari iyo ku wa 03/09/1998. Ku wa 16/04/1999, habayeho guhuza ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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imyenda bemeranya ko umwenda ugomba kwishyurwa ungana na 30.686.465 Frw, ukishyurwa mu mezi 60 guhera ku wa 10/05/1999. [3] Ku wa 24/08/1999, BCDI yandikiye Munyaburanga Jean Damascène imwishyuza ibyo bari bumvikanye, imusaba no kwishyura ibirarane; ku wa 31/07/2001 itanga ikirego mu Rukiko rwa Mbere rw’Iremezo rwa Kigali ivuga ko ibyo bumvikanye bitashyizwe mu bikorwa. Urubanza rwanditswe kuri RC 35.782/01, ruburanishwa Munyaburanga Jean Damascène adahari, rucibwa ku wa 16/01/2002. Urukiko rwemeje ko Munyaburanga Jean Damascène atsinzwe, rumutegeka kwishyura BCDI umwenda wose hamwe ungana na 40.217.971 Frw. [4] Munyaburanga Jean Damascène yajuriye mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire rwa Kigali, urubanza rwandikwa kuri RCA 13.859/Kig, ariko nyuma y’ivugurura ry’inzego z’ubucamanza rwoherezwa mu Rukiko Rukuru rwa Repubulika rwandikwa kuri RCOMA 0018/05/KIG. Rwaburanishijwe BCDI idahari, rucibwa ku wa 28/09/2007, Urukiko rwemeza ko ubujurire bwa Munyaburanga Jean Damascène budafite ishingiro, ko urubanza rwajuririwe rudahindutse. [5] Munyaburanga Jean Damascène yajuriye mu Rukiko rw’Ikirenga, urubanza rwandikwa kuri RCOMAA 0006/07/CS, rucibwa ku wa 19/06/2009, Urukiko rwemeza ko ubujurire bwe budafite ishingiro, ko nta gihindutse ku mikirize y’urubanza rwajuririwe. [6] Nyuma y’uko urubanza rujyanye n’umwenda rurangiye, Munyaburanga Jean Damascène yatanze ikirego mu Bugenzacyaha arega Umuhesha w’Inkiko Mudenge Didace MUNYABURANGA v ECOBANK Plc (yahoze yitwa BCDI)

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icyaha cy’inyandiko mpimbano, avuga ko inyandiko yo ku wa 02/08/2001 yamuhamagaraga kuburana mu Rukiko rwa Mbere rw’Iremezo rwa Kigali ku wa 18/12/2001 ari nayo yashingiweho mu kumuburanisha adahari, ari impimbano. Urubanza rwanditswe kuri RP 0772/10/TGI/NYGE, ruburanishwa Mudenge Didace adahari, ECOBANK Plc (yasimbuye BCDI) yahatiwe kugoboka mu rubanza nk’uryozwa indishyi yitabye, rucibwa ku wa 13/01/2012. Urukiko rwemeje ko Mudenge Didace ahamwa n’icyaha cyo gukora no gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 5 n’ihazabu y’amafaranga 50.000, rutegeka

ECOBANK Plc guha Munyaburanga Jean Damascène indishyi zingana na 500.000 Frw. [7] ECOBANK Plc yajuririye urubanza mu Rukiko Rukuru, urubanza rwandikwa kuri RPA 0196/12/HC/KIG, ruburanishwa ku wa 13/01/2014 nabwo Mudenge Didace adahari ariko yarahamagawe byemewe n’amategeko, rucibwa ku wa 07/02/2014. Urukiko rwemeje ko ubujurire bwa ECOBANK Plc bufite ishingiro, ko imikirize y’urubanza ihindutse gusa ku bijyanye n’indishyi zari zaciwe ECOBANK Plc zikaba zikuweho. [8] Ku wa 07/12/2021, Munyaburanga Jean Damascène yatanze ikirego mu Rukiko rw’Ikirenga asaba gusubirishamo ingingo nshya urubanza RCOMAA 0006/07/CS, ashingiye ku manza nshinjabyaha zemeje ko inyandiko imuhamagara kuburana mu Rukiko rwa Mbere rw’Iremezo rwa Kigali ibirebana n’umwenda yari afitiye BCDI ari impimbano, urubanza rwandikwa kuri RS/REV/RCOM 00001/2022/SC. [9] Iburanisha ryashyizwe ku wa 24/05/2022, ribera mu ruhame, Munyaburanga Jean Damascène yunganiwe na Me ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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Murutasibe Joseph, ECOBANK Plc iburanirwa na Me Nsengiyumva François. Urukiko rwabanje gusuzuma inzitizi ijyanye no kutubahiriza ibihe byo gutanga ikirego yatanzwe na ECOBANK Plc. Nyuma yo kumva icyo buri ruhande ribivugaho, rwamenyesheje aburanyi ko icyemezo kuri iyo nzitizi kizasomwa ku wa 15/07/2022. II.

IBIBAZO BIGIZE URUBANZA N’ISESENGURA RYABYO 3.

1. Kumenya niba ikirego cya Munyaburanga Jean Damascène cyo gusubirishamo ingingo nshya urubanza RCOMAA 0006/07/CS rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 19/06/2009, cyaratanzwe mu gihe cyemewe n’amategeko [10] Mu myanzuro bashyikirije Urukiko, Me Nsengiyumva François na Me Mukakabanda Athanasie bahagarariye ECOBANK Plc bavuga ko ingingo ya 171 y’Itegeko Nº 22/20018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi iteganya ko igihe cyo gusubirishamo urubanza ingingo nshya ari amezi abiri; mu gika cyayo cya 2, iyo ngingo ikavuga ko icyo gihe kitabarwa ku bantu badafite ubushobozi. Bavuga ko ikimenyetso Munyaburanga Jean Damascène ashingiraho ari urubanza RPA 0196/12/HC/KIG rwaciwe ku wa 07/02/2014, bivuze ko akimara kubona urwo rubanza yagombaga gutanga ikirego bitarenze ku wa 6/04/2014; kuba rero atarabikoze, ikirego cye kikaba kidakwiye kwakirwa ngo gisuzumwe kuko atubahirije ibihe biteganywa n’amategeko. MUNYABURANGA v ECOBANK Plc (yahoze yitwa BCDI)

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[11] Bavuga kandi ko impapuro eshatu Munyaburanga Jean Damascène yashyize muri system agaragaza ko impamvu yakererewe gutanga ikirego ari uburwayi yagize bwo mu mutwe, ntacyo zamumarira, kuko nta muganga n’umwe wemewe na Leta wigeze agaragaza ko kuva ku wa 6/04/2014 yagize ubwo burwayi. Bavuga ko abaganga babiri bemewe na Leta y’u Rwanda Munyaburanga Jean Damascène avuga nta n’umwe wemeza ko yagize uburwayi bwo mu mutwe, kuko uwa mbere ari Dr Gasangwa wamuhaye urupapuro ku wa 22/03/2021 yemeza ko kuva ku wa 14/05/2015 arwaye diabète. Uwa kabiri, Dr Kagame Abel (interniste muri CHUK), yamuhaye icyemezo ku wa 20/4/2021 kivuga ko kuva mu 2000 arwaye indwara idakira, nyamara muri icyo gihe cyose akaba yaratangaga ibirego by’imanza nshinjabyaha. [12] Ku bijyanye n’urupapuro rwa gatatu bigaragara ko rwatangiwe i Karagwe muri Tanzaniya ku wa 03/11/2021, Me Nsengiyumva François na Me Mukakabanda Athanasie bavuga ko nta muganga wigeze arutanga, rukaba nta gaciro rugomba guhabwa. Me Nsengiyumva François yabwiye Urukiko ko Munyaburanga Jean Damascène aterekana aho yanyuze cyangwa transfer yahawe ajya kwivuza muri Tanzaniya, kandi ko abatanze icyemezo nta bubasha bari bafite bwo kugitanga, kuko ari abafasha b’abaganga (Assistant médical) atari abaganga bashobora gutanga icyemezo cy’uko umuntu afite uburwayi bwo mu mutwe; ibi akaba abishingira ku bushakashatsi yakoze kuri google. [13] Me Nsengiyumva François avuga kandi ko Munyaburanga Jean Damascène atagomba kwitwaza ingingo ya 278 y’Itegeko Nº 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi1, kuko diabète itabuza umuntu gutanga ikirego, n’ikimenyimenyi akaba yaje kuburana ntimubere inkomyi. [14] Mu myanzuro bashyikirije Urukiko, Munyaburanga Jean Damascène n’umwunganira bavuga ko n’ubwo ingingo nshya igizwe n’urubanza RP 0772/10/TGI/NYGE hamwe n’urubanza RPA 0196/12/HC/KIG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru ku wa 07/02/2014, yagize ibibazo by’uburwayi bwo mu mutwe kuva urwo rubanza rusomwe kugeza ku wa 03/11/2021 nk’uko byemezwa n’abaganga bamukurikiranye bo mu Gihugu cya Tanzaniya. Bavuga ko nta bushobozi (capacité) yari afite bwo guhita atanga ikirego mu mezi abiri nyuma y’uko urubanza nshinjabyaha ashingiraho asaba gusubirishamo urubanza ingingo nshya rubaye itegeko, ko rero icyo gihe kidakwiye kubarwa nk’uko ingingo ya 171, igika cya kabiri, y’Itegeko Nº 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi ibiteganya2. [15] Mu gihe cy’iburanisha, batanze ibisobanuro bikurikira:  Munyaburanga Jean Damascène yabaga muri Tanzaniya kuva 2003 ahakorera ubucuruzi, aza kurwarirayo, akaba ariyo mpamvu adakwiye kubazwa ibya transfer. Bongeraho ko afite passport na ticket y’indege yakoresheje ajyayo, akaba yaranaguzeyo ubutaka.

1 Igihe umuburanyi yakererewe kwiyambaza inzira z’ubujurire bitewe n’impamvu zikomeye zitunguranye kandi zidaturutse ku bushake bwe, igihe cyo kujurira kirongerwa kugeza igihe izo mpamvu zirangiriye 2 Icyo gihe ntikibarwa ku bantu badafite ubushobozi bwo kwiregera mu gihe cyose baba batarabubona MUNYABURANGA v ECOBANK Plc (yahoze yitwa BCDI)

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 Hashingiwe ku ngingo ya 278 y’Itegeko Nº 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, igihe cy’amezi abiri ntikigomba kubarwa guhera igihe urubanza nshinjabyaha rwaciriwe kuko yahise arwara akaremba.  Icyemezo cyatanzwe na Dr Kagame Abel kigaragaza ko kuva mu 2000 yari arwaye indwara idakira ya diabète, ko yagiraga des périodes de déséquilibre de sa maladie, bivuga ko yari afite incapacité.  Icyemezo cyatanzwe na Dr Gasangwa kigaragaza ko afite uburwayi bwa diabète kuva mu 2015, ikaba ari indwara ishobora kubuza ubushobozi ubwo aribwo bwose, ku buryo umuntu atagira ubwenge bwo kurega.  Icyemezo cyatanzwe n’ibitaro bya Nyakahanga kigaragaza ko kuva mu 2014 afite uburwayi butamwemerera kugira ubwenge. Nta burwayi bwo mu mutwe yari afite nk’uko uburanira

ECOBANK Plc ashaka kubyumvikanisha, ikibazo yari afite ni ugutakaza ubushobozi bwo kugira icyo yikorera.  Ku birebana n’uko uwatanze icyemezo mu bitaro bya Nyakahanga ari Medical officer atari muganga, muri Tanzaniya niko bigenda. Bongeraho ko Medical Officer ari Doctor; kandi ko atari ngombwa ko utanze icyemezo ashyiraho izina rye. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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 Kuba urubanza nshinjabyaha bashingiraho nk’ingingo nshya rwarahamije Mudenge Didace icyaha mu 2012 ntajurire, ntibahite batanga ikirego, byatewe n’uko ECOBANK Plc yari yajuriye bakaba batari gushingira ku rubanza rutaraba itegeko. [16] Ingingo ya 171, igika cya mbere, y’Itegeko Nº 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, iteganya ko igihe ntarengwa cyo kuregera gusubirishamo urubanza ingingo nshya rwaciwe burundu ari amezi abiri (2) kuva igihe impamvu ituma urwo rubanza rusabirwa gusubirwamo yabonekeye. Mu gika cyayo cya kabiri, iyo ngingo iteganya ko icyo gihe kitabarwa ku bantu badafite ubushobozi bwo kwiregera (persons declared incapable to sue in court/ les incapables) mu gihe cyose baba batarabubona. [17] Ingingo ya 278 y’Itegeko rimaze kuvugwa, iteganya ko igihe umuburanyi yakererewe kwiyambaza inzira z’ubujurire bitewe n’impamvu zikomeye zitunguranye kandi zidaturutse ku bushake bwe, igihe cyo kujurira cyongerwa kugeza igihe izo mpamvu zirangiriye. [18] Urukiko rusanga kubura ubushobozi bwo kwiregera bivugwa mu ngingo ya 171, igika cya 2, y’Itegeko Nº 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018, ari ibiba byaje nyuma y’uko umuntu aburana urubanza asaba ko rusubirishwamo ingingo nshya, kuko iyo bibaho mbere, atari kubasha kwiburanira adafite umuhagarariye (tuteur), uyu akaba ari nawe wakomeza urubanza kugeza igihe inzira zose z’ubujurire zirangiriye. MUNYABURANGA v ECOBANK Plc (yahoze yitwa BCDI)

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[19] Urukiko rusanga kandi ingingo ya 171, igika cya kabiri, irebana by’umwihariko no gusubirishamo urubanza ingingo nshya, n’ingingo ya 278 irebana n’inzira z’ubujurire muri rusange, zuzuzanya, kuko kutagira ubushobozi bwo kwiregera bishobora kuba imwe mu mpamvu zikomeye zitunguranye kandi zidaturutse ku bushake bw’umuntu. [20] Nta ngingo y’Itegeko ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi itanga igisobanuro (definition) cy’abantu badafite ubushobozi bwo kwiregera, ariko hari ingingo zitandukanye mu Itegeko Nº 32/2016 ryo ku wa 28/08/2016 rigenga abantu n’umuryango, zisobanura abantu badafite ubushobozi bwo gukoresha uburenganzira mbonezamubano (capacity to exercise civil rights), harimo n’ubushobozi bwo gutanga ikirego. Ingingo ya 1133 y’ Itegeko rimaze kuvugwa, iteganya ko imyaka y’ubukure ari 18, kandi ko kuri iyo myaka aribwo umuntu agira ubushobozi bwo gukora ibintu byose bimuhuza n’abandi; bivuga ko munsi y’iyo myaka nta bushobozi umuntu aba afite, uretse igihe yemerewe ubukure (émancipation) hakurikijwe ibiteganywa mu ngingo ya 1164 y’iryo Tegeko. [21] Muri urwo rwego kandi, ingingo ya 150 y’Itegeko Nº 32/2016 ryo ku wa 28/08/2016 iteganya ko umuntu mukuru ufite ubumuga bwo mu mutwe n’aho bwaba bujya bumuha agahenge rimwe na rimwe yamburwa ubushobozi n’urukiko rubifitiye ububasha, rukamushyiriraho umwishingizi. Ubwishingire

3 Imyaka y’ubukure ni imyaka cumi n’umunani (18) y’amavuko uretse aho iri tegeko cyangwa andi mategeko abiteganya ukundi. Kuri iyo myaka, umuntu agira ubushobozi bwo gukora ibintu byose bimuhuza n’abandi. 4 Umwana wemerewe ubukure ashobora gukora ibintu byose bimuhuza n'abandi uretse ibiteganywa ukundi n’amategeko. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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busobanurwa mu ngingo ya 119 y’iryo Tegeko nk’uburyo bukoreshwa bwo gufasha umwana cyangwa umuntu mukuru ufite ubumuga bwo mu mutwe gukoresha uburenganzira bwemererwa buri wese muri rusange no kumufasha gucunga umutungo we igihe awufite. [22] Hakurikijwe ibiteganywa mu ngingo z’Itegeko Nº 32/2016 ryo ku wa 28/08/2016 zimaze kuvugwa, abantu badafite ubushobozi bwo kwiregera ni abana bataragera ku myaka y’ubukure kandi batabwemerewe mu nzira ziteganywa n’itegeko, n’abantu bakuru bafite ubumuga bwo mu mutwe. [23] Mu iburanisha ryo ku wa 24/05/2022, Munyaburanga Jean Damascène yabwiye Urukiko ko nta kibazo afite cy’uburwayi bwo mu mutwe (bitandukanye n’ibyo yari yavuze mu myanzuro ye). Bikaba bivuga rero ko atari mu bantu badafite ubushobozi bwo kwiregera bavugwa mu ngingo ya 171, igika cya mbere, y’Itegeko Nº 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryavuzwe haruguru, hakurikijwe ibisobanuro bitangwa n’Itegeko Nº 32/2016 ryo ku wa 28/08/2016 rigenga abantu n’umuryango. [24] Icyo avuga cyamubujije gutanga ikirego, ni uburwayi buvugwa mu nyandiko 3 zatanzwe n’abaganga (medical certificates), ikibazo kikaba ari ukumenya niba ubwo burwayi ari impamvu ikomeye kandi itunguranye yashoboraga kumubuza gutanga ikirego, ivugwa mu ngingo ya 278 y’Itegeko Nº 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryavuzwe haruguru. [25] Medical certificate yo ku wa 03/11/2021, yatanzwe na Medical Officer wo muri Nyakahanga D. D. Hospital y’i Karagwe muri Tanzaniya, igaragaza ko Munyaburanga Jean Damascène yagize ibibazo byo mu mutwe (mental problems) kuva mu mwaka wa 2014, agahabwa imiti mu buryo buhoraho MUNYABURANGA v ECOBANK Plc (yahoze yitwa BCDI)

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n’amavuriro, ko iyo uburwayi bumufashe agira ibibazo byo kuvuga no kumva, ubu akaba yarorohewe5. Munyaburanga Jean Damascène yasobanuriye Urukiko ko uburwayi buvugwa muri iyi nyandiko ari ubwa diabète butamwemereraga kugira ubwenge, bukamubuza kugira ubushobozi bwo kurega. [26] Indi nyandiko ni iyo ku wa 22/03/2022 yatanzwe na Dr Gasangwa ukorera mu Bitaro bya Kacyiru, igaragaza ko Munyaburanga Jean Damascène akurikiranwa muri ibyo Bitaro kuva ku wa 14/05/2015 kubera uburwayi bwa diabète. Hari kandi inyandiko yo ku wa 20/04/2021 yatanzwe na Dr Kagame Abel ukorera mu Bitaro bya CHUK, igaragaza ko Munyaburanga Jean Damascène akurikiranwa kubera uburwayi budakira kuva mu 2000, ko agira des périodes de déséquilibre de sa maladie. Munyaburanga Jean Damascène n’umwunganira bavuga ko déséquilibre ivugwa ari incapacité iterwa n’uburwayi bwa diabète. [27] Ikigaragara muri izi nyandiko z’abaganga, hanashingiwe ku bisobanuro bitangwa na Munyaburanga Jean Damascène, ni uko uburwayi avuga bwamubujije gutanga ikirego mu gihe giteganywa n’amategeko, ari ubwa diabète afite kuva mu mwaka wa 2000. [28] Uburwayi bwa diabète, si uburwayi butuma umuntu atagira ubushobozi buvugwa mu ngingo ya 171, igika cya 2, y’Itegeko Nº 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 yavuzwe haruguru, kuko idatera ubumuga bwo mu mutwe, na Munyaburanga Jean

5 A client that had mental problems from the year 2014 on regular medication from hospitals up to date and now is improving, once on attack had difficult in hearing and speaking with difficulties, now slight improved. Need special consideration. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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Damascène akaba yivugira ko nta kibazo cy’ubumuga bwo mu mutwe yagize. [29] Kugirango kandi uburwayi bwa diabète bube bwafatwa nk’impamvu ikomeye itunguranye ivugwa mu ngingo ya 278 y’Itegeko Nº 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 yibukijwe haruguru, yatuma ibihe byo kwiyambaza inzira z’ubujurire byongerwa, ni uko bwashyira umuntu mu mimerere (conditions) ituma atabasha gutekereza, kuvuga, kumva, kwandika, nk’igihe yaba ari muri coma, ku buryo atashobora no kugira uwo aha ububasha bwo kumutangira ikirego. Ibi byaba bihura n’ibyo mu mategeko ya New South Wales bita incommunicate person6. [30] Urukiko rusanga Medical certificates Munyaburanga Jean Damascène yatanze, zitagaragaza ko yigeze ajya muri iyo mimerere. Iyatanzwe na Dr Gasangwa, ivuga ko afite diabète kuva mu 2015, kandi urubanza agaragaza nk’ikimenyetso gishya

6 Section 3 of the CPA defines a person under a legal incapacity as: any person who is under a legal incapacity in relation to the conduct of legal proceedings (other than an incapacity arising under section 4 of the Felons (Civil Proceedings) Act 1981 and, in particular, includes: (a) a child under the age of 18 years, and (b) an involuntary patient or forensic patient within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 2007, and (c) a person under guardianship within the meaning of the Guardianship Act 1987, and (d) a protected person within the meaning of the NSW Trustee and Guardian Act 2009, and (e) an incommunicate person, being a person who has such a physical or mental disability that he or she is unable to receive communications, or express his or her will, with respect to his or her property or affairs; Civil Trials Bench Book — Procedure generally, last updated: CTBB 47, MAR 22, Judicial Commission of New South Wales, https://www.judcom.nsw.gov.au, accessed June 6, 2022. MUNYABURANGA v ECOBANK Plc (yahoze yitwa BCDI)

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rwaraciwe mu 2014, ikaba ntacyo yamufasha mu rubanza. Iyatanzwe na Dr Kagame Abel, ivuga ko afite uburwayi budakira (urega yabwiye Urukiko ko ari diabète) kuva 2000, ko agira des pèriodes de déséquilibre de sa maladie. [31] Kuva mu 2000, Munyaburanga Jean Damascène yaburanye imanza zinyuranye, zirimo urubanza RC 35.782/01 rwaciwe ku wa 16/01/2002, urubanza RCOMA 0018/05/KIG rwaciwe ku wa 28/09/2007, urubanza RCOMAA 0006/07/CS rwaciwe ku wa 19/06/2009, urubanza RP 0772/10/TGI/NYGE rwaciwe ku wa 13/01/2012, n’urubanza RPA 0196/12/HC/KIG rwaciwe ku wa 07/02/2014; bivuga ko atari kunanirwa no gutanga ikirego gisaba gusubirishamo urubanza ingingo nshya. Périodes de déséquibre de sa maladie muganga avuga n’ubwo atazisobanuye, ntiyigeze anavuga ko yazigize mu buryo buhoraho kuva aho urubanza akoresha nk’ikimenyetso gishya ruciriwe (kuva 2014), kugeza igihe yatangiye ikirego. [32] Medical certificate yatanzwe na Medical Officer wo muri Nyakahanga D. D. Hospital y’i Karagwe, ntigaragaza izina ry’uwayitanze kugirango Urukiko rube rwagenzura ko yari afite ububasha bwo kuyitanga. Uretse ibyo kandi, igaragaza ko yagize ibibazo byo mutwe (mental problems) kuva 2014, ko iyo bimufashe agira ibibazo byo kuvuga no kumva, bikaba bitandukanye n’ibyo Munyaburanga Jean Damascène yabwiye Urukiko ko nta burwayi bwo mu mutwe yagize. Ahubwo yabwiye Urukiko ko uburwayi buvugwa muri iyo Medical certificate ari ubwa diabète yivurizaga no mu Rwanda. Ubwo burwayi kandi nk’uko byasobanuwe haruguru, ntibwari kumubuza gutanga ikirego, cyangwa guha ububasha Avoka ngo akimutangire kuko n’izindi manza yaziburanye abufite. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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[33] Hashingiwe ku bisobanuro bimaze gutangwa, Urukiko rurasanga ikirego cya Munyaburanga Jean Damascène cyo gusubirishamo ingingo nshya urubanza RCOMAA 0006/07/CS rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 19/06/2009, kitaratanzwe mu gihe giteganywa n’amategeko, bityo kikaba kidashobora kwakirwa ngo gisuzumwe.

2. Gusuzuma ibijyanye n’indishyi [34] Munyaburanga Jean Damascène na Me Murutasibe Joseph umwunganira bavuga ko kubera imyaka ishize avukijwe uburenganzira ku mutungo we, asaba indishyi z’akababaro zingana na 10.000.000 Frw, kuko kuva yakwamburwa umutungo we yahungabanye ndetse bikamuviramo uburwayi butandukanye harimo n’ubwo mu mutwe. Asaba kandi 5.000.000 Frw y’igihembo cy’Avoka na 1.000.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza. [35] Me Nsengiyumva François na Me Mukakabanda Athanasie bahagarariye ECOBANK Plc bavuga ko indishyi Munyaburanga Jean Damascène asaba nta shingiro zifite kuko ariwe utarubahirije inshingano zo kwishyura umwenda. Bavuga ko ahubwo kuba yarakuruye ECOBANK Plc mu nkiko nta mpamvu, bigatuma yitabaza umunyamategeko, Urukiko rwamutegeka kwishyura 1.500.000 Frw y'igihembo cy'Avoka na 300.000 Frw y'ikurikiranarubanza.

UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [36] Urukiko rusanga amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cy’Avoka Munyaburanga Jean Damascène asaba atayahabwa kuko atsinzwe urubanza. MUNYABURANGA v ECOBANK Plc (yahoze yitwa BCDI)

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[37] Urukiko rusanga amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cy’Avoka asabwa na ECOBANK Plc yayagenerwa kuko byabaye ngombwa gukurikirana urubanza no gushaka umunyamategeko wo kuyunganira. Rusanga ariko 1.500.000 Frw y'igihembo cy'Avoka isaba ari menshi kandi itayatangira ibimenyetso, ikaba igenewe mu bushishozi bw’Urukiko 500.000 Frw, naho 300.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza ikaba yayahabwa uko yayasabye kuko ari mu rugero. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [38] Rwemeje ko ikirego cya Munyaburanga Jean Damascène cyo gusubirishamo ingingo nshya urubanza Nº RCOMAA 0006/07/CS rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 19/06/2009, kitatanzwe mu gihe cyemewe n’amategeko, kikaba kitakwakirwa ngo gisuzumwe; [39] Rutegetse Munyaburanga Jean Damascène guha ECOBANK Plc 500.000 Frw y’igihembo cy’Avoka, na 300.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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ERJB v. UWAMARIYA [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’UBUCURUZI – RCOM 00269/2021/TC (Rwigema, P.J.,) 14 Ukuboza 2021] Amategeko agenga imiburanishirize y’imanza z’ubucuruzi – Ububasha bw’inkiko – Irangizwa ry’ibyemezo nkemurampaka bihatira umuyobozi ishyirwa mu bikorwa byabyo – Ikirego gihatira umuyobozi gushyira mu bikorwa icyemezo cy'ubukempurampaka kiri mu bubasha bw’Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi. Incamake y’ikibazo: Sosiyete E.R.J.B Ltd yagiranye amasezerano y’ubwubatsi bw’ibyumba by’amashuri na Minisiteri y’uburezi, ayo masezerano akaba yarateganyaga ko ibibazo bizayavukamo bizakemurwa mu bwumvikane, byananirana hakitabazwa ubukemurampaka. Ubwumvikane hagati y’ impande zombi bwarananiranwe maze sosiyete E.R.J.B Ltd ishyikiriza ikibazo cyayo Ubukemurampaka, irega Minisiteri y’uburezi ivuga ko itubahirije inshingano zayo zo kuyishyura imirimo yayikoreye, Ubukemurampaka nabwo butegeka minisiteri kwishyura umwenda yari isigayemo, hamwe n’inyungu zawo. E.R.J.B Ltd yareze minisitiri mu Rukiko rw’ Ubucuruzi ivuga ko icyemezo cyafashwe n’ubukemurampaka cyategekaga Minisiteri abereye umuyobozi kwishyura umwenda iyifitiye kitigeze gishyirwa mu bikorwa, bityo ko isaba uru Rukiko guhamagaza Minisitiri kugirango yisobanure, inasaba ko umunyamabanga uhoraho muri iyi minisiteri agobokeshwa ku gahato muri uru rubanza, ndetse agahatirwa gushira mu bikorwa icyemezo ERJB v. UWAMARIYA

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cyafashwe n’ ubukemurampaka kuko nk’ushinzwe ingengo y’imari (chief Budget) yatambamira iyishyurwa ry’amafaranga yayo yategetswe mu rubanza nkemurampaka. Minisitiri w’Uburezi yatanze inzitizi muri uru Rukiko avuga ko ikirego kidakwiye kwakirwa n’ Urukiko rw ’Ubucuruzi kuko rudafite ububasha avuga ko ahubwo ubukempurampaka bwafashe icyemezo nibwo bufite ububasha bwo guhamagaza umuyobozi kugirango yisobanure ku mpamvu zatumye adashyira mu bikorwa icyemezo cyafashwe n’ Ubukempuramaka cyamutegekaga kwishyura, asaba ko ibibazo bijyanye n’Ubukemurampaka byakemurwa n’Urukiko Rukuru rw’ Ubucuruzi. Incamake y’icyemezo: Ikirego gihatira umuyobozi gushyira mu bikorwa icyemezo cy’ Ubukempurampaka kiri mu bubasha bw’Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi. Inzitizi nta shingiro zifite. Amagarama y’urubanza arasubitswe. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko N° 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, ingingo ya 183,184, 241 n’iya 242. Imanza zifashishijwe: Urubanza RCOM 00014/2019/HCC; CELA CompanyLtd v Philip Cotton rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi kuwa 10/04/2019. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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Urubanza RCOMAA 00018/2018/CA- RCOMAA00024/2018/CA; Murekatete Laetitia n’abandi v GT Bank rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire kuwa 16/11/2018. Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] E.R.J.B Ltd yagiranye amasezerano na Leta y’u Rwanda (Minisiteri y’uburezi) y’ubwubatsi bw’ibyumba by’amashuri n’ubwiherero ku giciro cya 418,397,293Frw, ayo masezerano akaba yarateganyaga ko ibibazo bizayavukamo bizakemurwa mu bwumvikane, byananirana hakitabazwa ubukemurampaka. [2] E.R.J.B Ltd yashyikirije ikibazo Ubukemurampaka irega Minisiteri y’uburezi (MINEDUC) ko itubahirije inshingano zayo zo kuyishyura imirimo yayikoreye, Ukemurampaka butegeka iyo minisiteri kwishyura E.R.J.B Ltd 41.496.440Frw y’umwenda yari isigayemo, 37.144.831Frw y’inyungu z’uwo mwenda, 3.000.000Frw y’igihembo cy’Avoka n’ikurikiranarubanza na 5,881USD y’ikiguzi cy’Umukemurampaka. [3] Ubukemurampaka bwategetse kandi Leta y’u Rwanda (Minisiteri y’Uburezi) kwishyura amafaranga avugwa haruguru mu gihe kitarenze iminsi mirongo itatu (30) kuva icyemezo gishyizweho umukono, byaba bidakozwe hakabarwa inyungu zingana na 8.131%Frw ku mwaka. UUBANZA RCOM 00269/2021/TC [4] E.R.J.B Ltd ivuga ko icyemezo cy’ubukemurampaka kivugwa haruguru kitigeze gishyirwa mu bikorwa na Leta y’u ERJB v. UWAMARIYA

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Rwanda, bityo ikaregera urukiko Uwamariya Valentine nka minisitiri w’uburezi kugira ngo ategekwe gushyira mu bikorwa icyo cyemezo, ndetse ikanasaba ko Karake charles nawe agobokeshwa ku gahato muri uru rubanza kugira ngo nawe nk’Umunyamabanga uhoraho muri iyo minisiteri ategekwe gushyira mu bikorwa icyo cyemezo. [5] Me Habumuremyi Prosper uburanira Uwamariya Valentine atanga inzitizi y’iburabubasha bw’urukiko, bityo agasaba ko ikirego kitakirwa. Kubijyanye no kugobokesha umunyamabanga uhoraho muri MINEDUC avuga ko bitari ngombwa ko agobokeshwa kuko atabangamira ishyirwa mu bikorwa ry'icyemezo cy’urukiko. [6] Muri uru rubanza, urukiko rusuzuma: - Niba nta bubasha rufite bwo kuburanisha iki kirego; - Niba Karake charles akwiye kugobokeshwa ku gahato mu rubanza. II. ISESENGURA RY’URUBANZA 1. Gusuzuma niba Urukiko nta bubasha rufite bwo kuburanisha iki kirego [7] Me Habumuremyi Prosper uburanira Uwamariya Valentine avuga ko ingingo ya 184 y’itegeko ryerekeye imiburanishirize y'imanza z'imbonezamubano iz'ubucuruzi iz'umurimo n'iz'ubutegetsi, yashingiweho hatangwa ikirego, irebana gusa n’imanza z'ubutegetsi. Akomeza avuga ko Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi nta bubasha rufite bwo kuburanisha iki kirego kuko hashingiye kuri iyo ngingo, Urukiko rufite ububasha bwo guhamagaza umuyobozi kugira ngo yisobanure ari urwafashe ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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icyemezo, bityo kuba icyemezo kiregerwa cyarafashwe n’Ubukemurampaka, Urukiko rw'Ubucuruzi rudafite ububasha bwo gumahamagara Uwamariya ngo yisobanure kandi atarirwo rwafashe icyemezo ERJB Ltd ishaka ko cyubahirizwa, bityo agasanga ikirego cyakagombye koherezwa Ubucyempurampaka. [8] Me Yankurije Dative uburanira E.R.J.B Ltd avuga ko ashingiye ku ngingo ya 1 y’itegeko ryavuzwa haruguru, iryo tegeko rigenga rigenga imiburanishirize y’izindi manza mu gihe nta yandi mategeko yihariye agenga imiburanishirize yazo, ari yo mpamvu ikirego cya E.R.J.B Ltd gishingiye ku ngingo ya 184 y’iryo tegeko, bityo ko urukiko rw’ubucuruzi rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha iki kirego kuko nta kibazo cy'ubukemurampaka kiri muri urubanza. URUBANZA RCOM 00269/2021/TC [9] Me Habumuremyi akomeza avuga ko Mujawamariya asaba ko ibibazo bijyanye n’Ubukemurampaka byakemurwa n'Urukiko Rukuru rw'Ubucuruzi, hashingiwe ku ngingo ya 82 y’itegeko ryavuzwe haruguru; naho Me Bayingana Janvier nawe uburanira E.R.J.B Ltd akavuga ko iyo ngingo yahuzwa n’ibiteganywa mu ngingo ya 47 y’itegeko rigenga ubukemurampaka.

UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [10] Ingingo ya 184 y’Itegeko No 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi nk’uko ryahinduwe kugeza ubu ivuga ko “Umuyobozi wanze kubahiriza ibyategetswe mu rubanza ashobora guhamagarwa mu rukiko rwafashe icyemezo kugira ngo yisobanure ku mpamvu ERJB v. UWAMARIYA

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zamubujije kubyubahiriza, bisabwe n’umuburanyi ubifitemo inyungu.” [11] Urukiko rurasanga n’ubwo ingingo imaze kuvugwa iri mu mutwe w’itegeko urebana n’imiburanishirize y’imanza z’ubutegetsi; uwo mutwe ugizwe n’ibyiciro bibiri, ari byo: a)Uburyo imanza zo mu rwego rw’ubutegetsi ziregerwa n’uko ziburanishwa; b) Igihano gihatira kubahiriza icyemezo cy’urukiko; muri iki cyiciro cya kabiri umushingamategeko mu ngingo ya 184 ivuga haruguru, akaba yaragenwe ko umuyobozi wanze kubahiriza ibyategetswe mu rubanza ashobora guhamagarwa mu rukiko rwafashe icyemezo kugira ngo yisobanure, ibi bikaba bigaragaza ko ububasha bwo guhamagaza uwo muyobozi bufitwe n’Urukiko rwaciye urwo rubanza, cyane cyane ko ari rwo rushobora kumva impaka ku ishyirwa mu bikorwa ry’icyemezo rwategetse kurusha urundi rukiko urwari rwo rwose rutaburanishije urwo rubanza, bityo bikaba byumvikana ko mu gihe urubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi nta cyarubuza ububasha bwo guhamagaza umuyobozi uregwa kuba yaranze kubahiriza ibyemezo rwategetse; ibi bikaba byaranashimangiwe n’Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi mu rubanza RCOM 00014/2019/HCC rwaciye kuwa 10/04/2019, aho rwategetse umuyobozi wa Kaminuza y’uRwanda Philip COTTON ko nta adakora ku buryo bwose kugira ngo iyo Kaminuza yishyure CELA Company Ltd 54,915,000Frw bitarenze kuwa 10/06/2019, azajya acibwa 250.000 Frw buri munsi y’igihano kimuhatira kurangiza urwo rubanza kaminuza yatinzwe n’iyo sosiyete1.. RUBZA RCOM 00269/2021/TC

1 Urubanza RCOM 00014/2019/HCC rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi kuwa 10/04/2019, CELA Company Ltd na Philip Cotton igika cya 8 & 27. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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[12] Kubijyanye n’ibyerekeranye uru rubanza aho urukiko rwaregewe abayobozi ba Minisiteri y’Uburezi kugira ngo bisobanure ku kuba baranze gushyira mu bikorwa icyemezo cy’ubukemurampaka cyo ku wa 15/05/2020, Urukiko rurasanga itegeko rivugwa haruguru nta cyo ryagenwe ku umuyobozi wanze kubahiriza ibyategetswe mu rubanza rw’Ubukemurampaka, ko nawe ashobora guhamagarwa mu rukiko kugira ngo yisobanure ku mpamvu zamubujije kubyubahiriza. [13] Rurasanga imirimo y’ubukemurampaka isozwa n’isomwa ry’imyanzuro mu mizi cyangwan’icyemezo gisoza imirimo y’ubukemurampaka gifashwe n’Inteko y’Abakemurampaka, igihe gusuzuma ikibazo cyaregewe birangiye nk’uko biteganywa n’ingingo ya 44 y’ItegekoN° 005/2008 ryo kuwa 14/02/2008 ryerekeye ubukemurampaka n’ubwunzi mu bibazo by’ubucuruzi, iri tegeko rikaba ntacyo riteganya ku gukomeza imirimo y’ubukemurampaka kubyerekeranye ishyirwa mu bikorwa ry’imyanzuro yabwo, haregwa umuyobozi wanzekuyishyira mu bikorwa kugira ngo yisobanure. [14] Rurasanga kandi nta masezerano y’ubukemurampaka ari hagati ya ERJB Ltd na Uwamariya Valentine nk’uko biteganywa n’ingingo ya 9 y’itegeko ryavuzwe haruguru ryerekeye ubukemurampaka, ku buryo byakwambura urukiko ububasha bwo kuburanisha uru rubanza nk’uko biteganywa n’ingingo ya 10 y’iryo tegeko. [15] Urukiko rurasanga kuba ikiregerwa “Gusaba urukiko gutegeka Umuyobozi gushyira mu bikorwa icyemezo cy’ubukemurampaka cyo ku wa 15/05/2020” kitari mu bubasha bw’ubukemurampaka, mu gihe ntacyo itegeko ribiteganyaho nta ERJB v. UWAMARIYA

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rundi rukiko rwagakwiye kugira ububasha bwo kuburanisha iki kirego, rutari Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi kuko arirwo rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha ibibazo by’ubucuruzi mu gihe ababuranyi batasezeranye ko bizakemurwa n’Ubukemurampaka ndetse icyemezo kivugwa ko cyanze kubahirizwa n’abayobozi ba Minisiteri y’uburezi kikaba cyerekeranye n’amasoko ya Leta, ari mu bubasha bw’uru Rukiko2, bityo akaba arirwo rukwiye guhamagaza umuyobozi bireba kugira ngo yisobanure ku mpamvu zamubujije kubahiriza icyemezo kijyanye n’ayo masoko kuko nta rundi Rukiko rubifitiye ububasha ndetse akaba nta rundi rwasobanukirwa neza impamvu zatumye umuyobozi uregwa atubahiriza ibyategetswe kurusha urukiko rusanzwe ruburanisha imanza nk’izo igihe zitaregewe Ubukemurampaka. UBANZ RCOM 69/2021/TC [16] Ibimaze kuvugwa haruguru bishimangirwa nanone no kuba imanza zaciwe n’inteko y’Ubukemurampaka (arbitral awards) zishirwaho inyandikompuruza n’umwanditsi w’Urukiko, aho zishobora kurangizwa ku gahato zimaze kugenzurwa no kwemezwa n’uwo mwanditsi nk’uko biteganywa n’ingingo ya 241 n’iya 242 z’Itegeko No22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi nk’uko ryahinduwe kugeza ubu, bityo kuba icyemezo cy’Ubukemurampaka cyo ku wa 13/05/2020 cyarashyizweho inyandikompuruza n’umwanditsi w’Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi kuwa 29/6/20203, kugira ngo kirangizwe ku neza cyangwa ku

2 Ingingo ya 81 y’itegeko N°30/2018 ryo ku wa 02/06/2018 rigena ububasha bw’inkiko, igika cya 1, agace ka 16°. 3 Icyemezo cy’ubukemurampaka hagati ya E.R.J.B Ltd na Leta y’uRwanda (MINEDUC), cyaashwe ku wa 13/05/2020, urupapuro rwa 19. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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ngufu za Leta, nta cyabuza Urukiko rwashyizeho iyo nyandikompuruza guhamagaza umuyobozi wanze kubahiriza ibyategetswe kugira ngo yisobanure ku mpamvu zamubujije kubyubahiriza, bisabwe n’umuburanyi ubifitemo inyungu; kubw’ibi Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi rukaba rufite ububasha ku kirego rwaregewe na ERJB Ltd kijyanye n’ishyirwa mu bikorwa ry’icyemezo cy’Ubukemurampaka. [17] Igika cya 3 cy’ingingo ya 54 y’Amasezerano Mpuzamahanga yo gukemura impaka z’ishoramari hagati ya Leta n’abantu ku giti cyabo bakomoka mu bindi bihugu (ICSID Convention4) yashyizweho umukono n’u Rwanda kuwa 21 Mata 1978 yemezwa n’arwo kuwa 14 Ugushyingo 1979,5 iteganya “ko irangizwa ry’ibyemezo nkemurampaka rigengwa n’amategeko asanzwe agenga ibyerekeranye n’imanza mu igihugu zirangizwamo.”6 Urukiko rurasanga n’ubwo muri uru rubanza icyemezo cy’ubukemurampaka cyerekeranye na Leta y’u Rwanda na ERJB Ltd nka sosiyete yo mu Rwanda, nta cyabuza ko irangangizwa ry’icyo cyemezo rigengwa naryo n’amategeko agenga ibyerekeranye n’irangizwa ry’imanza mu Rwanda (laws concerning the execution of judgments in the State in whose territories such execution is sought).

4 Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States (also known as ICSID Convention). 4 Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States (also known as ICSID Convention). 5Urubuga rwa murandasi https://icsid.worldbank.org/sites/default/files/ICSID-3. pdf, rwasuwe kuwa 11/12/2021 6 Article 54 (3) of the ICSID Convention “Execution of the award shall be governed by the laws concerning the execution of judgments in force in the State in whose territories such execution is sought.” ERJB v. UWAMARIYA

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[18] Rurasanga amategeko agenga irangizwa ry’imanza mu gihugu nta fatira ateganya kubyerekeranye n’umutungo wa Leta y’u Rwanda igihe yatsinzwe urubanza, ahubwo ingingo ya 183 y’Itegeko No 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi nk’uko ryahinduwe kugeza ubu, igika cya 3 iteganya ko “Iyo urubanza rwabaye itegeko rutegeka Leta, Umujyi wa Kigali, ubuyobozi bw’Akarere cyangwa urundi rwego rwa Leta kuriha amafaranga rwagennye, ayo mafaranga agomba kwishyurwa mu mezi atandatu (6) uhereye ku munsi w’imenyeshwa ry’urubanza”,atakwishyurwa Umuyobozi wanze kubahiriza ibyategetswe mu rubanza agahamagarwa mu rukiko kugira ngo yisobanure ku mpamvu zamubujije kubyubahiriza zaba nta shingiro zifite, agahabwa igihano gihatira uwo umuyobozi ubwe kubahiriza urubanza mu gihe cyose ruzaba rutararangizwa nk’uko biteganywa n’ingingo ya 184 y’iryo tegeko. [19] Rurasanga kuba nta mategeko yihariye agenga irangizwa ry’ibyemezo nkemurampaka igihe bitashyizwe mu bikorwa na Leta y’uRwanda, iryo rangizwa rikwiye kugengwa n’amategeko asanzwe agenga ibyerekeranye n’irangizwa ry’imanza nk’uko binateganywa mu masezerano mpuzamahanga yavuzwe haruguru, bityo kuba umuyobozi wa Leta yahamagazwa kugirango yisobanure ku mpamvu zamubujije kubahiriza ibyategetswe mu rubanza rusanzwe Leta yatsinzwe, akaba n’icyabuza ko ahamagazwa mu Rukiko ruri ku rwego rumwe n’Urwego rw’ubucyemurampaka rwafashe icyemezo (ruburanisha ku rwego rwa mbere imanza zerekeranye n’amasoko ya Leta) kugira ngo yisobanure ku mpamvu zamubujije kubahiriza icyo cyemezo, bityo Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi rukaba rufite ububasha bwo guhamagaza ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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umuyobozi wa Minisiteri y’uburezi kugira ngo yisobanure ku mpamvu zabujije Leta y’uRwanda (MINEDUC) kubahiriza ibyategetswe mu rubanza nkemurampaka yaburanyemona E.R.J.B Ltd; kubw’ibi inzitizi y’iburabubasha bw’urukiko itangwa na UwamariyaValentine ikaba nta shingiro ifite.

2. Gusuzuma niba Karake charles akwiye kugobokeshwa ku gahato muri uru rubanza. [20] Me Bayingana asaba Urukiko kugobokesha ku gahato Karake Charles nk’umunyamabanga uhoraho muri Minisiteri y’uburezi kuko nk’ushinzwe ingengo y’imari (chief Budget) yatambamira iyishyurwa ry’amafaranga ya E.R.J.B Ltd Leta y’uRwanda yategetswe mu rubanza nkemurampaka. [21] Me Habumuremyi avuga ko asanga umunyamabanga uhoraho muri minisiteri nta bubasha afite bwo kubangamira ishyirwamubikorwa ry'icyemezo cy’urukiko, bityo ko bitari ngombwa kumugobokesha mu rubanza.

UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [22] Ingingo ya 115 y’itegeko ryavuzwe haruguru ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza, igika cya1 ivuga ko “Kugobokesha ku gahato umuburanyi mu rubanza bisabwa n’umuburanyi ushaka ko umuntu utari mu rubanza aruzanwamo kugira ngo na we aburane, hato atazatambamira imikirize yarwo.” [23] Urukiko rushingiye ku ngingo imaze kuvugwa, rurasanga ukugobokesha ku gahato bikorwa ku muburanyi wifuza ko uwagobokeshejwe ku gahato agira ibyo acibwa, ibi bikaba bishoboka gusa iyo ubisaba agamije ko uwagobokeshejwe amenya imikirize y’urubanza kugira ngo akumire ko ERJB v. UWAMARIYA

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yazatambamira imikirize yarwo; ibi bikaba byarashimangiwe ndetse n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire mu rubanza

RCOMA 00018/2018/CA - RCOMAA00024/2018/CA rwaciwe kuwa 16/11/2018.7 [24] Rurasanga muri uru rubanza ingingo (issues) zisabwa urukiko gusuzuma ari gutegeka “Minisitiri w’uburezi n’Umunyamabanga wihariye muri Minisiteri y’Uburezi mu Rwanda gushyira mu bikorwa icyemezo cyafashwe n’inteko y’abakemurampaka.” no “Kumenya niba Minisitiri w’Uburezi n’Umunyamabanga wa uhoraho muri Minisiteri y’uburezi bakwiriye gutegekwa gutanga indishyi muri uru rubanza.” Urukiko rurasanga Umunyamabanga wa uhoraho (Permanent secretary) muri Minisiteri y’uburezi atafatirwa icyemezo kandi atahawe umwanya wo kwisobanura, bityo hashingiwe ku ngingo ya 115 akaba agomba kugobokeshwa ku gahato mu rubanza kugira ngo na we aruburane, hato atazatambamira ishyirwa mu bikorwa ry’imikirize yarwo cyane cyane ko ari nawe ushinzwe ingengo y’imari muri iyo minisiteri. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [25] Rwemeje ko ikirego inzitizi zitangwa na Uwamariya Valentine mu rubanza RCOM 00269/2021/TC zidafite ishingiro. [26] Rwemeje ko Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha ikirego rwaregewe na ERJB Ltd;

7 Urubanza RCOMAA 00018/2018/CA-RCOMAA00024/2018/CA rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire kuwa 16/11/2018, haburana Murekatete Laetitia, Kajeguhakwa Valens, SGP Ltd, SP Ltd na GT Bank, igika cya 41 ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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[27] Rwemeje ko Karake charles Umunyamabanga wa uhoraho (Permanent secretary) muri Minisiteri y’uburezi agobokeshwa ku gahato muri uru rubanza. [28] Rwemeje ko iburanisha rizakomeza kuwa 28 Ukuboza 2021 saa mbiri n’igice (08:30h) za mu gitondo.

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IMANZA ZACIWE MU MIZI

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IMANZA Z’IMBONEZAMUBANO

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BAYINGANA N’UNDI v NDABAMENYE [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’IKIRENGA – RS/INJUST/RC 00012/2019/SC (Mukamulisa P.J, Nyirinkwaya, Hitiyaremye, Karimunda na Muhumuza, J.) 22 Nyakanga 2022] Amategeko agenga imanza mbonezamubano – Amasezerano – Amasezerano y’ubutumwa – Avoka – Amasezerano y’ubutumwa bwo guhagararira umuburanyi mu rukiko – N’ubwo ubusanzwe Avoka afatwa nk’ufite ubutumwa (présumé) bwo guhagararira uwo aburanira, iyo habaye ugukemanga ku butumwa yaba yarahawe, asabwa kubugaragaza kugira ngo iburanisha ry’urubanza rigende neza. Amategeko agenga imanza mbonezamubano – Amategeko agenga amasezerano – Amasezerano y’ubutumwa bwo guhagararira umuburanyi – Ingaruka zo guhagarira umuburanyi utaguhaye ubutumwa – Abahagararira abandi mu nkiko babikora mu rwego rw’ubutumwa baba barahawe – Iyo Avoka yaburanye urubanza nta butumwa yahawe ibyo yakoze byose biteshwa agaciro, ibintu bigasubira uko byari bimeze mbere y’uko izo manza zibaho. Incamake y’ikibazo: Bayingana yaguze ikibanza cya Ndabamenye muri cyamunara aza kucyandikwaho we n’umugore we witwa Bazigaga ariko Ndabamenye nyuma aza kuregera Urukiko rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge arusaba kwemeza ko icyo kibanza n’ibindi birmo ari bye anarusaba gutesha agaciro icyemezo cy’umutungo cyanditse kuri Bayingana na Bazigaga kikamwandikwaho. Urukiko rwasanze icyo kirego nta shingiro gifite kuko abaregwa babonye icyo kibanza mu buryo bukurikije amategeko. Ndabamenye yajuririye 67

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urwo rubanza mu Rukiko Rukuru avuga ko Urukiko Rwisumbuye rutasuzumye inzitizi y’uko iki kibazo cyaburanwe mu rundi rubanza ko kandi yabujijwe uburenganzira bwo kuvuguruzanya. Urukiko Rukuru rwemeje ko ikibanza kiburanwa ari icya Ndabamenye bityo ko ko ikibanza cyari gifite Nº 17 ubu gifite UPI Nº 1/01/09/03/1077 ari icye. Mwiburanisha, Urukiko rwemeje ko ruzakora iperereza rukagera ahari ikiburanwa, maze iperereza rirakorwa, Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix asaba ko uwitwa Zigirababiri Protais abazwa nk’umutangabuhamya. Mu ibazwa rye, uwo mutangabuhamya yamenyesheje Urukiko ko Ndabamenye Eraste yapfuye mu kwezi kwa 2/2020 aguye muri Afurika y’Epfo. Nyuma yo kubona amakuru y’uko Ndabamenye yaba yarapfuye nyamara Avoka uvuga ko amuhagarariye akaba ntacyo yamenyesheje Urukiko, rumaze no gusuzuma inyandiko zigize dosiye rukabona ko hari amakuru arimo ateye urujijo cyane cyane arebana n’umwirondoro wa Ndabamenye, rwasanze hari ugushidikanya ku butumwa yaba yarahaye Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix uvuga ko amuhagarariye, rusanga ari ikibazo ndemyagihugu kigomba kubanza gusuzumwa no gufatwaho icyemezo mbere y’ibindi byose Urukiko rwasabye Me Rudekemwa gutanga ibimenyesto by’ubutumwa yaba yarahawe no gufatanya n’abagize umuryango wa Ndabamenye gushaka no kugaragaza icyemezo cy’uko yapfuye. Igihe bahawe cyo kuzana ibyo byemezo cyarageze ariko ntibabigaragaza bituma Urukiko rubanza gusuzuma niba Avoka hari ubutumwa yahawe bwo guhagararira Ndabamenye. Me Rudakemwa avuga ko afite ububasha yahawe bwo guhagararira Ndabamenye kuva mu manza zabanjirije uru kandi ko amwishyura nta kibazo. Akomeza avuga ko baheruka kuvugana mu ntangiro za 2019. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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Uwasubirishijemo urubanza ku mpamvu z’akarengane, we asanga imyitwarire ya Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix iteye impungenge, ndetse bikaba bigoye kwemera ko ibyo abwira Urukiko bijyanye n’urupfu rw’uwo aburanira, ari ukuri, ahubwo ko iyo myitwarire ishimangira ikibazo bagaragaje mu Rukiko Rukuru cy’uko atigeze ahabwa ubutumwa bwo guhagararira Ndabamenye Eraste bitewe n’uko mu maburanisha yabanje mu nkiko zo hasi, byaje kugaragara ko atabaga afite amakuru ahagije k’uwo aburanira no ku kiburanwa. Incamake y’icyemezo: 1. N’ubwo ubusanzwe Avoka afatwa nk’ufite ubutumwa (présumé) bwo guhagararira uwo aburanira, iyo habaye ugukemanga ku butumwa yaba yarahawe, asabwa kubugaragaza kugira ngo iburanisha ry’urubanza rigende neza.

2. Iyo Avoka yaburanye urubanza nta butumwa yahawe ibyo yakoze byose biteshwa agaciro, ibintu bigasubira uko byari bimeze mbere y’uko izo manza zibaho, kuba nta butumwa Me Rudakemwa yahawe na Ndabamenye bwo kumuhagararira mu manza, ibyo akoze akaba atari abifitiye ububasha bityo bikaba ari imfabusa. Urubanza RC 00276/2016/TGI/NYGE n’urubanza RCA 00367/2016/HC/KIG ziteshejwe agaciro. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko Nº 32/2016 ryo ku wa 28/08/2016 rigenga abantu n’umuryango, ingingo ya 15 Itegeko Nº 83/2013 ryo ku wa 11/09/2013 rishyiraho Urugaga rw’Abavoka mu Rwanda rikanagena imitunganyirize n’imikorere yarwo, ingingo ya 2, 47. BAYINGANA N’UNDI v NDABAMENYE

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Itegeko Nº 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, ingingo ya 9, 121. Imanza zifashishijwe: Uwitonze n’abandi na Rwigema, RCAA0028/11/CS rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 11/05/2012, Icyegeranyo cy’Ibyemezo by’inkiko, Igitabo cya gatatu, Nº 14, Nyakanga, 2012, P. 58-60. Nyamuhungu na Rusenyi Coffee Growers, RS/REV/RCOMA003/12/CS rwaciwe n’Uurukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 06/09/2013. Ubushinjacyaha na RWIGASS CIGARETTE COMPANY SARL n’undi, RPAA 0056/06/CS- RPAA 0155/06/CS rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 30/05/2008. Inyandiko z’abahanga zifashishijwe: Serge Guinchard, Droit et pratique de la procédure civile, 8 éd., Paris, Dalloz, 2014/2015, p. 544, Natalie Fricero na Pierre Julien, Procédure civile, 5e édition, édition LGDJ, Extenso éditions, Paris, 2014, page 54 – 55. H. Solus – R. Perrot, Droit judiciaire privé, t.3: Procédure de première instance, Sirey, Revue internationale de droit comparé,1991, P.45. D. Cholet, « Représentation et assistance en justice », Rép.pr.civ, 2012 (actualisation juin 2016). D. Cholet, « Représentation et assistance en justice », art.cit. Spéc. N° 72. Antoine Bolzele, Règles du mandat ad litem: inapplication au tiers qui mandate un avocat, https://www.dalloz- ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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actualite.fr/flash/regles-du-mandat-ad-litem- inapplication-au-tiers-qui-mandate-un-avoca, 10 janvier 2019, consultée le 07 Juin 2022. Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Ku wa 13/07/1996, Bayingana Ntango Théodomir yaguze muri cyamunara ikibanza n’amazu acyubatsemo bya Ndabamenye Eraste biherereye mu Kagari ka Kiyovu, Umurenge wa Nyarugenge, ku giciro cya 12.600.000 Frw hashingiwe ku cyemezo no 285/96 cyo ku wa 04/04/1996 giteza cyamunara umutungo wa Ndabamenye Eraste kugira ngo hishyurwe umwenda yari afitiye Banki yitwaga BACAR S.A. [2] Ndabamenye Eraste yaregeye Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge arusaba kwemeza ko ikibanza Nº 1077 n’ibirimo ari ibye, anasaba gutesha agaciro icyemezo cy’umutungo cyanditse kuri Bayingana Ntango Théodomir na Bazigaga Adèle, kikamwandikwaho. [3] Mu rubanza RC 00276/2016/TGI/NYGE rwaciwe ku wa 27/07/2016, Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge rwemeje ko ikirego cyatanzwe na Ndabamenye Eraste nta shingiro gifite, ko ikibanza kiburanwa ari icya Bayingana Ntango Théodomir n’umugore we Bazigaga Adèle kubera ko bakibonye mu buryo bukurikije amategeko kandi ko nta mpamvu yo gutesha agaciro ibyangombwa by’umutungo wabo. [4] Ndabamenye Eraste yajuririye urwo rubanza mu Rukiko Rukuru avuga ko Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge BAYINGANA N’UNDI v NDABAMENYE

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rutasuzumye inzitizi y’uko iki kibazo cyaburanwe mu rundi rubanza ko kandi yabujijwe uburenganzira bwo kuvuguruzanya. [5] Mu rubanza RCA 00367/2016/HC/KIG rwaciwe ku wa 12/01/2018, Urukiko Rukuru rwemeje ko ubujurire bwatanzwe na Ndabamenye Eraste bufite ishingiro, ko ikibanza cyari gifite Nº 17 ubu gifite UPI Nº 1/01/09/03/1077, ari icya Ndabamenye Eraste. [6] Bayingana Ntango Théodomir yandikiye Perezida w'Urukiko rw'ubujurire amusaba gusuzuma akarengane yagiriwe muri urwo rubanza kugira ngo mu gihe byaba byemejwe na Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga, rwongere ruburanishwe. Mu cyemezo cye no 212/CJ/SC cyo kuwa 05/12/2019, Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga yemeje ko urubanza RCA 000367/2016/HC/KIG rwongera kuburanishwa, ikirego cyandikwa kuri RS/INJUST/RC 00012/2019/SC. [7] Urubanza rwaburanishijwe mu ruhame ku wa 12/10/2020, Bayingana Ntango Théodomir aburanirwa na Me Mbarushimana Aimé, Baingana Ntango Christine aburanirwa na Me Rukarishya Philémon naho Ndabamenye Eraste aburanirwa na Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix. Urukiko rwabanje gusuzuma inyandiko Bayingana Ntango Théodomir yatanze igaragaza ko umugore we bari bafatanyije urubanza ariwe Bazigaga Adèle yapfuye. Nyuma yo kubona ko dosiye igaragaza ko bashyingiranywe mu buryo bwemewe n’amategeko kandi bafatanyije umutungo uburanwa, Urukiko rwasanze, ku ruhande rurega, uru rubanza rugomba gukomezwa na Bayingana Ntango Théodomir wenyine. [8] Urukiko rwanasuzumye inzitizi yatanzwe na Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix uhagarariye Ndabamenye Eraste ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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wavugaga ko Bayingana Ntango Théodomir atubahirije ibihe byo gusaba gusubirishamo urubanza ku mpamvu z’akarengane, rusanga nta shingiro ifite nyuma yo kubona ko Bayingana Ntango Théodomir yatanze ikirego mbere y’iminsi 30 iteganywa n’ingingo ya 56, igika cya mbere y’Itegeko no 30/2018 ryo ku wa 02/06/2018 rigena ububasha bw’Inkiko. [9] Ku bijyanye no kuba Baingana Ntango Christine yarasabye ko yakurwa muri uru rubanza kuko nta nyungu arufitemo, Urukiko rwasanze nta cyatuma arukurwamo kubera ko ingingo ya 63, igika cya mbere, y’Itegeko N° 30/2018 ryo ku wa 02/06/2018 rigena ububasha bw’inkiko iteganya ko iyo Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga yemeje ko urubanza rusubirwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane, ruburanishwa bundi bushya abarubayemo ababuranyi bose bahari. [10] Muri iryo buranisha kandi ryo ku wa 12/10/2020, Urukiko rwemeje ko ruzakora iperereza rukagera ahari ikiburanwa, maze ku wa 29/12/2020, iperereza rirakorwa, Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix asaba ko uwitwa Zigirababiri Protais abazwa nk’umutangabuhamya. Mu ibazwa rye, uwo mutangabuhamya yamenyesheje Urukiko ko Ndabamenye Eraste yapfuye mu kwezi kwa 2/2020 aguye muri Afurika y’Epfo. [11] Nyuma yo kubona amakuru y’uko Ndabamenye Eraste yaba yarapfuye nyamara Avoka uvuga ko amuhagarariye akaba ntacyo yamenyesheje Urukiko, rumaze no gusuzuma inyandiko zigize dosiye rukabona ko hari amakuru arimo ateye urujijo cyane cyane arebana n’umwirondoro wa Ndabamenye Eraste, rwasanze hari ugushidikanya ku butumwa yaba yarahaye Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix uvuga ko amuhagarariye, rusanga ari ikibazo ndemyagihugu kigomba kubanza gusuzumwa no gufatwaho icyemezo mbere y’ibindi byose. BAYINGANA N’UNDI v NDABAMENYE

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[12] Uru rubanza rwongeye kuburanishwa ku wa 06/01/2021, ababuranyi bahagarariwe nka mbere, buri ruhande rugira icyo ruvuga ku makuru yabonetse y’uko Ndabamenye Eraste yaba yarapfuye no kumenya niba yari yarahaye Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix ubutumwa bwo kumuhagararira. [13] Nyuma y’izo mpaka, Urukiko rushingiye ku bibazo byavutse muri uru rubanza nk’uko byavuzwe haruguru, rwategetse Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix gutanga ibimenyetso by’ubutumwa yaba yarahawe bitarenze ku wa 20/01/2021, runamutegeka gufatanya n’abo mu muryango wa Ndabamenye Eraste kuzarushyikiriza inyandiko igaragaza ko Ndabamenye Eraste yapfuye n’inyandiko yerekana abazungura be bagomba gukomeza urubanza itanzwe n’urwego rubifitiye ububasha, bitarenze ku wa 08/03/2021. [14] Urubanza rwongeye guhamagazwa ku wa 19/10/2021 na none ababuranyi bose bahagarariwe nka mbere. Nyuma yo kubona ko ibyategetswe n’Urukiko bitashyizwe mu bikorwa, rwemeje ko mbere y’uko iburanisha rikomeza, rugomba kubanza gusuzuma ikibazo kijyanye no kumenya niba hari ubutumwa (mandat) Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix yahawe bwo kuburanira Ndabamenye Eraste, rumenyesha ababuranyi ko icyemezo kuri icyo kibazo kizafatwa ku wa 29/10/2021. [15] Mu gihe ariko urubanza rwari rugisuzumwa, ku itariki ya 27/10/2021, Urukiko rwabonye inyandiko Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix yashyize muri dosiye zabitwa Mushimiyimana Pauline, Nyirabarenzi Pelagia na Mukasine Marie Louise bavuga ko ari abazungura ba Ndabamenye Eraste, ko kandi bamuhaye uburenganzira bwo kubahagararira muri uru rubanza. Ibyo byatumye ku wa 29/10/2021, Urukiko ruca urubanza rubanziriza ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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urundi, rwemeza ko iburanisha ryongera gupfundurwa, iburanisha rikazasubukurwa ku wa 11/01/2022. [16] Kuri iyo tariki, Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix yashyize muri dosiye inyandiko yatangiwe muri Swaziland (Eswatini) igaragaza ko Ndabamenye Eraste yapfuye tariki ya 04/02/2020 agapfira Mbabane. Iyi nyandiko ivuga ko yatanzwe ku wa 05/02/2020 bisabwe na Nyirabagenzi Pelagie. [17] Nyuma yo kubona ko iyo nyandiko yatangiwe mu mahanga kandi ikaba itaranyujijwe muri Ambassade y’u Rwanda, Urukiko rushingiye ku ngingo ya 15 y’Itegeko Nº 32/2016 ryo ku wa 28/08/2016 rigenga abantu n’umuryango nk’uko ryavuguruwe kugeza ubu1, rwategetse Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix kurushyikiriza inyandiko igaragaza ko Ndabamenye Eraste yapfuye itanzwe n’urwego rubifitiye ububasha bitarenze ku wa 10/03/2022. Iyo nyandiko ntiyigeze ishyikirizwa Urukiko. [18] Urubanza rwongeye kuburanishwa ku wa 16/05/2022, Bayingana Ntango Théodomir ahagarariwe na Me Ndahiro Isaac, Baingana Ntango Christine ahagarariwe na Me Rukarishya Philémon, Ndabamenye Eraste adahagarariwe, ariko Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix uvuga ko amuhagariye yatumye Me Habiyambere Aphrodis gusubikisha urubanza kubera ko afite urundi mu Rukiko rw’Ibanze rwa Kicukiro. [19] Kuri iyo tariki kandi, abahagarariye Bayingana Ntango Théodomir na Baingana Ntango Christine bashyikirije Urukiko inyandiko yatanzwe na Leta ya Eswatini (Ministry of Home

1Ivuga ko ikimenyetso gihamya urupfu ari inyandiko yemeza ko umuntu yapfuye itangwa n’urwego rubifitiye ububasha keretse igihe itegeko ryemera ubundi bwoko bw’ibimenyetso BAYINGANA N’UNDI v NDABAMENYE

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Affairs), ivuga ku bintu bitandukanye bikubiye mu cyemezo cy’uko Ndabamenye Eraste yapfuye cyari cyarashyikijwe Urukiko, ikaba ivuga ko bitari ukuri « the said certificate is not authentic ». Urukiko rwamenyesheje ababuranyi ko ruzasuzuma iyo nyandiko nyuma urubanza niruramuka rukomeje. [20] Ku bijyanye n’ubusabe bwa Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix bwo gusubika iburanisha, Urukiko rwasanze nta shingiro bufite kubera ko yari asanzwe azi itariki iburanisha ryimuriweho, runibutsa ko muri uru rubanza habayemo ibibazo byatumye iburanisha ridindira, icya mbere akaba ari icyo kumenya niba hari ikigaragaza ko hari ubutumwa (mandat) Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix yahawe bwo kuburanira Ndabamenye Eraste, hakaba n’ikibazo cy’uko nta cyemezo gikurikije amategeko cy’uko Ndabamenye Eraste yapfuye cyari cyashyikirizwa Urukiko. Rwanzuye ko rugiye kubanza gusuzuma ikibazo cya mbere, igisubizo cyacyo akaba ari cyo kizatuma hamenyekana niba iburanisha ry’urubanza ryakomeza. II. IBIBAZO BIGIZE URUBANZA N’ISESENGURA RYABYO 1. Kumenya niba hari ubutumwa (mandat) Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix yahawe bwo kuburanira Ndabamenye Eraste. [21] Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix avuga ko Ndabamenye Eraste yamuhaye ububasha bwo kumuhagararira kuva mu manza zabanjirije uru, ndetse akaba amwishyura nta kibazo. Avuga kandi ko aheruka kuvugana n’umukiliya we mu ntangiriro z’umwaka wa 2019, ko ariko yari azi ko azamuha raporo uru rubanza rurangiye. Anavuga ko ibijyanye n’uru rubanza ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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abivugana n’abavandimwe ba Ndabamenye Eraste ari nabo bamubwiye amakuru y’uko Ndabamenye Eraste yapfuye mu kwezi kwa 2/2020, gusa bakaba bataramushyikiriza icyemezo cy’urwo rupfu kubera ko hagati aho hateye icyorezo cya Covid- 19 kigatuma mu bihugu bitandukanye hashyirwaho ingamba za « guma mu rugo », bityo ntibabasha kugishaka. [22] Yongeraho ko mu gihe nta kimenyetso kiraboneka kigaragaza ko koko Ndabamenye Eraste yapfuye, asanga agifite uburenganzira bwo kumuhagararira mu rubanza. Nyuma y’uko ashyikirije Urukiko icyemezo kivuga ko Ndabamenye yapfuye, yabajijwe niba akimuhagarariye, asubiza ko Urukiko ari rwo rwazabifataho icyemezo. [23] Urukiko rwamubajije niba hari ikimenyetso afite kigaragaza ko yari asanzwe ashyikirana (s’il était en contact) n’umukiliya we, nk’inyandiko n’ubutumwa bohererezanyaga cyangwa ikindi, asubiza ko bavuganaga kuri telefoni gusa. [24] Me Mbarushimana Aimé uburanira Bayingana Ntango Théodomir na Me Rukarishya Philémon uburanira Baingana Ntango Christine bavuga ko bibabaje kubona Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix yaramenye amakuru ajyanye n’urupfu rw’uwo avuga ko aburanira ariko akicecekera kugeza ubwo Urukiko nabo ubwabo babimenyeye mu iperereza. Bavuga ko ayo makuru atatanze mbere yatumye havuka ikibazo cy’amategeko muri uru rubanza kuko rutakomeza kandi bivugwa ko umuburanyi yapfuye. Bongeraho ko mu gihe Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix yari abonye ayo makuru, yagombaga kuyavuga ndetse agatanga icyemezo cy’uko uwo aburanira yapfuye nk’uko Me Mbarushimana Aimé yabigenje nyuma y’urupfu rw’umugore wa Bayingana Ntango Théodomir. BAYINGANA N’UNDI v NDABAMENYE

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[25] Basanga kandi imyitwarire ya Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix iteye impungenge, ko ndetse bigoye kwemera ko ibyo abwira Urukiko bijyanye n’urupfu rw’uwo aburanira, ari ukuri, ahubwo ko iyo myitwarire ishimangira ikibazo bagaragaje mu Rukiko Rukuru cy’uko atigeze ahabwa ubutumwa bwo guhagararira Ndabamenye Eraste bitewe n’uko mu maburanisha yabanje mu nkiko zo hasi, byaje kugaragara ko atabaga afite amakuru ahagije k’uwo aburanira no ku kiburanwa. Bavuga ariko ko Urukiko Rukuru rutahaye agaciro impungenge zabo, ko rero ubwo iki kibazo gikomeje n’imbere y’uru Rukiko, gikwiye kwitabwaho. Basaba Urukiko kuzemeza ko nta butumwa Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix yahawe, bityo ibyo yakoze byose atabifitiye ububasha bikaba imfabusa.

UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [26] Ingingo ya 2, igika cya mbere, agace ka 1, a. y’Itegeko Nº 83/2013 ryo ku wa 11/09/2013 rishyiraho Urugaga rw’Abavoka mu Rwanda rikanagena imitunganyirize n’imikorere yarwo, ivuga ko Avoka ari umunyamwuga w’amategeko ufasha ubutabera, ushinzwe guhagararira, kunganira no kuburanira abantu mu nzego z’ubutegetsi, iz’ubucamanza n’izindi zose zifata ibyemezo. Naho ingingo ya 47 y’iryo tegeko ikavuga ko Abavoka bonyine aribo bafite uburenganzira bwo kuburanira imbere y’Inkiko, kandi ko umwavoka afite ububasha bwo kuburana imbere y’Inkiko atagombye kwerekana ko hari uwamutumye, keretse iyo itegeko risaba ubutumwa bwihariye. [27] Umuhanaga mu mategeko D. Cholet nawe ashimangira ko Avoka adasabwa kugaragaza ko hari ubutumwa yahawe bwo guhagararira umuburanyi mu nkiko, kubera ko hari ihame ry’uko afatwa nk’ubufite iyo yaje mu Rukiko ari mu mwambaro we ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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w’akazi. Avuga ariko ko iryo hame atari ndakuka kuko hari igihe ridakurikizwa iyo hari ibimenyetso bituma hakekwa ko Avoka nta butumwa afite (…l’avocat n’a pas à prouver qu’il a reçu mandat du plaideur pour le représenter et l’assister en justice, l’existence de ce mandat est présumée. Cette dispense est traditionnelle et provient du fait que les avocats sont crus « sur leur robe ». Il s’agit néanmoins d’une présomption simple qui peut être combattue par la preuve contraire).2 [28] Ku bijyanye no guhagararira abandi, undi muhanga mu mategeko Antoine Bolzele avuga ko atari ngombwa ko Avoka agaragaza ko yahawe ubutumwa n’abo ahagarariye kuko haba hari icyizere ko abufite. Avuga ko ubusanzwe uwatanze ubutumwa ari we ubyutsa ikibazo kijyanye nabwo, ko ariko hari igihe icyizere kuri Avoka gishobora gukemangwa n’uwo baburana agendeye ku mpamvu zitandukanye zirimo ibyemezo bikomoka ku rupfu cyangwa ku mwirondoro utari uw’ababuranyi ahagarariye. (Grâce au mandat ad litem, il (l’avocat) n’aura pas à demander à toutes les personnes qu’il représente de lui remettre un mandat, il bénéficie d’une présomption simple qui peut être renversée …).3

2 D. Cholet, « Représentation et assistance en justice », Rép.pr.civ, 2012 (actualisation juin 2016). 3 Antoine Bolzele, Règles du mandat ad litem: inapplication au tiers qui mandate un avocet, https://www.dalloz- actualite.fr/flash/regles-du-mandat- ad-litem-inapplication-au-tiers-qui-mandate-un-avocat#.YsVy2HZBzIU , 10 janvier 2019, consultée le 07 Juin 2022. Affaire Civ. 1re, 12 déc. 2018, FS- P+B, n° 17-19.387 rendue par la cour de cassation, première chambre civile entre l’Association française d’épargne et de retraite (l’AFER), constituée par Gérard C... et André D. contre Mme Catherine C... et M. Pascal C..., et contre Mme Claude E..., veuve D.: ‘’ En général, l’intérêt de soulever l’absence de mandat provient du mandant, quand celui-ci entend contester les actes réalisés par son mandataire. Ici l’attaque vient de l’adversaire à l’instance BAYINGANA N’UNDI v NDABAMENYE

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[29] Abandi bahanga mu mategeko nka H. Solus na R. Perrot nabo bavuga ko icyizere kigirirwa abavoka gituma bafatwa nk’abatica amategeko ajyanye no guhagararira ababatumye, ko ariko guhagararira abandi mu butabera, n’ubwo biteganywa n’itegeko, biba byumvikanyweho kandi buri gihe haba hari amasezerano (La présomption accordée aux auxiliaires de justice permet de réduire les hypothèses d’irrégularité de la représentation dans le cadre du mandat ad litem. En effet, dans le cadre de la représentation en justice bien que les possibles représentants soient désignés par la loi, la représentation n’est que conventionnelle, le mandat ad litem est toujours contractuel).4 [30] Ibikubiye mu itegeko ryavuzwe haruguru, iyo bihujwe n’ibisobanuro bitangwa n’abahanga, byerekana ibintu by’ingenzi bikurikira: Hari ihame risanzwe (présomption simple) ry’uko mu Rukiko, Avoka afatwa nk’ufite ubutumwa bwo guhagararira umuntu atagombye kubwerekana; Iryo hame ariko rishobora guhinduka (renversée) iyo habayeho gukemanga ubwo butumwa; Iyo bigenze gutyo, Avoka asabwa kugaragaza ko koko afite ubutumwa bwo guhagararira umuntu mu Rukiko. [31] Ibyo bintu by’ingenzi ni nabyo byagarutsweho mu rubanza rwa Uwitonze Nasira n’abandi baburanaga na Rwigema Jeanne Chantal, aho Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rwasobanuye ko

qui estimait par une série d’indices tirés de décès et de mauvaises adresses que la procédure était engagée à l’insu d’un certain nombre de plaideurs ou de leurs héritiers,…”. 4 H. SOLUS – R. Perrot, Droit judiciaire privé, t.3: Procédure de première instance, Sirey, Revue internationale de droit comparé,1991, P.45. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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n’ubwo ubusanzwe Avoka adasabwa kwerekana ko afite ubutumwa, iyo bibaye ngombwa Urukiko rurabimusaba mu rwego rw’imiburanishirize myiza y’urubanza. Rwavuze kandi ko n’ubwo Avoka afite ububasha bwo kuburana imbere y’inkiko atagombye kwerekana ko hari uwamutumye, ibyo bitavuze ko yahagararira undi atabiherewe ubutumwa, ndetse ko no kuba yemererwa kutabugaragaza bidasobanura ko bibaye ngombwa ko abusabwa atabwerekana, akanagaragaza aho buva n'aho bugarukira, haba mu rukiko n'ahatari mu rukiko, kubera ko gukora umurimo w’ubwavoka bitanga gusa icyizere ko abufite (présomption simple).5 [32] Ibimaze kuvugwa byongeye kwemezwa n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga mu rundi rubanza rwa Nyamuhungu Natukunda Jane na Rusenyi Coffee Growers, aho rwavuze ko n’ubwo ntahateganyijwe mu mategeko ko Urukiko rutegetswe gusaba Avoka ikimenyetso cy’ubutumwa yahawe uretse kuba yambaye umwambaro wabugenewe, kuba akora umurimo w’ubwavoka bitanga gusa icyizere ko abufite, ko ariko bibaye ngombwa ashobora kubugaragaza.6 [33] Nanone kandi mu rubanza rw’Ubushinjacyaha, RWIGASS CIGARETTE COMPANY SARL na Pierre Marie NOAH, Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rwemeje ko Avoka atemerewe guhagararira umuburanyi kuko bigaragara ko nta contact agifitanye nawe, bakaba badaherukana, ndetse badaheruka no

5 Reba urubanza RCAA0028/11/CS haburana Nasira Uwitonze, Rwagasana Jean Paul, ECOBANK RWANDA/ Rwigema Jeanne Chantal rwaciwe ku wa 11/05/2012, Icyegeranyo cy’ibyemezo by’inkiko, Igitabo cya gatatu, nº 14, Nyakanga, 2012, P. 58-60. 6 Reba urubanza RS/REV/RCOMA003/12/CS haburana Nyamuhungu Natukunda Jane, Cooperative CACAM na BCR, Rusenyi Coffee Growers na BIGIRIMANA Robert rwaciwe kuwa 06/09/2013, Par. 23 BAYINGANA N’UNDI v NDABAMENYE

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gutumanaho, kuko muri urwo rubanza Avoka yivugiye ko nta aderesi azi y’uwo aburanira, akaba nta butumwa bwo kumuburanira mu Rukiko rw’Ikirenga yabiherewe agaragaza, bisobanura ko gufata ko afite ubutumwa nk’uwunganira abandi mu manza (présomption) bitakiriho.7 [34] Ibisobanuro byose byatanzwe haruguru bihura n’icyemezo cyo muri uru rubanza uru Rukiko rwafatiye mu ntebe mu gihe cy’iburanisha ryo ku wa 6/01/2021, aho rwasobanuye ko n’ubwo ubusanzwe Avoka afatwa nk’ufite ubutumwa (présumé) bwo guhagararira uwo aburanira, iyo habaye ugukemanga ku butumwa yaba yarahawe, asabwa kubugaragaza kugira ngo iburanisha ry’urubanza rigende neza. Ni muri urwo rwego Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix yasabwe kubugaragaza. Ibyo avuga ko nta kibazo afitanye n’umukiriya we kuko amuhemba neza, bikaba bidahagije ngo Urukiko rwemeze ko afite ubutumwa, kuko nk’uko byasobanuwe, iyo bibaye ngombwa Avoka asabwa kugaragaza ubutumwa bw’uwo ahagarariye. [35] Urukiko rusanga ku bijyanye n’uru rubanza, nk’uko byavuzwe, hari ibintu binyuranye byaruranze byatumye rukemanga ubutumwa Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix yaba yarahawe na Ndabamenye Eraste bwo kumuhagararira nk’uko bigiye gusobanurwa mu bika bikurikira. [36] Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix yiyemerera ko mu kwezi kwa 2/2020 yamenye amakuru ajyanye n’urupfu rwa Ndabamenye Eraste rwaba rwarabaye muri icyo gihe, ariko ntiyigeze agira icyo ahingukiriza Urukiko cyangwa ngo amenyeshe abo baburana, birakomeza kuva kuri iyo tariki kugeza ubwo hashyizweho itariki

7 Reba urubanza RPAA 0056/06/CS- RPAA 0155/06/CS rwaciwe ku wa 30/05/2008 ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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y’inama ntegurarubanza yabaye ku wa 30/07/2020, yimurirwa ku wa 08/09/2020, zirinda zirangira ayo makuru yarayagize ibanga. Nyuma imihango y’iburanisha yatangiye nanone Urukiko rudafite amakuru y’uko umwe mu baburanyi rwahamagaje yaba atakiriho. Iburanisha rya mbere ryabaye ku wa 12/10/2020, Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix aryitabira nk’uburanira Ndabamenye Eraste, ariko yirinda kumenyesha Urukiko ko uwo ahagarariye yaba yarapfuye nyamara azi neza ko bifite ingaruka zikomeye ku migendekere y’urubanza hakurikijwe ibiteganywa n’ingingo ya 121 y’Itegeko Nº 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi.8 [37] Nk’uko byibukijwe kandi, Urukiko rwamenye ayo makuru mu buryo butunguranye igihe rwari rwagiye gukora iperereza aho umutungo uburanwa uherereye mu Karere ka Nyarugenge, ruyamenyeshwa n’umwe mu batangabuhamya watanzwe na Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix witwa Zigirababiri Protais. [38] Urukiko ruributsa ko rwari rwategetse Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix kuzarugaragariza ubutumwa yahawe bitarenze ku wa 20/01/2021, ariko nk’uko byamaze kuvugwa, kugeza ubu ntiyigeze atanga ikimenyetso kijyanye n’ubwo butumwa, nko kwerekana imiterere yabwo, aho buva n’aho bugarukira,

8 Iyo ngingo ivuga ko iyo iburanisha ry’urubanza ritarapfundikirwa, urukiko rukamenya ko habonetse inzitizi yo guhindura irangamimerere, kuva ku mirimo cyangwa urupfu rw’umuburanyi, umuburanyi usigaye agaragariza urukiko abafite ububasha bwo kurukomeza rukabahamagara, rukurikije amategeko yerekeye ihamagara. Iyo abahamagawe bavugwa mu gika cya mbere cy’iyi ngingo bataje gukomeza urubanza mu gihe bahawe, urubanza rucibwa badahari, hubahirizwa amategeko agenga ababuranyi banze kwitaba urukiko. BAYINGANA N’UNDI v NDABAMENYE

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cyangwa se ikindi kintu icyo ari cyo cyose cyerekana imikoranire ye na Ndabamenye Eraste. [39] Usibye kuba nta butumwa Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix yagaragarije Urukiko n’ubwo yari yabisabwe, kuba avuga ko aheruka kuvugana na Ndabamenye Eraste mu ntangiriro y’umwaka wa 2019, byerekana ko nta makuru yari amufiteho mu gihe kirenga umwaka ndetse kuri ibyo hiyongeraho ko yagaragaje ko atazi neza aho umukiriya we abarizwa. Nyuma y’ibimaze kuvugwa, biragoye kwemeza ko muri icyo gihe hari imikoranire yari hagati yabo. Kuba nanone nyuma y’uko Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix amenye ko Ndabamenye Eraste yapfuye mu kwezi kwa 2/2020 nyamara agakomeza kwitaba Urukiko nk’umuhagarariye, nabyo bishimangira ko ibyo yakoze muri uru Rukiko atari yabitumwe na Ndabamenye Eraste, akaba rero yarabikoze atabifitiye ububasha. Igisigaye ni ugusuzuma niba mu manza zabanjirije uru yari afite ubutumwa bw’uwo yagiye ahagararira. [40] Urukiko rwasuzumye inyandiko itanga ikirego ku rwego rwa mbere, rusanga nk’uko bigaragara muri IECMS kuri Orginating case, ikirego cyaratangiriye mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge ku wa 05/02/2016, harega Ndabamenye Eraste mwene Ndimurwango Michel na Nyirashanuka Esther, ufite ID (irangamuntu): 119808001009806, Email: ndabamenyeraste@gmail.com, tel: +250788559057. [41] Numero z’irangamuntu ziboneka haruguru zigaragaza ko Ndabamenye Eraste yavutse mu mwaka wa 1980, nyamara izindi nyandiko Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix yashyize muri dosiye, zerekana ko yavutse mu mwaka wa 1937. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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[42] Mu gihe Urukiko rwahuzaga amakuru ari muri IECMS n’ari muri system ya NIDA (Ikigo cy’igihugu gishinzwe Irangamuntu)9, system yerekanye ko nomero y’irangamuntu bivugwa ko ari iya Ndabamenye Eraste ari invalid (itabaho). Ikigaragara rero ni uko Ndabamenye Eraste bivugwa ko ari we watanze ikirego, atandukanye n’uwo Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix avuga ko ahagarariye kuko hagati yabo bombi harimo ikinyuranyo cy’imyaka 43. [43] Byongeye kandi inyandiko y’ubujurire mu Rukiko Rukuru, yo yerekana ko uwabutanze ari Ndabamenye Eraste, ufite nomero y’irangamuntu: 1196780003189009, igaragaza ko yavutse mu mwaka wa 1967. Usibye kuba uyu mwaka w’amavuko utandukanye n’uwagaragajwe mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye, igenzura ryakozwe muri IECMS rigamije guhuza amakuru ari muri system n’aya NIDA, ryerekanye ko numero y’irangamuntu bivugwa ko ari iya Ndabamenye Eraste ahubwo ibaruwe kuri Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix. [44] Ikiboneka rero ni uko umwirondoro wa Ndabamenye Eraste watanzwe na Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix uriho amakuru atari ukuri nk’uko bimaze kugaragazwa, ndetse ayo makuru akagenda avuguruzanya. [45] Ibimaze gusobanurwa bituma Urukiko rwanzura ko nta kigaragaza ko ari Ndabamenye Eraste wahaye ubutumwa Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix bwo kumuburanira mu manza zabanje. [46] Hashingiwe ku bisobanuro byose byatanzwe haruguru, Urukiko rurasanga kuva mu ntangiriro z’uru rubanza kugeza

9 Inkiko zabiherewe uburenganzira kugira ngo zibashe gusuzuma niba imyirondoro ababuranyi baba batanze ariyo koko. BAYINGANA N’UNDI v NDABAMENYE

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muri uru Rukiko, Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix yaragiye ahagararira Ndabamenye Eraste nyamara atabifitiye ubutumwa, ibyo yakoze rero akaba atari abifitiye ububasha. Ikibazo gikurikiraho ni icyo kumenya ingaruka zabyo.

2. Kumenya uko bigenda iyo bigaragaye ko Avoka yahagarariye umuntu mu nkiko atarabiherewe ubutumwa [47] Amategeko y’u Rwanda ntacyo asobanura ku ngaruka z’ibikorwa by’umu Avoka utarabiherewe ubutumwa, harimo n’imanza yaburanye atatumwe n’uwo yazihagarariyemo. [48] N’ubwo bimeze gutyo, hashingiwe ku ngingo ya 9 y’Itegeko Nº 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi10, mu gukemura iki kibazo, hakwiyambazwa ubundi buryo, harimo n’inyandiko z’abahanga mu mategeko. Muri urwo rwego, umuhanga Serge Guinchard avuga ko mu gihe habayeho uguhagararirwa mu rukiko bikozwe n'umuntu utabifitiye ububasha, ingaruka zabyo ari ugutesha agaciro inyandiko itanga ikirego n'ibyakozwe mu mizi y'urubanza (En cas de représentation par une personne non habilitée, la sanction est une nullité de fond qui atteint l'acte introductif d'instance et toute la procédure subséquente)11.

10 Iyo ngingo ivuga ko Umucamanza aca urubanza ashingiye ku ngingo z’amategeko zirebana n’ikirego yaregewe. Iyo nta tegeko rijyanye n’ikiburanwa ashingira ku mategeko asanga yashyiraho mu gihe yaba ashinzwe kuyashyiraho, yifashishije ibyemezo byagiye bifatwa n’inkiko, umuco, amahame rusange agenga amategeko n’inyandiko z’abahanga mu mategeko. 11 Serge Guinchard, Droit et pratique de la procédure civile, 8 éd., Paris, Dalloz, 2014/2015, p.

544. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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[49] Ibivugwa n’uwo muhanga binagarukwaho n’abandi nka Natalie Fricero na Pierre Julien, aho basobanura ko abahagararira abandi mu nkiko babikora mu rwego rw’ubutumwa baba barahawe, ko iyo ubwo butumwa budahari, ibyakozwe biba imfabusa. (Les auxiliaires de justice représentent et assistent les parties dans le cadre d’un mandat ad litem obligatoire ou facultatif …. Le défaut de pouvoir du représentant, est sanctionné par une nullité pour irrégularité de fond).12 [50] D. Cholet nawe ashimangira ko iyo avoka yaburanye urubanza nta butumwa yahawe, ibyo yakoze byose biteshwa agaciro (La conséquence sera alors la nullité de tous les actes de la procédure effectués par un mandataire qui n’était pas habilité…).13 [51] Ku bijyanye n’uru rubanza, Urukiko rushingiye ku byasobanuwe haruguru, rusanga mu gihe byagaragajwe ko Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix yaburaniye Ndabamenye Eraste guhera mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge kugeza kuri uru rwego atabifitye ubutumwa, nta butumwa Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix yahawe na Ndabamenye Eraste bwo kumuhagararira mu manza, ibyo yakoze akaba atari abifitiye ububasha. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [52] Rwemeje ko nta butumwa Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix yahawe na Ndabamenye Eraste bwo kumuhagararira mu manza, ibyo yakoze akaba atari abifitiye ububasha;

12 Natalie Fricero na Pierre Julien, Procédure civile, 5ème édition, édition LGDJ, Extenso éditions, Paris, 2014, page 54-55 13 D. Cholet, « Représentation et assistance en justice », art.cit. Spéc. N° 72 BAYINGANA N’UNDI v NDABAMENYE

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[53] Rutegetse ko urubanza N° RC 00276/2016/TGI/NYGE rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge ku wa 27/07/2016 n’urubanza N° RCA 00367/2016/HC/KIG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru ku wa 12/01/2018 Me Rudakemwa Jean Félix yaburaniye Ndabamenye Eraste ziteshejwe agaciro, ibintu bigasubira uko byari bimeze mbere y’uko izo manza zibaho.

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UWIMANA v KAGITARE [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’IKIRENGA – RS/INJUST/RC 00002/2018/SC (Mukamulisa, P.J, Nyirinkwaya, Cyanzayire, Rukundakuvuga na Hitiyaremye, J.) 21 Gashyantare 2020] Amategeko agenga umuryango – Ubutane – Kugabana imitungo kubashyingiranywe igihe cy’ubutane – Urubanza rw’Ubutane rusesa uburyo bw’imicungire y’ivangamutungo y’abashyingiranywe, bakagabana mu buryo bungana imitungo yabo cyangwa mu bundi buryo bumvikanyeho – Mu gihe hari imitungo bari basangiye itaragaragajwe igihe cy’ubutane, nta kibuza ko ubifitemo inyungu ayiregera igihe imenyekaniye, kugira ngo nayo igabanwe. Incamake y’ikibazo: Urubanza rwatangiriye mu Rukiko rw’Ibanze rwa Kirehe harega Uwimana arega Kagitare aho yamuregaga ishyamba riri kubutaka bwa ha 3.6, avuga ko ari ubutaka bwe n’umugabo we bari barasezeranye witwa Mwumvaneza ariko bakaba bari barahawe ubutane binyuza mu rubanza rwabereye muri Amerika kuko ariho bari baragiye gutura. Ubwo bahabwaga ubutane ntabwo uwo mutungo washyizwe muyo bagombaga kugabana ariko Urukiko ruvuga ko hagize undi mutungo ugaragara bashobora kuwuregera bakawugabana, ibi akaba aribyo Uwimana yakoze kuko uwo mutungo wari warigaruriwe na Kagitare wari umugore wa Mukuru wa Mwumvaneza. Mu rubanza Kagitare yatanze inzitizi agaragaza ko Uwimana nta bubasha afite bwo kuregera umutungo wa Mwumvaneza kuko batandukanye akaba atakiri umugore we, Urukiko rwafashe icyemezo rugaragaza ko urubanza rw’ubutane 89

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yagaragaje ko batanye rukaba rutari bwemezwe mu Rwanda bityo ko rutagushyingirwaho hafatwa icyemezo ko ikirego cya Uwimana yatanze gifite ishingiro ko ishyamba yaregeye ari irye afatanije Mwumvaneza. Kagitare yajuririye Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Ngoma, agaragaza ko inzitizi yatanze y’uko Uwimana ntabubasha afite bwo gutanga ikirego, Urukiko rutayihaye agaciro. Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwafashe icyemezo ko ubujurire bwe nta shingiro bufite hagumyeho imikirize yo mu Rukiko rw’Ibanze. Kagitare yaje kongera gutanga ikirego asaba ko urubanza rw’ubutane rwaciwe n’urukiko rwo muri America rwarangirizwa mu Rwanda, Urukiko Rukuru rwemeje ko urwo rubanza rufite agaciro ko rwarangirizwa mu Rwanda. Kagitare yaje gusubirishamo urubanza rwo mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye ingingo shya akoresheje rwa rubanza rwemejwe n’Urukiko Rukuru, Urukiko Rwisumbuye rufata icyemezo ruvanaho Urubanza rwo Mu Rukiko rw’Ibanze n’Urwo mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwasubirishijwemo ingingo nshya kubera ko Uwimana bigaragara ko yatanye na Mwumvaneza bityo ntabubasha afite bwo kuregera umutungo wa Mwumvaneza. Uwimana ntiyishimiye Imikirize maze yandikira Umuvunyi Mukuru asaba ko urwo rubanza rusubirishwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane. Umuvunyi Mukuru yandikiye Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga amugaragariza akarengane kari mu rubanza asaba ko rwasubirwamu ku mpamvu z’akarengane. Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rwaburanishije urubanza rusuzuma ikibazo cyo kumenya niba Uwimana ashobora gukurikirana umutungo yarasangiye na Mwumvaneza kugira ngo bawugabane nyuma y’urubanza rw’ubutane. Uwimana yavuze ko impamvu basubirishijemo urubanza ku mpamvu y’akarengane ari uko ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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Urukiko rwemeje ko atemerewe gukurikirana imitungo ya Mwumvaneza kubera ko batandukanye kandi icyo yaregeraga kwari ukwemeza ko ishyamba aregera barifatanije kuko yari yahakanye mu rubanza rw’ubutane ko nta mutungo bafitanye mu Rwanda, avuga kandi ko kuba harabayeho urubanza rw’ubutane bidakuraho kuba afite uburenganzira ku mitungo yahoze asangiye na Mwumvaneza ko icyo aburana atari ukugira ngo ishyamba ribe irye ahubwo icyo asaba ari uko rijya mu mutungo bagomba kugabana. Kagitare avuga ko urubanza rw’ubutane rutigeze ruvuga ko nibigaragara ko hari imitungo bahishe bazayigabana, kuko ibyo bari bafite babigabanye muri urwo rubanza. Incamake y’icyemezo: 1. Urubanza rw’Ubutane rusesa uburyo bw’imicungire y’ivangamutungo y’abashyingiranywe, bakagabana mu buryo bungana imitungo yabo cyangwa mu bundi buryo bumvikanyeho; mu gihe hari imitungo bari basangiye itaragaragajwe igihe cy’ubutane, nta kibuza ko ubifitemo inyungu ayiregera igihe imenyekaniye, kugira ngo nayo igabanwe, bityo Uwimana akaba yarafite uburenganira bwo kuregera ishyamba ritagaragajwe mu mitungo bagombaga kugabana igihe cy’ubutane kugira ngo rize mu mutungo bagomba kugabana.

2. Kuba hari ibimenyetso bidashidikanywaho bigaragaza ko ishyamba riburanwa ari irya Mwumvaneza afatanije na Uwimana, iryo shyamba rigomba kugaruka mu mutungo wabo bari basangiye kugira barigabane. Gusubirishamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane bifite ishingiro.

Imikirize y’urubanza rwasabiwe gusubirishwamo ihindutse kuri byose. UWIMANA v KAGITARE

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Amategeko yashingiweho:

Itegeko nº 32/2016 ryo ku wa 28/08/2016 rigenga abantu n’umuryango nk’uko ryahinduwe kandi ryujujwe kugeza ubu, ingingo ya 6 na 2 Itegeko nº 27/2016 ryo ku wa 08/07/2016 rigenga imicungire y’umutungo w’abashyingiranywe, impano n’izungura, ingingo ya 8 Itegeko nº 15/2004 ryo ku wa 19/07/2004 ryerekeye ibimenyetso mu manza n’itangwa ryabyo, ingingo ya 65 Nta manza zifashishijwe. Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Uwimana Marine yashyingiranywe mu buryo bw’ivangamutungo risesuye na Mwumvaneza Justin mu mwaka wa 1990, mu cyahoze ari Komini Rusumo. Nyuma ya 1994 baje kujya kuba muri Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika, ariko baza kuburana urubanza rw'ubutane rwanabagabanyije imitungo, rufite nomero 2009-54209, rwaciwe na District Court ya Harris County, Texas, ku wa 11/06/2010. [2] Kubera ko Uwimana Marine yavugaga ko hari undi mutungo uri mu Rwanda batagabanyijwe, yaje kuwureba, ukaba ugizwe n'ishyamba riri ku butaka bwa hegitari 3,6 mu Murenge wa Musaza, mu Karere ka Kirehe. Yasanze Kagitare Dancille, umugore wa Mutabazi mukuru wa Mwumvaneza Justin, ariwe ufite uwo mutungo. Byatumye atanga ikirego mu Rukiko rw'Ibanze rwa Kirehe, asaba kwemeza ko uwo mutungo ari uwe ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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na Mwumvaneza Mparirwa Justin, maze Kagitare Dancille agobokeshwa muri urwo rubanza. [3] Kagitare Dancille yatanze inzitizi avuga ko Uwimana Marine adafite ububasha bwo kuregera umutungo yiyita umugore wa Mwumvaneza Justin, kandi baramaze guhabwa ubutane mu gihugu babamo, ariko iyo nzitizi Urukiko ntirwayiha ishingiro, rushingiye ku kuba urubanza rw’ubutane rutarigeze rukorerwa exequatur mu nkiko z’u Rwanda. Ku wa 31/01/2011, Urukiko rw'Ibanze rwa Kirehe rwaciye urubanza RC 0576/10/TB/KRH, rwemeza ko ikirego cya Uwimana Marine gifite ishingiro, ko ishyamba riri ku butaka bungana na hegitari 3,6, buherereye mu Murenge wa Musaza ari irya Mwumvaneza Mparirwa Justin na Uwimana Marine. [4] Kagitare Dancille yajuririye urwo rubanza mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Ngoma, avuga ko Urukiko rw’Ibanze rutahaye agaciro inzitizi yatanze yo kuba Uwimana Marine adafite ububasha bwo kuregera umutungo yiyita umugore wa Mwumvaneza kandi baramaze gutana. Ku wa 20/10/2011, Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Ngoma rwaciye urubanza RCA 0048/11/TGI/NGOMA, rwemeza ko ubujurire bwa Kagitare Dancille budafite ishingiro, rwemeza ko hagumyeho urubanza RC 0576/10/TB/KRH. [5] Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Ngoma rwafashe icyemezo rushingiye ku kuba Kagitare Dancille atarabashije kugaragaza ikimenyetso cy'uko Uwimana Marine yatandukanye na Mwumvaneza Justin, kuko urubanza rw'ubutane rwaciriwe muri Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika yari yatanzeho ikimenyetso rutari rwakorewe “exequatur” ngo Urukiko Rukuru rutegeke ko rurangirizwa mu Rwanda. UWIMANA v KAGITARE

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[6] Kagitare Dancille yatanze ikirego mu Rukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Rwamagana, asaba ko urubanza 2009-54209 rwaciwe na District Court, ku wa 11/06/2010, rurangirizwa mu Rwanda. Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Rwamagana, rwaciye urubanza ku wa 18/07/2013, rwemeza ko urubanza Nº 2009- 54209 rufite agaciro ko kurangirizwa mu Rwanda. Kagitare Dancille yarushingiyeho nk’ikimenyetso gishya, asubirishamo ingingo nshya urubanza RCA 0048/11/TGI/NGOMA rwaciwe ku wa 20/10/2011. [7] Ku wa 27/02/2014, Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Ngoma rwaciye urubanza RCA 0334/13/TGI/NGOMA, rwemeza ko ikirego cyo gusubirishamo urubanza ingingo nshya cyatanzwe na Kagitare Dancille gifite ishingiro, rwemeza ko urubanza RCA0048/11/TGI/NGOMA rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Ngoma ku wa 20/10/2011 n’urubanza RC 0576/10/TB/KRH rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’ibanze rwa Kirehe ku wa 31/01/2011 zivanyweho. Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Ngoma rwashingiye ku kuba Uwimana Marine yaraburanye izo manza adafite ububasha, kuko atari akiri umugore wa Mwumvaneza Justin. [8] Ku wa 31/05/2016, Uwimana Marine yashyikirije ikibazo Urwego rw’Umuvunyi avuga ko yarenganye, nyuma yo gusesengura ikibazo cye rwandikira Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rusaba ko urubanza RCA 0334/13/TGI/NGOMA rusubirishwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane. [9] Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga, mu cyemezo cyo ku wa 07/02/2018, yemeje ko ikirego gisubirishamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane urubanza RCA0334/13/TGI/NGOMA cyandikwa mu bitabo by’Urukiko kugirango ruzongere ruburanishwe. Ikirego cyaranditswe, gihabwa RS/INJUST/RC 00002/2018/SC. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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[10] Me Intwazayamugabo Armand uburanira Kagitare Dancille yatanze inzitizi yo kutakira ikirego, avuga ko Uwimana Marine adafite ububasha bwo kurega, ashingiye ku mpamvu zikurikira: a. kuba umwirondoro we ushidikanywaho, kuko hari aho ku izina rye yongeraho Mukamana, kandi akaba yarahinduye amazina ya Mwumvaneza Justin akamwita Mparirwa, mu gihe “passeport” ye ndetse n'icyemezo cyo gushyingirwa bigaragaza ko ari Mwumvaneza Justin;

b. kuba atagaragaza isano afitanye n’ishyamba aburana, n’iyo afitanye na Mwumvaneza Justin yagakwiye kuba akomoraho inyungu n’ububasha byo kurega;

c. kuba uwitwa Munyana Amina watangije izi manza zose avuga ko yahereye ku butumwa yahawe na Uwimana Marine bwo ku wa 27/10/2010, nabwo bwatanzwe nyuma y’uko urubanza rw’ubutane rubaye itegeko, akaba yaragombaga gukurikirana no gucunga umutungo wa Uwimana Marine n’umugabo we ungana na are 8,8956, ariko akaba yarahise aregera hegitari 3,6;

d. kuba hari ugushidikanya ku muburanyi Me Niyibizi Diogene ahagarariye, kuko “Assignation” yagaragaje avuga ko yamenyeshejwe itujujwe, ndetse akaba ataramusinyiye nk’umuhagarariye; nyamara Umuhesha w’inkiko akaba yarayishyizeho umukono ku wa 05/02/2018 iki kirego kitaratangwa kuko cyatanzwe ku wa 08/02/2018. [11] Me Niyibizi Diogène uhagarariye Uwimana Marine yasubije kuri iyo nzitizi avuga ko: a. imyirondoro y’uwo ahagarariye igaragara neza muri “system”, kandi ko isano afitanye n’ikiburanwa ari umugabo we UWIMANA v KAGITARE

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Mwumvaneza Justin, ufite akabyiniriro mu Rwanda ka Mparirwa nk’uko bigaragazwa n’inyandiko yo ku wa 11/08/2010, aho umutangabuhamya yemeje ko ubutaka bwari bwarahawe Mparirwa, Kagitare nawe akabyemera ndetse akabisinyira;

b. urubanza rwo muri Amerika rukomokaho izo manza zose, rwatanze ubutane hagati ya Uwimana Marine na Mwumvaneza Justin, rwemeje ko mu gihe hazagaragara undi mutungo wahishwe n’umwe mu baburanyi, ubifiteho uburenganzira azabiregera;

c. inzitizi itanzwe bwa mbere mu Rukiko rw’Ikirenga, ikaba idakwiye kwakirwa. [12] Iburanisha ry’urubanza ryashyizwe ku wa 09/10/2019, ribera mu ruhame, Kagitare Dancille yitabye aburanirwa na Me Intwazayamugabo Armand, naho Uwimana Marine aburanirwa na Me Niyibizi Diogene. Mbere y’uko iburanisha ry’urubanza ryinjira mu mizi, Me Intwazayamugabo Armand yamenyesheje Urukiko ko iby’inzitizi bishingiye ku myirondoro y’uwatanze ikirego abiretse, ko nyuma yo kubona ibyangombwa byatanzwe na Uwimana Marine yasanze nta mpamvu ihari yo gukomeza kubitsimbararaho. Yavuze ariko ko agikomeje inzitizi yo kuba Uwimana Marine adafite ububasha bwo kurega, Urukiko rumenyesha ababuranyi ko iyi nzitizi idashobora kwakirwa kuko imanza z’akarengane ziba zaraciwe burundu, bene izi nzitizi zikaba zidashobora kugarukwaho, keretse akarengane gashingiye kuri iyo nzitizi. [13] Iburanisha ry’urubanza ryakomeje mu mizi, rirapfundikirwa, ababuranyi bamenyeshwa ko urubanza ruzasomwa ku wa 25/10/2019. Mu mwiherero warwo, Urukiko rwasanze mbere y’uko urubanza rucibwa burundu, hari ibigomba ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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kubanza gukorwa byarufasha kwemeza nyiri shyamba riburanwa, birimo gukora iperereza aho ikiburanwa kiri hakabazwa abatangabuhamya, no kumva abakozi b’Ikigo gishinzwe imicungire n’imikoreshereze y’ubutaka mu Rwanda. [14] Iperereza ryakozwe ku wa 15/01/2020, iburanisha ry’urubanza risubukurwa ku wa 04/02/2020, ababuranyi bose bahari, hitabye kandi Mukunzi Emmanuel, umukozi mu Kigo gishinzwe imicungire n’imikoreshereze y’ubutaka mu Rwanda. Ababuranyi bamenyeshejwe ko urubanza ruzasomwa ku wa 21/02/2020. [15] Ibibazo by’ingenzi ababuranyi bagiyeho impaka, ari nabyo byasuzumwe muri uru rubanza, ni ukumenya niba nyuma y’urubanza rw’ubutane, Uwimana Marine ashobora gukurikirana umutungo avuga ko yari asangiye na Mwumvaneza Justin ariko ukaba utaravuzwe muri urwo rubanza rw’ubutane, kugira ngo bawugabane. Bagiye impaka kandi ku kibazo cyo kumenya nyiri shyamba riburanwa, Kagitare Dancille akavuga ko ari irye, agashyigikirwa na Mwumvaneza Justin, mu gihe Uwimana Marine avuga ko ryatewe na Mwumvaneza Justin bakaba barisangiye.

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II. IBIBAZO BIGIZE URUBANZA N’ISESENGURA RYABYO 4. Kumenya niba Uwimana Marine ashobora gukurikirana umutungo yari asangiye na Mwumvaneza Justin, kugira ngo bawugabane nyuma y’urubanza rw’ubutane. [16] Me Niyibizi Diogene uburanira Uwimana Marine avuga ko impamvu yatumye asubirishamo urubanza ku mpamvu z’akarengane ari ukuba Urukiko rwaremeje ko atemerewe kuburana imitungo ya Mwumvaneza Mparirwa Justin ngo kubera ko batandukanye, kandi icyo yasabaga ari ukwemeza ko ishyamba riri ku butaka bungana na hegitari 3.6 barifatanyije, akaba yaratanze ikirego kubera ko mu rubanza rw’ubutane Mwumvaneza Mparirwa Justin yari yahakanye ko nta mitungo bafite mu Rwanda. [17] Avuga ko kuba harabayeho urubanza rw’ubutane bidakuraho kuba afite uburenganzira ku mitungo yahoze asangiye na Mwumvaneza Mparirwa Justin mbere y’uko batandukana, kuko afite uburenganzira bwo kugabana n’uwahoze ari umugabo we umutungo byaba bigaragaye ko bahoze basangiye, nk’uko ingingo ya 24 y’Itegeko No 22/99 ryo ku wa 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 (ryakoreshwaga ubwo urubanza rusabirwa gusubirwamo rwaburanishwaga) yabiteganyaga. [18] Avuga kandi ko Uwimana Marine ataburana kugira ngo ishyamba ryitwe irye, ko icyo asaba ari uko rijya mu mutungo ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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agomba kugabana na Mwumvaneza Justin, urubanza rw’ubutane rero rukaba rutagomba kumwambura uburenganzira bwo gukurikirana umutungo yari asangiye na Mwumvaneza Justin kuko kugabana umutungo biba nyuma y’uko abashakanye bamaze gutandukana. [19] Me Intwazayamugabo Armand avuga ko urubanza rw’ubutane rutigeze ruvuga ko nibigaragara ko hari imitungo bahishe bazayigabana, kuko ibyo bari bafite babigabanye muri urwo rubanza.

UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [20] Ingingo ya 6, igika cya 1 n’icya 2, by’Itegeko Nº 32/2016 ryo ku wa 28/08/2016 rigenga abantu n’umuryango nk’uko ryahinduwe kandi ryujujwe kugeza ubu, igira iti: “Imimerere n’ubushobozi by’Abanyarwanda, baba ababa mu Rwanda n’ababa mu mahanga, bigengwa n’amategeko y’u Rwanda. Icyakora, umunyarwanda utuye mu mahanga ufite ubwenegihugu burenze bumwe ashobora kugengwa n’itegeko yihitiyemo ryaba iry’u Rwanda cyangwa iry’igihugu kindi abereye umwenegihugu”. [21] Hashingiwe kuri iyi ngingo, umunyarwanda ufite ubundi bwenegihugu ashobora kugengwa n’amategeko y’igihugu abamo cyangwa n’amategeko y’u Rwanda bitewe n’icyo yahisemo. [22] Uwimana Marine ni umunyarwanda ufite n’ubwenegihugu bw’Amerika, akaba ashobora kugengwa n’amategeko y’Amerika cyangwa y’u Rwanda. Yatanze ikirego mu nkiko z’u Rwanda, ashingiye ku mategeko y’u Rwanda, asaba kwemeza ko hari umutungo yari asangiye na Mwumvaneza UWIMANA v KAGITARE

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Justin utarashyizwe mu byo bagabanye igihe cy’ubutane, kugira ngo nawo bawugabane. [23] Ingingo ya 8 y’Itegeko Nº 27/2016 ryo ku wa 08/07/2016 rigenga imicungire y’umutungo w’abashyingiranywe, impano n’izungura, iteganya ko “iyo uburyo bw’ivangamutungo rusange busheshwe ku mpamvu z’ubutane cyangwa guhindura uburyo bw’imicungire y’umutungo, abari barashyingiranywe kuvanga umutungo bagabana ku buryo bungana cyangwa mu bundi buryo bumvikanye imitungo n’imyenda…” [24] Iyi ngingo yumvikanisha ko iyo habaye urubanza rw’ubutane ku bashyingiranywe, uburyo bw’ivangamutungo basezeranye buba busheshwe, bakagabana mu buryo bungana cyangwa mu bundi buryo bumvikanyeho imitungo. Urubanza rw’ubutane nirwo runagaragaza uburyo abari barashyingiranywe bagabana umutungo bari basangiye, ariko mu gihe hari imitungo itaragaragajwe igihe cy’urwo rubanza, nta kibuza ko igihe imenyekaniye, ubifitemo inyungu yabiregera Urukiko kugira ngo nayo igabanwe. Bitabaye bityo, uwo mutungo wakwiharirwa n’umwe mu bari barashyingiranywe, bikaba binyuranye n’ibiteganywa mu ngingo ya 8 y’Itegeko No 27/2016 ryo ku wa 08/07/2016 ryavuzwe haruguru. [25] Urubanza 2009- 54209 rwaciwe ku wa 11/06/ 2010 na ‘’District Court” ya “Harris County” Texas, muri Leta Zunze Ubumwe z’Amerika, rwemeje ubutane hagati ya Uwimana Marine na Mwumvaneza Justin, rugena n’uburyo imitungo bari basangiye izagabanwa. Mu gihe ariko haba hari indi mitungo itaravuzwe igihe urubanza rwacibwaga, ikagaragara nyuma, nta kibuza ko ubifitemo inyungu yasaba ko nayo igabanywa nk’uko byasobanuwe haruguru. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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[26] Hashingiwe ku bisobanuro bimaze gutangwa, no ku ngingo z’amategeko zavuzwe haruguru, Urukiko rurasanga Uwimana Marine ashobora gukurikirana umutungo yari asangiye na Mwumvaneza Justin, kugira ngo bawugabane nyuma y’urubanza rw’ubutane.

5. Kumenya nyir’ishyamba riburanwa [27] Me Niyibizi Diogene uburanira Uwimana Marine avuga ko hari ibimenyetso bidashidikanywaho byerekana ko umutungo uburanwa ugizwe n’ishyamba ari uwa Mwumvaneza Mparirwa Justin na Uwimana Marine, ibyo bimenyetso bikaba ari ibi bikurikira: a. Icyangombwa cy’ubutaka cyerekana ko ishyamba ribaruye kuri UPI 5/05/08/05/2529 ari iryabo; b. Kitansi zakiriweho amafaranga yo kwandikisha ubutaka hamwe n’icyemezo cy’agateganyo cy’uwabaruriwe ubutaka kijyanye n’ikindi gice cy’ubutaka bubaruye kuri nimero 1200. Icyo cyemezo kigaragaza ko amazina y’utunze ubutaka ari Mparirwa Justin na Uwimana Marine, icyangombwa cya burundu kikaba kitaraboneka kubera amakimbirane; c. Inyandikomvugo y’inama yabaye ku wa 17/12/2010, aho Kagitare Dancille yavuze ko ubutaka ari ubwa Mparirwa Justin. [28] Avuga ko ubutaka bwose buburanwa bungana na 3.6 ha, bukaba butarigeze busaranganywa. Asobanura ko haba mu Rukiko rw’Ibanze rwa Kirehe, haba no mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Ngoma, Kagitare Dancille yavugaga ko ubwo butaka ari ubwe, kugera hakorwa inama ntegurarubanza; mu iburanisha UWIMANA v KAGITARE

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akaba aribwo bwa mbere avuze ko ubutaka bwa Mwumvaneza Justin bwasaranganyijwe uwitwa Bendantunguka Augustin. [29] Avuga kandi ko icyiswe ubuhamya bwa Bendantunguka Augustin kidakwiye guhabwa agaciro kuko atari inyandikomvugo y’isaranganya, akaba ataranigeze atambamira ko ibyangombwa byandikwa kuri Mwumvaneza Mparirwa Justin. [30] Ku bijyanye n’uko ubutaka bwabaruwe kuri Kagitare Dancille, nyuma bagasiba izina rye bakandikaho Mwumvaneza Justin na Uwimana Marine, asobanura ko Kagitare Dancille yabanje kwandikisha ishyamba riburanwa, nyuma abaturage bagatanga amakuru ko ubutaka atari ubwe ahubwo ari ubwa Mwumvaneza Mparirwa Justin, bituma Ikigo cy’ubutaka gisiba izina rye cyandikaho Mparirwa Justin. [31] Yongeraho ko icyangombwa cyasohotse Uwimana Marine na Mwumvaneza Mparirwa Justin badahari, akaba ariyo mpamvu mu kugisinya handitswe P.O, gusa akaba atazi uwasinyeho iyo P.O mu mwanya wa Mparirwa Justin. Ku bijyanye n’amafaranga 1200 yatangwaga mu ibarura, avuga ko yatanzwe na Kagitare Dancille, ariko akaba yarayasubijwe. [32] Me Niyibizi Diogene asoza avuga ko mu kwemeza nyir’ishyamba riburanwa, Urukiko rukwiye gushingira ku ngingo ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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ya 651 n’ingingo ya 712 z’Itegeko Nº 15/2004 ryo ku wa 12/06/2004 ryerekeye ibimenyetso mu manza n’itangwa ryabyo, rugashingira ku byavuye mu iperereza ndetse n’ubuhamya bwatanzwe na Mukunzi Emmanuel. [33] Me Intwazayamugabo Armand avuga ko ishyamba riburanwa ari irya Kagitare Dancille ashingiye ku mpamvu zikurikira: a. Ishyamba ryari irya Mwumvaneza Justin ryahawe Bendantunguka Augustin mu isaranganya, nk’uko bigaragara mu buhamya yatanze, rikaba ntaho rihuriye n’irya Kagitare Dancille; b. Icyemezo cy’agateganyo cyo kubaruza ubutaka cyanditse kuri Kagitare Dancille, ariko mu buryo bw’uburiganya izina rye rikaba ryaranyujijwemo ikaramu bakandikaho Mwumvaneza Justin; c. Mwumvaneza Justin bavuga ko yabaruje, ibarura ryabaye ari muri Amerika, ndetse anivugira ko umutungo yari afite wasaranganyijwe, ko nta mutungo afite mu Rwanda; d. Icyangombwa cy’ubutaka cyasinyweho « P.O » mu buryo bw’uburiganya, kikaba cyarahimbwe;

1 Urukiko ni rwo rwonyine rupima ko imikirize y’abatangabuhamya ihuye n’ikiburanwa, ifite ingingo zikiranuye kandi ikaba ikwiye kwemerwa cyangwa guhakanwa. Ntirwitsitsa ku mubare w’abatangabuhamya. Rwita cyane cyane ku bumenyi bwabo bw’ibyabaye, no ku buryo babivuga uko byagenze nta cyo bihimbira. 2 Abatangabuhamya bose batuma urubanza rucibwa neza bavuga icyo baruziho. Ntabwo urukiko rushobora kubuza umutangabuhamya w’ingirakamaro kuvuga icyo azi ku rubanza cyangwa se ngo ababuranyi bamwihane. Icyakora ababuranyi bashobora kuvuga impamvu zose zituma batakwizera ko abatangabuhamya babatangira ubuhamya bw’ukuri UWIMANA v KAGITARE

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e. Inama bivugwa ko Kagitare Dancille yavugiyemo ko ishyamba atari irye ntayemera, kuko atigeze asinya ku nyandikomvugo yayo, bityo ibyayivugiwemo bikaba bitagomba kumwitirirwa; f. Ibyavuzwe ko hari amafaranga 1200 yasubijwe Kagitare Dancille sibyo, kuko iyo havukaga ikibazo cyo guhindura uwanditse ku cyangombwa byakorerwaga raporo, kuba iyo raporo idahari bikaba ari ikimenyetso cy’uko Kagitare Dancille yasibwe ku byangombwa ku buryo bw’uburiganya. [34] Mukunzi Emmanuel watumiwe n’Urukiko kugira ngo agire amakuru arugezaho ajyanye n’amasezerano y’ubukode burambye Nº 2529/KIR/MUS yo ku wa 01/09/2011, yabwiye Urukiko ko icyangombwa ariwe wagisinye koko ashingiye ku makuru yavuye mu ibarura ry’ubutaka. Ku bijyanye n’uwasinyeho « PO », avuga ko ibyangombwa byatangwaga ari byinshi, kandi ko iyo bamaraga kubisinya byoherezwaga mu Kagari akaba ariho bitangirwa, akaba rero adashobora kumenya uwasinyiye ko agihawe.

UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [35] Uwimana Marine yemeza ko ishyamba riburanwa ari irya Mwumvaneza Justin, bakaba bari barisangiye kubera ko bari barasezeranye mu buryo bw’ivangamutungo risesuye. Ibimenyetso by’ingenzi ashingiraho bigizwe n’ibi bikurikira: ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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a. Raporo y’ikemurwa ry’ikibazo cy’ababuranira umuryango wa Mparirwa3 na Madamu Kagitare Dancille; b. Kitansi zakiriweho amafaranga yo kwandikisha ubutaka; c. Icyemezo cy’agateganyo gihabwa uwabaruriwe ubutaka; d. Amasezerano y’ubukode burambye No 2529/KIR/MUS yo ku wa 01/09/2011. [36] Mu gusuzuma ibimenyetso byatanzwe n’urega, Urukiko rwasanze hagaragara ibi bikurikira: a. Raporo y’ikemurwa ry’ikibazo cy’ababuranira umuryango wa Mparirwa na Madamu Kagitare Dancille yasinywe na Nkubito Denis wari Umunyamabanga Nshingwabikorwa w’Akagari ka Nganda, igaragaza ko abagabo babajijwe aribo Ngendahimana Védaste na Musonera Casimir bemeje ko ishyamba riburanwa ari irya Mparirwa. Igaragaza kandi ko Kagitare Dancille yavuze ko yemera ko ubutaka buburanwa ari ubwa Mparirwa bakaba barafatanyije gutera ishyamba, ariko nta mukono we ugaragara kuri iyo raporo; b. Kitansi yakirirwaho amafaranga yo kwandikisha ubutaka igaragaza ko amazina ya Kagitare Dancille yasibwe, hakandikwaho amazina ya Mparirwa Justin;

3Mu iperereza ryakozwe n’Urukiko aho ikiburanwa kiri, abaturage bazi ababuranyi bavuze ko Mparirwa ariwe Mwumvaneza Justin. Bavuze ko izina ryavugwaga cyane iwabo ari Mparirwa kuko izina rya Mwumvaneza yarifashe kubera amashuri. UWIMANA v KAGITARE

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c. Amasezerano y’ubukode burambye nomero 2529/KIR/MUS yo ku wa 01/09/2011, yanditseho ko ukodesha ubutaka ari Mparirwa Justin na Uwimana Marine, akaba agaragaza ubutaka bufite 1.514 sqm, mu gihe ubutaka bwaregewe bufite hegitari 3,6. [37] Kubera ibibazo bimaze kuvugwa bigaragara mu nyandiko zatanzweho ibimenyetso, kandi uregwa akaba avuga ko izo nyandiko zitabayeho, ndetse akagaragaza inyandiko yakozwe n’uwitwa Bendantunguka Augustin yemeza ko ishyamba ryahoze ari irya Mwunvaneza Justin yarihawe mu isaranganya, Urukiko rwasanze ari ngombwa gukora iperereza aho ikiburanwa kiri kugira ngo rumenye ukuri ku bivugwa n’ababuranyi. Muri iryo perereza habajijwe abaturiye aho ikiburanwa kiri, kimwe n’abakozi bari bashinzwe kwandika ubutaka basinye ku cyemezo cy’agateganyo gihabwa uwabaruriwe ubutaka, no kuri kitansi yakirirwaho amafaranga yo kwandikisha ubutaka. [38] Abatangabuhamya bavuze ko ishyamba riburanwa ari irya Mwumvaneza Justin ni aba bakurikira: a. Umutangabuhamya witwa Ngendahimana Védaste (wari Responsable ubwo ishyamba ryaterwaga akaba ari nawe watanze ubutaka ryateweho), yabwiye Urukiko ko Mutabazi (umugabo wa Kagitare Dancille akaba n’umuvandimwe wa Mwumvaneza Justin) yamusabye aho gutera ishyamba akahamuha, nyuma agasabira na murumuna we Mparirwa. Yavuze ko ishyamba ririmo ibice bibiri, ni ukuvuga igice cya Mutabazi n’icya Mparirwa, ariko ko atazi aho bagabanira. Yibukijwe ubuhamya yari yaratanze mbere, bugaragara muri raporo y’ikemurwa ry’ikibazo cy’ababuranira umuryango wa Mparirwa na Madamu Kagitare Dancille, icyo gihe akaba ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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yari yavuze ko yahaye ubutaka Mparirwa, ariko kuko yari umunyeshuri, ibikorwa bye byose bikaba byarakurikiranwaga na mukuru we Mutabazi. Yasubije ko yasabwe ubutaka na Mutabazi ariko abusabira Mparirwa, ko atigeze akurikirana ngo amenye niba mu gutera ishyamba bari bafatanyije; b. Uwitwa Murambira Eliyazar (ufite ishyamba ryegeranye n’ahaburanwa) yavuze ko Mutabazi wari konseye, yasabye Ngendahimana Védaste gukebera ahantu ho gutera ishyamba murumuna we Mparirwa wari umunyeshuri, nyuma akariteresha akoresheje uwitwa Ntamakiriro; c. Uwitwa Musonera Casimir (ufite ubutaka iruhande rw’ahaburanwa) nawe yabwiye Urukiko ko ahaburanwa ari aha Mparirwa, ko hari n’aho yaguze na mukuru we Kagimbura Gaspard kugirango ahongere; d. Uwitwa Twagiramungu Fréderic, yavuze ko ariwe watundiraga Mparirwa ingemwe z’inturusu n’imodoka ye, akaziha Ntamakiriro wazitereshaga, nyuma akajya guhembesha Mparirwa aho yigaga i Nyakinama. e. Urukiko rwanabajije abakozi bari muri komite ishinzwe kwandika ubutaka basinye ku byemezo byavuzwe haruguru, aribo Nyampundu Stéphanie na Niyonsenga Fabien. Nyampundu Stéphanie yabwiye Urukiko ko: i. Ikibazo cya Mparirwa acyibuka neza; ii. Kagitare Dancille yari kumwe n’Itsinda ry’abapima (land surveyor), bamaze gupima aba ariwe bandika kuri kitansi nka nyir’ubutaka, hanyuma ageze ku biro by’Akagari aho bandikaga mu ikaye bagakora UWIMANA v KAGITARE

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n’icyemezo cy’agateganyo cy’uwabaruriwe ubutaka, atanga andi mafaranga yo kugira ngo bamwandikire icyo cyemezo, nabwo yandikirwa indi kitansi; iii. Bagiye kumwandikira icyemezo cy’agateganyo cy’uwabaruriwe ubutaka, abaturage barasakuje bavuga ko ubutaka arimo kwiyandikishaho atari ubwe, bituma umunyamategeko witwa Cyatengwa Julienne amusaba kuzana abatangabuhamya bemeza niba ubutaka ari ubwe koko, abo azanye bose bemeza ko ubutaka ari ubwa mparirwa Justin; iv. Kubera ko kagitare Dancille yari yahawe kitansi 2, umunyamategeko Cyatengwa Julienne yamusabye kuzitanga. Kubera ko amafaranga yari yamaze kwishyurwa, yabagiriye inama yo kutongera kwandika izindi kitansi, ko ahubwo Kagitare Dancille asubizwa amafaranga ye, izina rye rikanyuzwamo umurongo bakandikamo nyiri ubutaka ariwe Mparirwa. v. Kubera ko icyemezo cy’agateganyo cy’uwabaruriwe ubutaka cyari kitarandikwa, cyo cyanditswe neza hashingiwe ku makuru yari amaze gutangwa; vi. Impamvu hari kitansi 2, ni uko imwe yabaga ari iy’abatekinisiye bandikiye ku isambu ipimwa, indi ari iya Komite yandikaga amakuru n’ibyangombwa by’agateganyo. Uwitwa Niyonsenga Fabien nawe wanditse kuri kitansi imwe, yavuze ko ibyo Nyampundu Stéphanie yavuze ariko byagenze, ntacyo yabeshyeho. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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[39] Urukiko rwanatumije mu iburanisha uwitwa Mukunzi Emmanuel, Umubitsi w’impapurompamo wungirije, kugira ngo rumusabe amakuru mu rwego rwo kumenya niba ariwe koko wasinye ku masezerano y’ubukode burambye nomero 2529/KIR/MUS yo ku wa 01/09/2011, yanditseho ko ukodesha ubutaka ari Mparirwa Justin na Uwimana Marine, avuga ko ariwe wayasinye ahereye ku byagaragajwe n’inzego zari zishinzwe kubarura ubutaka. Ibi bikaba binasubiza ikibazo cyari cyagaragajwe n’uregwa avuga ko icyo cyangombwa kitabayeho. [40] Abatangabuhamya bavuze ko ishyamba riburanwa ari irya Mutabazi: a. Uwitwa Habiyakare Jean yavuze ko ishyamba ari irya Mutabazi, ko ariwe wariteresheje, kandi ko Mparirwa ntaho ahuriye naryo. Yavuze ko irya Mparirwa ari iryo yaguze na Mugambira ryegeranye n’irya Mutabazi, tukaba twari uduti duto imiswa ikaturya; b. Uwitwa Kagimbura Gaspard yavuze ko yateye ibiti ahaburanwa, ahembwa na Mutabazi, akaba ahamya ko ishyamba ari irye. Avuga kandi ko hari isambu yagurishije Mparirwa yegeranye n’ahaburanwa, nawe agateramo ishyamba yometse ku rya Mutabazi ku buryo hagati nta rubibi rurimo. Yongeraho ko iyo Mparirwa yazaga mu kiruhuko, yamubonaga atembera iryo shyamba ari kumwe na mukuru we Mutabazi; c. Nyirahumure Frida yavuze ko ishyamba riburanwa ryatewe na Mutabazi, ariko ubuhamya bwe bukaba butashingirwaho n’Urukiko kuko ari mushiki wa Mwumvaneza Justin na Mutabazi. UWIMANA v KAGITARE

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[41] Uwitwa Bendantunguka Augustin yavuze ko atuye aho kuva mu 1996, akaba yarasaranganyije isambu ya Mparirwa hirya y’ishyamba riburanwa, agahabwa 50 m kuri 150 m. Yavuze ko mbere yo kuhasaranganya harimo ibiti by’inturusu, imiswa ikaza kubirya. Bendantunguka Augustin yari yarohereje n’ubuhamya bwanditse mu Rukiko avuga ko yasaranganyije isambu yahoze ari iya Mwunvaneza Justin. Icyagaragaye mu gihe cy’iperereza, ni uko aho Bendantunguka Augustin avuga ko yasaranganyije, hatandukanye n’ahari ishyamba riburanwa, ubuhamya bwe bukaba ntacyo bwafasha Urukiko. [42] Ku bijyanye no kuba nta mukono wa Kagitare Dancille ugaragara kuri raporo y’ikemurwa ry’ikibazo yavuzwe haruguru, abitwa Murambira Eliyazar, Twagiramungu Fréderic, Kagimbura Gaspard na Twagirimana Rachid, babwiye Urukiko ko Kagitare Dancille yari mu nama yabaye ku wa 12/07/2010, ariko ko yivumbuye akanga gusinya kuri raporo yayo, yumvise abatangabuhamya yazanye bavuze ibyo adashaka. [43] Kuba amasezerano y’ubukode burambye nomero 2529/KIR/MUS yo ku wa 01/09/2011, agaragaza ubutaka bufite 1.514 sqm, mu gihe ubutaka bwaregewe bufite hegitari 3,6, icyagaragariye Urukiko mu gihe cy’iperereza ni uko, ishyamba ryose ryahoze ringana na 3.6 ha, nyuma hakanyuramo umuhanda uricamo ibice 2 bitangana. Igice kimwe kingana na 1.514 sqm, akaba ari nacyo cyakorewe icyangombwa ababuranyi bashyikirije Urukiko, naho ikindi ari nacyo kinini kikaba kitarakorewe icyangombwa kubera ko hajemo amakimbirane ajyanye n’imanza. [44] Urukiko rushingiye ku ngingo ya 65 y’Itegeko No 15/2004 ryo ku wa 19/07/2004 ryerekeye ibimenyetso mu manza n’itangwa ryabyo, iteganya ko Urukiko arirwo rwonyine rupima ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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ko imikirize y’abatangabuhamya ihuye n’ikiburanwa, ifite ingingo zikiranuye kandi ikaba ikwiye kwemerwa cyangwa guhakanwa, rushingiye kandi ku isesengura rwakoze ku buhamya bwose bwatanzwe, ubwinshi bukaba buhuriza ku kuba ishyamba riburanwa ari irya Mparirwa, rukanashingira ku byo rwiboneye mu gihe cy’iperereza; rurasanga nta gushidikanya ko ishyamba riburanwa ringana na 3,6 ha ari irya Mwumvaneza Justin, ari nawe ufite irindi zina rya Mparirwa, na Uwimana Marine. [45] Urukiko rukaba rusanga rero, hashingiwe ku bisobanuro byose byatanzwe, ishyamba riburanwa ringana na 3,6 ha, riherereye mu Kagali ka Nganda, Umurenge wa Musaza, Akarere ka Kirehe, ari irya Mwumvaneza Justin, akaba akirisangiye na Uwimana Marine kuko ritagaragara mu byo urubanza rw’ubutane nomero 2009-54209 rwo ku wa 11/06/2010 rwabagabanyije.

6. Kumenya niba hari indishyi zatangwa mu rubanza [46] Me Niyibizi Diogene avuga ko Uwimana Marine asaba kwishyurwa na Kagitare Dancille indishyi zikurikira: a. Indishyi z’akababaro zingana na 10.000.000 Frw; b. amafaranga Uwimana Marine yatagetswe kwishyura mu rubanza RC 0576/010/TB/KRH rwaciwe ku wa 31/01/2011, n’ayo yategetswe kwishyura mu rubanza RCA 0048/11/TGI/NGOMA; c. Amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza angana na 2.000.000 Frw; d. Igihembo cy’Avoka cyatanzwe mu manza zabanje kingana na 3.500.000 Frw; e. Igihembo cy’Avoka ku rwego rw’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga kingana na 2.000.000 Frw; UWIMANA v KAGITARE

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f. Igihombo yamuteje kingana na 10.000.000 Frw, gikomoka ku nyungu yamuvukije kuko kuva ku wa 26/06/2012 kugeza mu 2018, Kagitare Dancille yakomeje gusarura ishyamba, agatema ibiti, akarunda amasiteri akagurisha. [47] Kagitare Dancille avuga ko ibyo Uwimana Marine asaba ntabyo akwiriye, kuko yakoze uburiganya yifashishije murumuna we Munyana Amina, bityo akaba asaba Urukiko gutegeka ko ikirego cye nta shingiro gifite. Kagitare Dancille yatanze kandi ikirego kiregera kwiregura asaba Urukiko gutegeka Uwimana Marine kumuha: a. amafaranga angana na 2.000.000 kubera imyaka yose amaze amusiragiza; b. agaciro k’ibiti yasaruye kangana na 10.000.000 Frw; c. amafaranga y'ikurikiranarubanza n'igihembo cy’Avoka kuri uru rwego angana na 3.000.000, yose hamwe akaba 15.000.000 Frw.

UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [48] Urukiko rurasanga indishyi z’akababaro Uwimana Marine asaba atazihabwa kuko atazisobanuye. Rurasanga kandi amafaranga avuga ko yategetswe mu rubanza RC 0576/010/TB/KRH rwaciwe ku wa 31/01/2011, n’ayategetswe mu rubanza RCA 0048/11/TGI/NGOMA rwaciwe ku wa 20/10/2011 atagaragara muri izo manza kuko ariwe wazitsinze, akaba atanasobanura ayo ariyo, rukaba rero ntaho rwahera ruyamugenera. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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[49] Urukiko rurasanga amafaranga 10.000.000 Frw UWIMANA Marine asaba y’igihombo avuga ko yatejwe na KAGITARE Dancille, gikomoka ku nyungu yavanye mu ishyamba, atarayatangiye ibimenyetso, rukaba ntaho rwahera ruyamugenera. [50] Ku bijyanye n’amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cy’Avoka, Urukiko rurasanga ayo asaba ari menshi kandi atarayatangiye ibisobanuro, rukaba rumugeneye mu bushishozi bwarwo 300.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza na 500.000 Frw y’igihembo cy’Avoka kuri uru rwego, yose hamwe akaba 800.000 Frw. [51] Urukiko rurasanga indishyi Kagitare Dancille asaba atazigenerwa kuko ntacyo yatsindiye mu rubanza. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [52] Rwemeje ko ikirego cyatanzwe na Uwimana Marine gisaba gusubirishamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane, urubanza RCA 0334/14/TGI/NGOMA rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Ngoma ku wa 27/02/2014, gifite ishingiro; [53] Rwemeje ko ikirego kiregera kwiregura cyatanzwe na Kagitare Dancille kidafite ishingiro; [54] Rwemeje ko urubanza RCA 0334/14/TGI/NGOMA rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Ngoma ku wa 27/02/2014, ruhindutse kuri byose; UWIMANA v KAGITARE

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[55] Rwemeje ko ishyamba rifite hegitari 3,6 riherereye mu Kagari ka Nganda, Umurenge wa Musaza, Akarere ka Kirehe, ari irya Mwumvaneza Justin asangiye na Uwimana Marine; [56] Rutegetse Kagitare Dancille kwishyura Uwimana Marine 800.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cy’Avoka.

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URUBANZA RW’UMURIMO

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SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’IKIRENGA - RS/INJUST/RSOC 00001/2022/SC (Cyanzayire, P. J., Nyirinkwaya na Karimunda, J.) 08 Nyakanga 2022] Amategeko agenga imanza z’umurimo – Umushahara w'umukozi – Kureshyeshya abakozi mu bijyanye n'umushahara – Abakozi bakora imirimo imwe, banganya ubumenyi, uburambe n’ubushobozi bagomba guhembwa kimwe, iyo bitabaye ibyo haba habayeho ivangura – Umukozi unganya na bagenzi be ubumenyi, uburambe n’ubushobozi, udahembwa kimwe n’abo bari ku rwego rumwe afite uburenganzira bwo guharanira guhembwa kimwe na bagenzi be cyangwa bwo gusaba ko ahembwa umushahara ukwiye Amategeko agenga imanza z’umurimo – Umushahara w’umukozi – Kureshyeshya abakozi mu bijyanye n’umushahara – Icyatuma imishahara y’abakozi bari ku rwego rumwe itandukana ni igihe umukoresha abashije kugaragariza Urukiko mu buryo bufatika (objectivement/ objectively) ko abakozi bahembwaga umushara uri hejuru bafite ubumenyi budasanzwe kandi bwihariye bufitiye akamaro umurimo bakora, ibyo kandi byemezwa n’Urukiko mu bushishozi bwarwo. Amategeko agenga imanza z’umurimo – Umushahara w’umukozi – Kureshyeshya abakozi mu bijyanye n’umushahara – Ishimwe – Nubwo nta kibuza umukoresha kuba yagenera bamwe mu bakozi ishimwe, iyo iryo shimwe rishyizwe ku mushahara rihabwa abakozi bose. Igihe cy’ubusaze gitangira kubarwa guhera igihe umukozi yagombaga guhemberwaho, kigahagarikwa n’uko 117

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umukoresha yakoze umubaruro w’amafaranga, umukoresha n'umukozi bemeranijwe ko hari umwenda, urubanza rw'umukozi rwaregewe urukiko cyangwa se n’uko ibiro bigenzura umurimo byasabwe kubakiranura bitaratanga umwanzuro wabyo. Amategeko agenga imanza z’umurimo – Umushahara w'umukozi – Ubusaze bw’imishahara – Ubusaze bw’imishahara bubarwa nk’ubusaze bw’ubundi burenganzira bwite cyangwa ubundi burenganzira ku mutungo. Ibarwa ryabwo rihera igihe ufite uburenganzira yamenye cyangwa yashoboraga kumenya impamvu zatuma abukurikirana. Amategeko agenga imiburanishirize y’imanza zasabiwe gusubirishwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane – Ingingo zagaruwe mu karengane zitarajuririwe – Umuburanyi utarajuririye ingingo atanyuzwe nazo hakurikijwe inzira zisanzwe kandi yari abyemerewe n’amategeko, aba yivukije inzira y’ubujurire yari gutuma ibyo yanengaga bikosorerwa mu bujurire – Ntabwo ashobora kwifashisha inzira yo gusubirishamo urubanza ku mpamvu z’akarengane. Incamake y’ikibazo: Rugina yakoreraga

SONARWA Assurance Company Ltd ku mwanya wa Data management officer nyuma aza kugirwa Umuyobozi ukuriye ishami ariko ntiyahabwa umushahara w’uwo mwanya. Yaje gusaba umukoresha we kumuha umushahara w’uwo mwanya mushya yashyizwemo aho kuwuhabwa aza guhabwa ibaruwa yo kumusezerera ku kazi. Yaje kwiyambaza Umugenzuzi w’umurimo aza guhuza impande zombi hemezwa ko basezerewe ku bw’impamvu z’ubukungu bityo ko iryo sezererwa rikurikije amategeko. Nyuma yaje gutanga ikiregpo mu rukiko rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge rusuzumye icyo kibazo rusanga yarirukanwe mu buryo bunyuranije n’amategeko rumugenera indishyi. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd yajuririye Urukiko Rukuru ivuga ko ubwo Rugina yagirwaga Umuyobozi ukuriye ishami, urwego yariho n’umushahara yahembwaga bitahindutse kandi ko urukiko rwabanje rwamugeneye indishyi nta bimenyetso rushingiyeho. Urukiko Rukuru rwasanze Rugina yarirukanywe mu buryo bunyuranyije n’amategeko kuko Umugenzuzi w’Umurimo yamenyeshejwe iby’isezererwa rye yaramaze kwirukanwa maze rumugenera indishyi zinyuranye. SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd yajuriye mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire ivuga ko ibirego bya Rugina bitabanje kugezwa ku ntumwa z’abakozi kandi ko hari ingingo zimwe na zimwe Rugina yatanze nk’ibirego kandi bitari mu byo yatantanze ku mugenzi w’umurimo. Urukiko rwasanze ubwo bujurire nta shingiro bufite kuko mu manza zabanje iyo nzitizi ntiyigeze itangwa bityo rugenera Rugina indishyi. Ibi byatumye SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd isaba ko uru rubanza rwasubirishwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane maze Urukiko rw’ikirenga rurusubiramo. Muri uru rubanza, hasuzumwe umushahara fatizo ukwiye kubarirwaho indishyi zisabwa ndetse no kumenya igihe ubuzime bw’umushahara butangirira. SONARWA, ivuga ko kuba umukozi yarazamuwe mu ntera bitavuze ko byanze bikunze yagombaga no kuzamurirwa umushahara ndetse ko atari ihame ko abakozi bari ku rwego rumwe bahembwa kimwe cyane cyane ko yari yamenyeshejwe ko umushahara we utazahinduka, akemera kongererwa gusa amafaranga y’ingendo. Uregwa avuga ko kuba yarazamuwe mu ntera akagirwa Branch Manager agahabwa n’inshingano zo gukurikirana ayandi mashami ariko agakomeza guhembwa umushahara yahembwaga atarazamurwa mu ntera binyuranyije n’amategeko. SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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Uwasabye gusubirishamo urubanza nanone avuga ko rwanze kwemeza nta mpamvu rubitangiye ko imishahara ya mbere yo ku wa 11/04/2015 byageze ku wa 12/04/2017, ubwo Rugina Jason yasezererwaga, yarashaje kuko yarengeje igihe cy’imyaka ibiri giteganywa n’itegeko. Ku kibazo cy’ubusaze bw’imishahara, uregwa avuga ko guhera ku wa 02/12/2013, we n’abandi ba Branch Managers bandikiye umukoresha, basaba guhemberwa intera bashyizweho, bongera kwibutsa ku wa 26/06/2014 no ku wa 20/09/2015, babonye nta gisubizo, ikibazo bagishyikiriza Umugenzuzi w’Umurimo, akaba asanga nta na rimwe imyaka ibiri yigeze ishira atarishyuza umushahara we, ariyo mpamvu asaba uru Rukiko kwemeza ko iyi ngingo nta shingiro ifite. Incamake y’icyemezo: 1. Abakozi bakora imirimo imwe, banganya ubumenyi, uburambe n’ubushobozi bagomba guhembwa kimwe, iyo bitabaye ibyo haba habayeho ivangura. Umukozi unganya na bagenzi be ubumenyi, uburambe n’ubushobozi, udahembwa kimwe n’abo bari ku rwego rumwe afite uburenganzira bwo guharanira guhembwa kimwe na bagenzi be cyangwa bwo gusaba ko ahembwa umushahara ukwiye.

2. Nubwo nta kibuza umukoresha kuba yagenera bamwe mu bakozi ishimwe, iyo iryo shimwe rishyizwe ku mushahara rihabwa abakozi bose. Icyatuma imishahara y’abakozi bari ku rwego rumwe itandukana ni igihe umukoresha abashije kugaragariza Urukiko mu buryo bufatika (objectivement/ objectively) ko abakozi bahembwaga umushara uri hejuru bafite ubumenyi budasanzwe kandi bwihariye bufitiye akamaro umurimo bakora, ibyo kandi byemezwa n’Urukiko mu bushishozi bwarwo. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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3. Igihe cy’ubusaze gitangira kubarwa guhera igihe umukozi yagombaga guhemberwaho, kigahagarikwa n’uko umukoresha yakoze umubaruro w'amafaranga, umukoresha n'umukozi bemeranijwe ko hari umwenda, urubanza rw'umukozi rwaregewe urukiko cyangwa se n’uko ibiro bigenzura umurimo byasabwe kubakiranura bitaratanga umwanzuro wabyo.

4. Ubusaze bw’imishahara bubarwa nk’ubusaze bw’ubundi burenganzira bwite cyangwa ubundi burenganzira ku mutungo. Ibarwa ryabwo rihera igihe ufite uburenganzira yamenye cyangwa yashoboraga kumenya impamvu zatuma abukurikirana.

5. Iyo ingingo ya 55, igika cya nyuma, n’iya 63 z’Itegeko n° 30/2018 ryo ku wa 02/06/2018 rigena ububasha bw’inkiko zisomewe hamwe, zumvikanisha ko umuburanyi utarajuririye ingingo atanyuzwe nazo hakurikijwe inzira zisanzwe kandi yari abyemerewe n’amategeko, aba yivukije inzira y’ubujurire yari gutuma ibyo yanengaga bikosorerwa mu bujurire, bityo akaba adashobora kwifashisha inzira yo gusubirishamo urubanza ku mpamvu z’akarengane, yirengagije ko hari izindi manza zabaye, ngo ingingo yanze kujuririra ku bushake asabe ko zisuzumwa mu karengane kuko byaba binyuranyije n’ibiteganywa n’amategeko. Ikirego gisaba gusubirishamo urubanza nta shingiro gifite. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko Nshinga rya Repubulika y’u Rwanda ryo muri 2003 ryavuguruwe mu 2015, ingingo ya 30 Itegeko N° 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, ingingo ya 111. SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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Itegeko N° 30/2018 ryo ku wa 02/06/2018 rigena ububasha bw’inkiko, ingingo ya 55 n’iya 63. Amategeko yifashishijwe atagikoreshwa: Itegeko N° 13/2009 ryo kuwa 27/05/2009 rigenga umurimo mu Rwanda, ingingo ya 83 Imanza zifashishijwe: Ngizweninshuti na Muhima, RS/INJUST/RC 00024/2018/SC rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 21/02/2020 Nditiribambe n’undi na Nyamwasa Faustin, RS/INJUST/RC 00007/2018/SC rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’ikirenga ku wa 13/03/2020, Mukamana n’abandi n’Umuhoza, RCOM RS/ INJUST/ RC 00004/2019/SC rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 28/07/2020. Cour de Cassation, Chambre sociale, N° 07-42-107, 16 décembre 2008, Bull Civ, V. N° 250 Inyandiko z’abahanga zifashishijwe: Fanie Van Jaarsveld na Stefan Van Eck, Principles of Labour Law, Durban, Butterworths, 2002, p.

78. Nsengiyuma Métusera, Droit social, Manuel de droit Rwandais, 1993, p.

79. Françoise Favennec-Hery et Pierre-Yves Verkindt, Droit du Travail, Paris, LDGJ, 2020, p.661.

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Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Uru rubanza rwatangiriye mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge, Rugina Jason avuga ko mbere y’uko SONARWA S.A igabanywamo SONARWA Holdings Ltd, SONARWA General Insurance Company Ltd na SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd yayikoreraga kuva ku wa 01/08/2008. Avuga ko bitewe n’izo mpinduka, abakozi ba SONARWA S.A bashyizwe muri sosiyete nshya zari zimaze kuvuka, maze ku itariki ya 15/11/2011, ahabwa amasezerano y’igihe kitazwi, agirwa Data Management Officer muri SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd, naho ku wa 14/11/2013, agirwa umuyobozi ukuriye ishami rya Huye (Branch Manager), ashingwa no gukurikirana ishami rya Rusizi, amenyeshwa kandi ko umushahara n’urwego ariho bidahindutse, icyakora ko ahawe 200.000 Frw y’ingendo buri kwezi. Rugina Jason yavuze ko we na bagenzi be bazamuwe mu ntera ntibahabwe umushahara ujyanye n’urwego bariho, bandikiye umukoresha bishyuza ibirarane by’imishahara, bamenyeshwa ko icyo kibazo kizigwaho, bigeze ku wa 12/04/2017 aho guhabwa igisubizo, basezererwa mu kazi. [2] Rugina Jason yagejeje icyo kibazo ku mugenzuzi w’umurimo, SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd ivuga ko Rugina Jason yasezerewe kubera impamvu z’ubukungu bwatumye ikigo gikora amavugurura mu myanya y’imirimo kandi ko nta mwenda w’imishahara imufitiye. Nyuma yo kutumvikana, Rugina Jason yaregeye Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge avuga ko yirukanywe mu kazi mu buryo bunyuranyije n’amategeko, asaba guhabwa amafaranga avuga ko SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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atagenewe mu gihe yari umukozi ndetse akanahabwa indishyi z’ikurikiranarubanza. [3] Mu rubanza RSOC 00331/2018/TGI/NYGE rwaciwe ku wa 20/09/2019, Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge rwasanze ikirego cya Rugina Jason gifite ishingiro kuri bimwe, rwemeza ko Rugina Jason yasezerewe ku kazi mu buryo bunyuranyije n’amategeko, rutegeka SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd kumuha 80.431.900 Frw y’indishyi zitandukanye, ndetse no kumwishyurira imisanzu y’ubwiteganyirize hagendewe ku mushahara nyawo wa Branch Manager. Urukiko rwashingiye ibyo byemezo ku kuba: - Nyuma yo gusezerera Rugina Jason mu kazi ari bwo umukoresha yabimenyesheje Umugenzuzi w’Umurimo, bivuze ko yasezerewe ibiteganywa n’ingingo ya 34 y’ Itegeko no 13/2009 ryo ku wa 27/05/2009 ryagengaga umurimo bitubahirijwe;1 - Rugina Jason yarasezerewe ari ku mwanya wa Branch Manager, akaba yari akwiye kujya ahembwa 1.999.252 Frw, ari nayo akwiye kubarirwaho ikinyuranyo cy’imishahara y’amezi 42 atahawe ndetse akanabarirwaho integuza, imperekeza, insimburakiruhuko n’umusanzu w’ubwiteganyirize nabyo atahawe;

1 Iyo ngingo yateganyaga ko “Umukoresha ashobora gusezerera umukozi umwe cyangwa benshi bitewe no kuvugurura imikorere y’ikigo bikorwa kubera ingorane z’ubukungu cyangwa guhindura ikoranabuhanga ryakoreshwaga hagamijwe kugira ngo ikigo kirusheho gukora neza. Abakozi bagabanywa mu kigo batondekwa hakurikijwe ubushobozi ku murimo, amashuri, uburambe muri icyo kigo n’umubare w’abo atunze ku buryo bwemewe n’amategeko, bikitabwaho uko bikurikirana. Ibyo bimenyeshwa Umugenzuzi w’umurimo mu nyandiko”. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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- Amafaranga y’ifunguro n’aya caisse d’entraide Rugina Jason adakwiye kuyahabwa kuko nta kimenyetso ayatangira. [4] SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd yajuririye Urukiko Rukuru ivuga ko ubwo Rugina Jason yagirwaga Branch Manager, urwego yariho n’umushahara yahembwaga bitahindutse, ko Urukiko rwabanje rwemeje ko yagombaga kujya ahembwa 1.999.252 Frw, akaba ari nayo abarirwaho ikinyuranyo cy’umushahara atahawe, integuza n’imperekeza nta kimenyetso rushingiyeho ndetse rumugenera indishyi z’akababaro atasabye kandi zidateganywa n’itegeko. [5] Mu rubanza RSOCA 00257/2019/HC/KIG rwaciwe ku wa 28/05/2020, Urukiko Rukuru rwasanze Rugina Jason yarirukanywe mu buryo bunyuranyije n’amategeko kuko Umugenzuzi w’Umurimo yamenyeshejwe iby’isezererwa rye yaramaze kwirukanwa. Rwasanze kandi amafaranga y’ingendo, icumbi, ifunguro n’aya caisse d’entraide Rugina Jason yasabaga mu bujurire bwuririye ku bundi atayahabwa kuko atayatangira ibimenyetso naho ayo yakoresheje yivuza mu Bitaro byitirwe Umwami Faisal, ayo kwimuka n’ikinyuranyo cy’umushahara mu gihe cy’amazi 16 yaba atarahawe bitasuzumwa bwa mbere mu bujurire, rusanga na none Rugina Jason atahabwa inyungu zingana na 18% ku ndishyi zose zemejwe n’Urukiko nk’uko yabisabaga kuko atari umucuruzi kandi akaba atagaragaza amategeko ashingiraho azisaba, rwanzura ko ubujurire bwa SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd bufite ishingiro kuri bimwe, rwemeza ko uretse 1.000.000 Frw y’indishyi z’akababaro yatanzwe hashingiwe ku ngingo ya 258 y’Igitabo cya gatatu cy’urwunge rw’amategeko mbonezamubano agomba kuvanwa mu ndishyi, nta gihindutse ku mikirize y’urubanza rwajuririwe. SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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[6] SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd yajuririye mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire ivuga ko ibirego bya Rugina Jason bitabanje kugezwa ku ntumwa z’abakozi mu Kigo nk’uko biteganywa n’ingingo ya 140 y’Itegeko N° 13/2009 ryo ku wa 27/05/2009 ryagengaga umurimo mu Rwanda,2 ko Rugina Jason yari yaratanze ibirego umunani ku Mugenzuzi w’Umurimo, ageze mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye yongeraho ibirego 11, ibyo bishya bikaba bitaragombaga kwakirwa, ko Urukiko Rwisumbuye rutari gushingira icyemezo cyarwo ku myanzuro Rugina Jason yatanze ku wa 08/05/2019, nyuma y’inama ntegurarubanza atabanje gusabwa gutanga irindi garama, ko ingingo zijyanye n’ikinyuranyo ku mperekeza, ku nteguza no ku mafaranga y’ubwiteganyirize atatangiwe zitagombaga kwakirwa kuko zitigeze zishyikirizwa Umugenzuzi w’Umurimo, ko muri rusange SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd nta ndishyi yagombaga gucibwa kuko ibirego byashingiweho zitangwa byari byarashaje, isaba ko ku bw’izo nenge, urubanza RSOC 00331/2018/TGI/NYGE rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge n’urubanza RSOCA 00257/2019/HC/KIG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru zivanwaho. [7] Rugina Jason yireguye avuga ko yagannye inkiko nyuma yo kugerageza gukemura ikibazo ku bwumvikane. Yasobanuye ko ku wa 16/09/2016, yandikiye Umukuru w’Inama y’Ubutegetsi yishyuza umushahara ujyanye n’urwego ariho, uyu nawe asaba

2 Iyo ngingo yateganyaga ko “Iyo havutse impaka zihariye ku kazi hagati y’umukozi n’umukoresha, uruhande bireba rubanza gusaba uhagarariye abakozi iyo ahari, gukemura ayo makimbirane ku bwumvikane. Iyo intumwa z’abakozi zidashoboye gukemura ayo makimbirane, uruhande bireba rubimenyesha Umugenzuzi w’Umurimo rusaba ko yakemurwa ku bwumvikane. Iyo kumvikana bidashobotse, ikirego gishobora gushyikirizwa urukiko rubifitiye ububasha. Iyo kunyura mu nzego zivugwa muri iyi ngingo bitubahirijwe, urukiko rushobora gufata icyemezo cyo kutakira ikirego.” ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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Umuyobozi wa SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd gukemura icyo kibazo, abonye nta gikozwe yiyambaza intumwa z’abakozi mu Kigo, nabyo ntibyagira icyo bitanga, abona kugana Umugenzuzi w’Umurimo ari nawe wamugiriye inama yo kuregera inkiko. Yavuze ko ntaho mu nkiko zabanje hiregangijwe ibiteganywa n’ingingo ya 140, y’Itegeko n° 13/2009 ryo ku wa 27/05/2009 rigenga umurimo mu Rwanda, ndetse ko nta myanzuro batanze nyuma y’inama ntegurarubanza mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge ahubwo ko basobanuye mu buryo bwimbitse umwanzuro bari batanze barega, akaba asanga inenge SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd itagaragaje mu nkiko zabanje itakwemererwa kuzitanga bwa mbere mu bujurire cyane cyane ko atari impamvu ndemyagihugu. [8] Mu rubanza RSOCAA 00007/2020/CA rwaciwe ku wa 29/10/2021, Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwasanze ubujurire bwa SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd n’ubwa Rugina Jason bwuririye ku bundi nta shingiro bufite, rutegeka SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd kwishyura Rugina Jason 41.777.748 Frw y’indishyi, 3.000.000 Frw y’igihembo cya Avoka na 50.000 Frw y’ingwate y’amagarama mu Rukiko Rukuru, no kumutangira ikinyuranyo cy’imisanzu y’ubwiteganyirize ishingiye ku mushahara mbumbe (salaire brut) ungana na 1.999.252 Frw ku kwezi. Urukiko rwashingiye ibyo byemezo ku mpamvu zikurikira: i. Kuba mu nkiko zabanje SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd itarabyukije inzitizi ku ngingo ijyanye n’uko Rugina Jason atabanje gushyikiriza ikibazo cye uhagarariye abakozi mu Kigo kandi ikaba itagaragaza ko iyo nzitizi ari ndemyagihugu ku buryo n’Urukiko rwashoboraga SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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kuyibyutsa rubyibwirije, bituma itakwakirwa ngo isuzumwe bwa mbere mu bujurire bwa kabiri; ii. Kuba SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd yarireguye ku birego byose yari yarezwe byumvikanisha ko mu bujurire bwa kabiri atariho yavuga ko ibyo birego bitagombaga kwakirwa cyangwa ngo isabe ko ibyemezo byafashwe ku birego yireguyeho biteshwa agaciro kandi ntaho yagaragaje ko inzitizi itanga ari ndemyagihugu ku buryo yashoboraga no kubyutswa n’Urukiko rubyibwirije; iii. Kuba SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd yaremeye kwiregura ku myanzuro yatanzwe nyuma y’inama ntegurarubanza ndetse no ku birego ivuga ko byatanzwe bwa mbere muri iyo myanzuro, ntiyasaba ko nyuma y’icibwa ry’urubanza ari bwo iyo myanzuro itakirwa cyangwa ngo isabe ko urubanza ruteshwa agaciro; iv. Kuba ikibazo cy’iyirukanwa rinyuranyije n’amategeko kidakwiye gusuzumwa mu bujurire kuko SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd itakijuririye, ibyo bikaba byumvikanisha ko yari yanyuzwe n’umwanzuro wafashwe n’inkiko kuri iyo ngingo; v. Kuba nta busaze bw’imishahara bwabayeho kuko Rugina Jason atigeze arenza imyaka ibiri atarishyuza imishahara ye, bityo ibyo SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd isaba ko umushahara wa Branch Manager wari ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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kubarirwa ku mezi 24 aho kuba 42 bikaba nta shingiro bifite; vi. Kuba “Employee’s Handbook” yo mu mwaka wa 2015 atariyo mategeko ngengamikorere akwiye gushingirwaho hasuzumwa intera Rugina Jason yariho kuko yashyizwe ku mwanya wa Branch Manager ku wa 14/11/2013 iyo Employee’s Handbook itarajyaho; vii. 1.999.252 Frw yabariweho indishyi zinyuranye mu rubanza rujuririrwa ari umushahara mbumbe (salaire brut), bityo ukaba utashingirwaho kuko binyuranyije n’umurongo watanzwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga mu rubanza RS/INJUST/RSOC/2019/SC haburana Niwemugeni Jeannette na KCB Bank Rwanda Ltd, uvuga ko umukozi usezerewe mu kazi atabarirwa indishyi hashingiwe ku mushahara mbumbe (brut), ahubwo zibarirwa ku mushahara atahana mu ntoki (net) hamaze kuvanwamo umisoro ku musaruro n’umusanzu w’ubwiteganyirize; viii. Kuba SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd igomba gutangira RUGINA Jason ikinyuranyo cy’imisanzu y’ubwiteganyirize itamutangiye ibariwe ku mushahara mbumbe ungana na 1.999.252 Frw ku kwezi, aho kuba 514.581 Frw ku kwezi; ix. Kuba Rugina Jason atagaragaza ibimenyetso bihamya ko yagombaga kwishyurirwa 100% y’amafaranga yo kwivuza, bityo akaba ntayo SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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agomba guhabwa; naho ku bijyanye n’amafaranga y’icumbi, ingendo n’itumanaho akaba atayakwiye kuko ntaho yagaragaje ko yayishyuje ntayahabwe. x. Kuba SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd idakwiye kubazwa ibirebana n’imisanzu yatanzwe muri caisse d’entraide, kuko urwo ari urwego rugengwa n’amategeko kandi rufite ubuyobozi byihariye. [9] SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd yandikiye Perezida w'Urukiko rw'Ikirenga isaba ko urubanza RSOCAA 00007/2020/CA rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 29/10/2021, rusubirwamo ku mpamvu z'akarengane. Mu cyemezo N° 008/CJ/2022 cyo ku wa 06/01/2022 yemeza ko rwoherezwa mu Bwanditsi bw’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga kugira ngo ruzongere ruburanishwe. [10] Iburanisha mu ruhame ryabaye ku wa 24/05/2022, SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd ihagarariwe na Me Abijuru Emmanuel afatanyije na Me Basomingera Alberto naho Rugina Jason ahagarariwe na Me Rwagitare Fred Fiston. II. IBIBAZO BIGIZE URUBANZA N’ISESENGURWA RYABYO II.1. Kumenya umushahara fatizo ukwiye kubarirwaho indishyi zisabwa [11] Me Abijuru Emmanuel na Me Basomingera Alberto, baburanira SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd, bavuga ko iyo sosiyete yashinzwe mu mwaka wa 2012, abakozi bakomeza guhembwa imishahara yo ku rwego bariho muri SONARWA ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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S.A. kugeza mu mwaka wa 2016 hashingiwe ku ihame ry’uko umwanya n’umushahara w’umukozi bidakwiye kugabanywa. Bavuga ko nubwo inyandiko igaragaza imyanya muri icyo kigo idasinye, ariyo ikurikizwa. Basanga ku bijyanye n’imishahara hadakwiye gushingirwa ku mategeko ngengamikorere yo mu mwaka wa 2005 ahubwo hakwiye kugenderwa ku nyandiko zishyira abakozi mu myanya n’ibindi byemezo bitandukanye byafashwe n’umukoresha. Bavuga ko kuba Employee’s Handbook yo mu mwaka wa 2015 ivuga ko ikomeza ibyariho muri Règlement d’ordre intérieur ya 2005 ari ukwibeshya ndetse ko Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rutagombaga gushingira icyemezo cyarwo kuri Règlement d’ordre intérieur yo mu mwaka wa 2005 kuko byatumye rugenera Rugina Jason umushahara ushingiye ku byifuzo bye, rwivanga no mu mikorere y’ibigo byigenga ku buryo icyemezo rwafashe kigumyeho cyabangamira abakoresha n’iterambere rusange. [12] Basobanura ko nk’uko bigaragazwa n’ibaruwa yo ku wa 14/05/2013 yandikiwe Kanyamahoro Kazungu Deus wari ku mwanya umwe n’uwa Rugina Jason, mu mwaka wa 2013, Branch Manager yahembwaga umushahara mbumbe (gross salary) ungana na 1.035.590 Frw, naho umushahara fatizo (basic salary) ari 715.550 Frw. Bavuga kandi ko Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwitiranyije ibintu, aho rwavuze ko Ntwari Alphonse yari umukozi wa SONARWA S.A. kuko yabanje kuba Chef de Service muri iyo sosiyete, hanyuma yoherezwa muri SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd nka Head of Unit, hanyuma aza kuzamurwa mu ntera agirwa Head of Department, akaba rero atarigeze aba Branch Manager muri SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd, bivuze ko bidakwiye ko umushara ungana na 1.999.252 Frw Ntwari Alphonse yahembwe nka Head of Department ariwo ufatwa nk’uwo Rugina Jason yagombaga SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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guhembwa kandi uyu yari ku mwanya wa Officer I, wari hasi cyane, ku ntera ya gatatu uvuye ku mwanya Ntwari Alphonse yariho. [13] Bavuga ko kuba Rugina Jason yarazamuwe mu ntera bitavuze ko byanze bikunze yagombaga no kuzamurirwa umushahara ndetse ko atari ihame ko abakozi bari ku rwego rumwe bahembwa kimwe cyane cyane ko Rugina Jason yari yamenyeshejwe ko umushahara we utazahinduka, akemera kongererwa gusa amafaranga y’ingendo. Basobanura ko SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd nta mashami yagiraga mu ntara kugeza mu mwaka wa 2013, ko abayobozi bose b’amashami batigeze bishyuza imishahara bavuga ko batahawe ahubwo basabaga kongezwa umushahara, bityo kuba ibyo byose byarirengagijwe akaba aribyo byateye akarengane. [14] Rugina Jason na Me Rwagitare Fred umuburanira bavuga ko nta karengane kari mu rubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire. Basobanura ko Règlement d’ordre intérieur yo mu mwaka wa 2005 ariyo yakomeje gukoreshwa kugeza mu mwaka wa 2015, kuko no mu irangashingiro rya Employee’s Handbook havugwa ko “Iki Gitabo cya Politiki n’Amabwiriza Bigenga Abakozi kivanaho kikanasimbura igitabo cy’amabwiriza agenga abakozi cyari gisanzwe cyaremejwe muri Mutarama 2005.” Bavuga ko SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd itabasha kugaragaza andi mategeko yaba yarakoreshwaga hagati ya 2011 na 2015, Employee’s HandBook yemezwa n’Inama y’Ubutegetsi, ndetse ko Urukiko rutari gushingira ku mategeko yemejwe mu mwaka wa 2015 kandi ikibazo cyaravutse mu mwaka wa 2013. [15] Bavuga ko kuba Rugina Jason yarazamuwe mu ntera akagirwa Branch Manager w’Ishami rya Huye, agahabwa n’inshingano zo gukurikirana amashami ya Nyamagabe, Rusizi ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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na Nyamasheke ariko agakomeza guhembwa umushahara yahembwaga atarazamurwa mu ntera binyuranyije n’ingingo ya 10.10 y’amategeko ngengamikorere yo muri 2015 ateganya ko “Abakozi bahembwa hakurikijwe urwego rw’umushahara rugendanye n’akazi bakora.” Basobanura ko ntaho Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwitiranyije ibintu kuko SONARWA S.A. yavuyemo ibigo bitatu harimo na SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd, ibyo bigo byose bikomeza kugengwa n’amategeko ngengamikorere yo mu mwaka wa 2005, abakozi b’ibyo bigo bakomeza kugendera ku ntera bariho mbere y’amavugurura, bityo bakaba baragombaga no gukomeza gufatwa kimwe. Bavuga ko Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwagennye indishyi rushingiye ku biteganywa n’ingingo ya 21 y’Amategeko Ngengamikorere ivuga ko Chef de Service ari ku ntera imwe na Branch Manager, bityo ko icyakozwe atari ugushimangira ibyifuzo bya Rugina Jason ahubwo ari ugukosora imokorere ya SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd yari inyuranyije n’amategeko. [16] Bavuga ko kuba Urukiko rwaremeje ko Rugina Jason ahemberwa umwanya SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd yemera ko yamushyizeho atari ukwivanga mu nshingano z’abakoresha, ahubwo ari ugukosora ibyari bifutamye kugira hatazagira abandi bakoresha babikorera abakozi babo. Basobanura ko uburenganzira bwo kuba abakozi bakora akazi kamwe bagomba guhembwa kimwe buteganywa n’ingingo ya 30 y’Itegeko Nshinga, kandi ko ibyo bihura n’umurongo watanzwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire mu rubanza Muberangabo Titien yaburanaga na SONARWA Holdings Ltd, aho rwemeje ko umukozi wazamuwe mu ntera agomba guhembwa kimwe na bagenzi be bari kuri iyo ntera.3 Kuri iyi ngingo, bavuga ko

3 Reba urubanza RSOCAA 00005/2018/CA rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 08/3/2019. SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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umushahara ungana na 715.550 Frw SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd ivuga ko ari wo Branch Manager yahembwaga atari ukuri kuko uwo wari umushahara fatizo (salaire de base), naho umushara wose wa Branch Manager ukaba waranganaga na 1.999.252 Frw nk’uko bigaragazwa na fiche de paie ya Ntwari Alphonse. [17] Basoza bavuga ko imbonerahamwe y’imirimo (cadre organique) SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd iburanisha ishaka kugaragaza ko Rugina Jason yari ku ntera itandukanye n’iya Ntwari Alphonse ari ikimenyetso cya nyuma ya 2015, kidasinye, cyacuzwe n’umukoresha ku mpamvu z’urubanza kandi kitaburanyweho kuva urubanza rutangiye kubera ko cyashyizwe muri dosiye mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire, bityo iyo nyandiko ikaba nta gaciro ikwiye guhabwa. Bavuga na none ko ikibazo cya Rugina Jason atari umwihariko we nk’uko SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd ishaka kubigaragaza, ahubwo ko agisangiye n’abandi bakozi nabo bari Branch Managers, bareze umukoresha bakamutsinda, imanza zikabuzwa gukomeza n’uko indishyi zatanzwe zatumaga izo manza zitaba mu bubasha bw’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire.

UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [18] Ingingo ya 30 y’Itegeko Nshinga Nshinga rya Repubulika y’u Rwanda ryo mu 2003 ryavuguruwe mu 2015 ivuga ko abantu bakora umurimo umwe bagomba guhembwa kimwe nta vangura iryo ari ryo ryose. [19] Ku bijyanye no kumenya uburyo iri hame rigomba gushyirwa mu bikorwa, abahanga Fanie Van Jaarsveld na Stefan Van Eck bavuga ko abakozi bakora imirimo imwe, banganya ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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ubumenyi, uburambe n’ubushobozi bagomba guhembwa kimwe, iyo bitabaye ibyo haba habayeho ivangura.4 Naho Nsengiyumva Métusera avuga ko umukozi unganya na bagenzi be ubumenyi, uburambe n’ubushobozi, udahembwa kimwe n’abo bari ku rwego rumwe afite uburenganzira bwo guharanira guhembwa kimwe na bagenzi be cyangwa bwo gusaba ko ahembwa umushahara ukwiye, ko nubwo nta kibuza umukoresha kuba yagenera bamwe mu bakozi ishimwe, iyo iryo shimwe rishyizwe ku mushahara rihabwa abakozi bose.5 [20] Uyu murongo kandi niwo ushimangirwa n’inkiko z’ibindi bihugu, nk’Urukiko Rusesa Imanza mu Bufaransa rwasanze umukozi wahawe akazi na sosiyete yitwa Fauchon ku mwanya wa Assistante Commerciale ku wa 01/02/2000, hanyuma ku wa 01/10/2000, akazamurwa mu ntera akagirwa Chef de Zone Export, byagera ku wa 25/05/2004 agasezererwa mu kazi ku bw’amakosa akomeye, ariko kuva yazamurwa mu ntera akaba atarahembwe umushahara ungana n’uwo bagenzi be bari ku mwanya nk’uwe bahembwaga akwiye guhabwa ikinyuranyo cy’imishahara yose atahembwe. Urwo Rukiko rwasanze kandi

4 “The fact that an employer pays an employee more than other employees does not amount to discrimination. Pay differentials may be justified in law and in practice by the fact that employees have different levels of qualifications, experience, skills, competence, expertise and so on. I will only be regarded as discrimination when two similarly circumstanced employees are treated differently.” Reba Fanie Van Jaarsveld na Stefan Van Eck, Principles of Labour Law, Durban, Butterworths, 2002, p. 78. 5 “Rien n’empêche à l’employeur d’accorder discrétionnairement des avantages matériels à titre de libéralités à certains travailleurs et de les refuser à d’autres. Néanmoins, dès que ces avantages ont acquis le caractère de salaire, ils deviennent obligatoires pour tous les travailleurs se trouvant dans la même situation.” Reba Nsengiyuma Métusera, Droit social, Manuel de droit Rwandais, 1993, p.

79. SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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icyatuma imishahara y’abakozi bari ku rwego rumwe itandukana ari igihe umukoresha abashije kugaragariza Urukiko mu buryo bufatika (objectivement/ objectively) ko abakozi bahembwaga umushara uri hejuru bafite ubumenyi budasanzwe kandi bwihariye bufitiye akamaro umurimo bakora, ibyo kandi byemezwa n’Urukiko mu bushishozi bwarwo.6 [21] Urukiko rurasanga dosiye y’urubanza irimo ibaruwa SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd yandikiye Rugina Jason ku wa 14/11/2013, imumenyesha ko agizwe umuyobozi w’Ishami rya Huye akanakurikirana ibijyanye no kwamamaza ubucuri bw’iyo sosiyete mu Ishami rya Rusizi. Iyo baruwa ivuga kandi ko umushara we ndetse n’urwego ariho bidahindutse, icyakora ko azajya ahabwa 200.000 Frw y’ingendo. Harimo

6 “ Attendu que Mme X … a été engagée par la société Fauchon le 1er février 2000 … en qualité d’assistante commerciale, qu’elle a été promue le 1er octobre 2000 au poste de chef de zone export; qu’elle a été licenciée pour faute grave le 25 mai 2004; qu’elle a saisi la juridiction prud’homale de demandes tendant à faire juger le licenciement sans cause réelle et sérieuse et à obtenir la payment d’un rappel d’heures supplémentaires et de dommages-intérêts au titre d’une inégalité de traitement subie en matière salariale; …Vu le principe “à travail égal salaire égal”; Attendu qu’au regard de ce principe, la seule différence de dilpômes, alors qu’ils sont d’un niveau équivalent, ne permet pas de fonder une différence de rémunération entre des salariés qui exercent les mêmes fonctions, sauf s’il est démontré par des justifications, dont il appartient au juge de contrôler la réalité et la pertinence, que la possession d’un diplôme spécifique atteste de connaissances particulières utiles à l’exercice de la fonction occupée; …Qu’en statuant comme elle l’a fait (la cour d’appel), alors que Mme X … qui occupait la même fonction de chef de zone export que Mme Y ..., possedait des diplômes de niveau équivalent, …sans préciser en quoi les diplômes de Mme Y … attestaient de connaissances particulières utiles à l’exercice de la fonction occupée, de sorte qu’ils justifiaient une différence de rémunération, la cour d’appel a violé le principe susvisé; …” Reba Cour de Cassation, Chambre sociale, N° 07-42-107, 16 décembre 2008, Bull Civ, V. N° 250. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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kandi inyandiko y’isuzumamikorere y’umwaka wa 2014 n’iy’umwaka wa 2016 nazo zihamya ko Rugina Jason yari akuriye SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd, Ishami rya Huye (Head, Huye Branch). Ibi bimenyetso bigaragaza ko nta gushidikanya guhari ko Rugina Jason yari Umuyobozi w’Ishami rya Huye guhera ku wa 14/11/2013 kugeza igihe yasezerewe. [22] Urukiko rurasanga mu iburanisha ryabaye ku wa 24/05/2022, imbere y’uru Rukiko, SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd yaravuze ko ubwo yajyagaho, abakozi bayo bakomeje guhembwa imishahara bahembwaga bakiri muri SONARWA S.A., naho ubwo yitabaga Umugenzuzi w’Umurimo mu Karere ka Nyarugenge, SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd yari yavuze ko ubusabe bw’abakozi bari ku mwanya wa Branch Manager bwo guhembwa imishahara ijyanye n’uwo mwanya yabubonye, kandi ko buzahabwa ishingiro igihe nikigera, basabwa gutegereza, ibi akaba aribyo Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwavanyemo ko SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd itubahirije ibiteganywa n’Amategeko Ngengamikorere yayo yo mu mwaka wa 2005 yakurikizwaga mu mwaka wa 2013, Rugina Jason agirwa Branch Manager. [23] Urukiko rurasanga irangashingiro rya Employee’s HandBook yo mu mwaka wa 2015 igira iti: “Iki Gitabo cya Politiki n’Amabwiriza Bigenga Abakozi kivanaho kikanasimbura igitabo cy’amabwiriza agenga abakozi cyari gisanzwe cyaremejwe muri Mutarama 2005. Iri simbuzwa ry’igitabo cy’amabwiriza agenga abakozi ryatewe n’uko atari akigendanye n’igihe kubera impinduka zabaye mu mategeko y’umurimo mu mwaka wa 2009 n’izindi mpinduka nyinshi zagiye ziba mu kigo uko imyaka yasimburanaga.” Ibi bigaragaza ko koko ku bijyanye n’imicungire y’abakozi, SONARWA Life SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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Assurance Company Ltd yakomeje kugengwa n’Amategeko Ngengamikorere y’Abakozi (Règlement d’Ordre Intérieur du Presonnel) ya SONARWA S.A. yo muri Mutarama 2005 kugeza igihe Employee’s Handbook yemerejwe. [24] Urukiko rurasanga ingingo ya 20 n’iya 21 z’Amategeko Ngengamikorere y’Abakozi yo muri Mutarama 2005 zishyiraho zikanasobanura imbonerahamwe y’imyanya muri SONARWA S.A., hakaba harimo n’umwanya uri ku rwego rwa E, urimo intera enye zirutanwa mu buryo bukurikira: Umukuru w’Ishami (Chef de Service), Umukuru w’Ishami Mukuru (Chef de Service Principal), “Fondé de Pouvoir” na “Fondé de Pouvoir Principal”. Urwandiko rwo ku wa 14/11/2013 rushyira Rugina Jason mu mwanya ruvuga ko agizwe “Head of Huye Branch”, ndetse n’inyandiko z’isuzumamikorere (performance appraisal) zo mu mwaka wa 2014 n’iz’umwaka wa 2016 zigaragaza ko Rugina Jason yari “Head, Huye Branch”, ibi bikaba bigaragaza ko umwanya Rugina Jason yariho ari uw’Umuyozi w’Ishami usanzwe uteganywa n’Amategeko Ngengamikorere yavuzwe haruguru. [25] Urukiko rurasanga ibyo SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd iburanisha ko nubwo Rugina Jason yari Umuyobozi w’Ishami yari ku ntera ya Officer I, ndetse ko mu kugereranya imishahara hakwiye gushingirwa ku mushahara wa Kanyamahoro Kazungu Deus wari Umuyobozi w’Ishami rya Rubavu nta shingiro bikwiye guhabwa kubera impamvu zikurikira: i. Intera ya Officer I ntaho igaragara mu Mategeko Ngengamikorere yo mu mwaka wa 2005, iboneka gusa ku nyandiko yitwa Approved Salary Structure for Sonarwa Life Staff yo mu kwezi ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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k’Ukwakira 2012. Iyo nyandiko nta kirango, kashe cyangwa umukono w’abayobozi ba Sonarwa Life Assurance Company Ltd biyiriho, kandi Officer I ari ku rwego rwa “K” rw’Ukuriye abashoferi mu Kigo, bikaba bitumvikana uburyo Umuyobozi w’Ishami ry’Akarere yaba ku rwego rumwe n’Ukuriye abashoferi muri icyo Kigo; ii. Inyandiko yo ku wa 14/05/2013 ishyira Kanyamahoro Kazungu Deus ku mwanya w’Umuyobozi w’Ishami rya Rubavu ivuga ko ashyizwe ku rwego rwa “Assistant Manager”, kandi ko azajya ahembwa 1.035.590 Frw, uyu mwanya wa “Assistant Manager” niwo Ntwari Alphonse yariho kandi we ahembwa 1.999.252 Frw, ni nawo Habakubana Egide yariho ahembwa 1.980.520 Frw, bikaba bitumvikana uburyo Rugina Jason nawe wari Umuyobozi w’Ishami atari ku mwanya wa Assitant Manager nka bagenzi be agashyirwa ku mwanya wa Officer I. iii. Iby’uko umwanya wa Officer I wagenzurwaga na Head, Commercial, uyu nawe akagenzurwa na Branch Coordinateur ntaho bigaragara mu Mategeko Ngengamikorere ya SONARWA S.A. yo mu mwaka wa 2005. [26] Hashingiwe ku bisonanuro byatanzwe haruguru no ku biteganywa n’ingingo ya 84, igika cya kabiri, y’Amategeko Ngengamikorere ya SONARWA S.A. yo mu mwaka wa 2005 yakoreshwaga ubwo Rugina Jason yazamurwaga mu ntera ku wa 14/11/2013 ivuga ko “Ku bakozi bazamuwe mu kazi, kwongera umushahara bigomba kungana n’ikinyuranyo hagati SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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y’imbonerahamwe y’imishahara y’ingazi cyangwa y’intera bagezeho n’iy’ingazi cyangwa intera bashyizweho”, Urukiko rurasanga nk’uko Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwabibonye, umwanya wa Branch Manager uhura n’uw’Umuyobozi w’Ishami (Chef de Service), bityo akaba ari nawo guhera kuwa 14/11/2013, Rugina Jason yagombaga guhemberwa. [27] Kubijyanye n’umushahara, Urukiko rurasanga Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwarasanze SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd itarabashije kugaragaza ko Umuyobozi w’Ishami atahembwaga umushahara mbumbe ungana na 1.999.252 Frw, ndetse ko itanabashije kugaragaza uburyo Ntwari Alphonse yari guhembwa umushahara uri hejuru y’uwa Rugina Jason kuko gusa umwe ari muri SONARWA General Insurance Ltd undi ari muri SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd kandi bari ku ntera imwe ndetse bose bagengwa n’Amategeko Ngengamikorere ya SONARWA S.A. yo mu mwaka wa 2005. Nubu SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd yivugira ko Kanyamahoro Kazungu Deus yari Umuyobozi w’Ishami rya Rubavu ari ku ntera ya “Assistant Manager”, isuzumabushobozi ryakorewe Ntwari Alphonse mu mwaka wa 2014 nk’Umuyobozi wa Head, Claims and Benefits Unit ndetse n’ibaruwa uyu yandikiwe ku wa 11/06/2016 imumenyesha ibigize umushahara nk’uko byemejwe n’Inama y’Ubutegetsi mu Ukwakira 2012, nabyo bivuga ko ari ku ntera ya “Assistant Manager”, byumvikanisha ko “Assistant Manager” ariyo ntera yari iy’Umuyobozi w’Ishami muri SONARWA Life Assurances Company Ltd, ikaba ari nayo Rugina Jason yazamuweho mu mwaka wa 2013. [28] Urukiko rurasanga dosiye irimo inyandiko zitandukanye zishyuriweho umushahara mbumbe wa Ntwari Alphonse ungana na 1.999.252 Frw, uwa Kanyamahoro Kazungu Deus ungana na ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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1.035.590 Frw, uwa Rugina Jason ungana na 514.581 Frw, nyamara bose bari ku ntera imwe ya “Assistant Manager”. Kugeza ubu kandi SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd ntigaragaza impamvu zifatika zatuma abakozi bari ku ntera imwe, bakora akazi kamwe, bahembwa ku buryo butandukanye. Mu gihe rero SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd idahakana ko Ntwari Alphonse nawe yari “Assistant Manager”, uru Rukiko rukaba rwemeranya n’ibyemejwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ko urugero rw’umushahara wa “Assitant Manager” rukwiye gufatirwa kuri Ntwari Alphonse. [29] Urukiko rurasanga na none Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwari rufite ishingiro ryo gukosora icyemezo cyafashwe n’Urukiko Rukuru cy’uko indishyi n’ikinyuranyo by’imishahara Rugina Jason agomba guhabwa bikwiye kubarirwa ku mushahara Ntwari Alphonse yatahanaga aho kuba umushahara mbumbe. Icyakora mu kubyemeza rutyo rwavuze ko uwo mushahara ungana na “1.134.317 Frw ugaragara kuri pay roll ya Ntwari Alphonse”. Nubwo ariko iyo pay roll igaragaza ko ahubwo umushara Ntwari Alphonse yatahanaga ungana na 1.184.317,00 Frw, ari nawo wagombaga kubarirwaho indishyi n’ikinyuranyo cy’imishahara cyasabwe, uru Rukiko ntaho rwahera rubigarukaho kuko ntabyo Rugina Jason yasabye ko bikosorwa. II.2. Kumenya niba hari imishahara y’ikirenga yishyuwe cyangwa niba hari iyatanzwe yaramaze gusaza (prescription) [30] Me Abijuru Emmanuel na Me Basomingera Alberto, baburanira SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd, bavuga ko Rugina Jason yabaye Umuyobozi w’Ishami rya Huye amezi 40 n’iminsi 28, bityo ko Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rutagaragaje aho rwakuye amezi 42, ndetse ko rwanze kwemeza nta mpamvu SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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rubitangiye ko imishahara ya mbere yo ku wa 11/04/2015 byageze ku wa 12/04/2017, ubwo Rugina Jason yasezererwaga, yarashaje kuko yarengeje igihe cy’imyaka ibiri giteganywa n’itegeko.7 Basobanura ko inzandiko Rugina Jason yanditse ku wa 14/11/2013, ku wa 02/12/2013, ku wa 26/04/2014 no ku wa 20/09/2015 zitari mu mpamvu zihagarika ubuzime ziteganywa n’itegeko, ko Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ahubwo rwari gufata ko impamvu imwe yashoboraga guhagarika ubuzime ari ikirego cyagejejwe ku Mugenzuzi w’umurimo ku wa 23/01/2017. [31] Rugina Jason avuga ko iyi ngingo yari yajuririwe mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire ntiyakirwa, akaba asanga idakwiye gusuzumwa mu rwego rwo gusubirishamo urubanza ku mpamvu z’akarengane. Asobanura ko niba SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd ishidikanya ko yamaze amezi 42 ari Branch Manager ikwiye kubitangira ibimenyetso, ikagaragaza uburyo yakoze imibare. Ku kibazo cy’ubusaze bw’imishahara, avuga ko guhera ku wa 02/12/2013, we n’abandi ba Branch Managers bandikiye umukoresha, basaba guhemberwa intera bashyizweho, bongera kwibutsa ku wa 26/06/2014 no ku wa 20/09/2015, babonye nta gisubizo, ikibazo bagishyikiriza Umugenzuzi w’Umurimo, akaba asanga nta na rimwe imyaka ibiri yigeze ishira atarishyuza umushahara we, ariyo mpamvu asaba uru Rukiko kwemeza ko iyi ngingo nta shingiro ifite.

7 Ingingo ya 83 y’Itegeko N° 13/2009 ryo ku wa 27/05/2009 rigenga umurimo yateganyaga ko “Umushahara umaze imyaka ibiri (2) utarishyuzwa ntuba ukishyujwe. Icyo gihe gitangira kubarwa guhera umunsi umukozi yagombaga guhemberwaho. Icyo gihe gihagarikwa n’uko umukoresha yakoze umubaruro w'amafaranga, umukoresha n'umukozi bemeranijwe ko ari umwenda, urubanza rw'umukozi rukiri mu rukiko cyangwa se n’uko ibiro bigenzura umurimo byasabwe kubakiranura bitaratanga umwanzuro wabyo.” ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [32] Ingingo ya 83 y’Itegeko N° 13/2009 ryo kuwa 27/05/2009 rigenga umurimo mu Rwanda ryakoreshwaga ubwo Rugina Jason yari Umuyobozi w’Ishami rya Huye muri SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd ivuga ko umushahara umaze imyaka ibiri (2) utarishyuzwa uba utakishyujwe. Icyo gihe gitangira kubarwa guhera umunsi umukozi yagombaga guhemberwaho kigahagarikwa n’uko umukoresha yakoze umubaruro w'amafaranga, umukoresha n'umukozi bemeranijwe ko ari umwenda, urubanza rw'umukozi rukiri mu rukiko cyangwa se n’uko ibiro bigenzura umurimo byasabwe kubakiranura bitaratanga umwanzuro wabyo. [33] Ku bijyanye no kumenya niba ikibazo cy’ubusaze gikwiye kwakirwa ngo gisuzumwe kuri uru rwego, Urukiko rurasanga iyo ngingo yarajuririwe mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire, isuzumwa kuva mu bika bya 82 kugeza ku gika cya 86, bityo ibyo Rugina Jason avuga ko icyo kirego kitakiriwe ngo gisuzumwe mu bujurire ku buryo kidakwiye no kuzanwa mu karengane bikaba nta shingiro bifite. [34] Ku bijyanye n’ubusaze bw’imishahara, Urukiko rurasanga ingingo ya 83 y’Itegeko N° 13/2009 ryo ku wa 27/05/2009 rigenga umurimo mu Rwanda ryakoreshwaga RUGINA Jason agirwa Branch Manager yarateganyaga ko igihe cy’ubusaze gitangira kubarwa guhera igihe umukozi yagombaga guhemberwaho, kigahagarikwa n’uko umukoresha yakoze umubaruro w'amafaranga, umukoresha n'umukozi bemeranijwe ko hari umwenda, urubanza rw'umukozi rwaregewe urukiko SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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cyangwa se n’uko ibiro bigenzura umurimo byasabwe kubakiranura bitaratanga umwanzuro wabyo. Mu gusobanura ibijyanye n’ubusaze bw’imishahara, Françoise Favennec-Hery na Pierre-Yves Verkindt bavuga ko ubusaze bw’imishahara bubarwa nk’ubusaze bw’ubundi burenganzira bwite cyangwa ubundi burenganzira ku mutungo, ko ibarwa ryabwo rihera igihe ufite uburenganzira yamenye cyangwa yashoboraga kumenya impamvu zatuma abukurikirana.8 [35] Ku bijyanye n’uru rubanza, Urukiko rurasanga Rugina Jason na bagenzi be baratangiye kwishyuza umushahara ku wa 02/12/2013, bongera kwibutsa ku wa 26/06/2014 no ku wa 20/09/2015, asezererwa mu kazi ku wa 12/04/2017. Kuba Rugina Jason yarishyuje umushahara ndetse akagenda yibutsa ko umushahara akwiye guhembwa atari wo ahembwa kugeza ubwo asezerewe, bivuze ko yari yatangije igikorwa cyo guharanira uburenganzira bwe. Nta na rimwe higeze harenga igihe kigeze ku myaka ibiri ataributsa umukoresha ko amafaranga ahembwa ari munsi y’ayo umukozi uri mu mwanya nk’uwe akwiye guhembwa kandi umukoresha yemeranyije nawe kuko yamusabye kwihangana icyo kibazo kikazasuzumwa kugeza ubwo yirukanywe atarahabwa igisubizo cy’uko ibyo asaba bidakwiye cyangwa bidashoboka. [36] Uru Rukiko ruremeranya rero n’isesengura ryakozwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire kuri iyi ngingo ry’uko umukoresha atavuga ko ubuzime bw’umushahara bugomba gutangira

8 L’action en paiement ou en répétition du salaire se prescript à compter du jour où le titulaire d’un droit a connu ou aurait du connaitre les faits lui permettant de l’exercer. Il s’agit donc en la matière de la prescription de droit commun. Reba Françoise Favennec-Hery et Pierre-Yves Verkindt, Droit du Travail, Paris, LDGJ, 2020, p.661. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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kubarwa guhera igihe umukozi yatangiye ikirego ku Mugenzuzi w’Umurimo kandi umukozi yaramwandikiye yishyuza umushahara, umukoresha ntahakane ubwo burenganzira umukozi yishyuza kugeza ubwo amusezereye mu buryo bunyuranyije n’amategeko. [37] Ku bijyanye no kumenya niba hari imishahara y’ikirenga yishyuwe, Urukiko rurasanga dosiye y’urubanza igaragaza ko RUGINA Jason yagizwe Branch Manager ku wa 14/11/2013, asezererwa ku wa 12/04/2017, bihwanye n’amezi 41, bikaba bigaragarira uru Rukiko ko Urukiko rw’Ubujuririre rutagaragaje uburyo rwageze ku mezi 42, ariyo mpamvu ku bijyanye n’ikinyuranyo cy’umushahara RUGINA Jason atahembwe, gikwiye kubarwa mu buryo bukurikira: 1.184.317 Frw-361.366 Frw x 41= 33.740.991 Frw. [38] Urukiko rurasanga icyakora mu gika cya 95 cy’urubanza rusabirwa gusubirishwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane, Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwari rwarasanze Rugina Jason akwiye guhabwa 32.463.942 Frw (1.134.317 Frw -361.366 Frw) x amezi 42, ibyo kandi Rugina Jason akaba yaranyuzwe nabyo kuko nta kirego cy’akarengane yigeze atanga, bityo ikinyuranyo cy’amafaranga atahembwe cyemejwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire akaba aricyo gikwiye kugumaho. II.

3. Kumenya niba indishyi zari kubarirwa ku mushahara w’amezi atatu (3) aho kuba ku mezi atandatu (6) nk’uko inkiko zabikoze [39] Me Abijuru Emmanuel na Me Basomingera Alberto, baburanira SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd, bavuga ko Rugina Jason yasezerewe kubera impamvu z’ubukungu zumvikana kandi ko ntawabivuguruje. Basobanura ko mu SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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Mwiherero w’Abacamanza wabereye i Rubavu hagati yo ku wa 30/11/2016 no ku wa 03/12/2016, hemejwe ko abakozi birukunwe ku bw’impamvu zumvikana ariko hari umuhango utubahirijwe (vice de procédure), bajya bagenerwa indishyi zihwanye n’umushahara w’amezi atatu. Bavuga ko kuba Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rutarubahirije uwo murongo bishobora gutera urujijo inkiko zo hasi, bigatuma ku kibazo kimwe imanza zicibwa mu buryo butandukanye. [40] Rugina Jason na Me Rwagatare Fred umwunganira bavuga ko Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge rwasanze yarasezerewe mu buryo bunyuranyije n’amategeko, SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd ntiyabijuririra mu Rukiko Rukuru, ishatse kubigarura mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire, rufata icyemezo ko iyo ngingo itakiriwe ngo isuzumwe kuko itigeze ijuririrwa mu Rukiko Rukuru. Kuribo, nubu iyi ngingo ntikwiye kugarurwa mu ngingo SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd ishingiraho akarengane kayo. [41] Bavuga ko mu gihe iyi ngingo yaba yakiriwe igasuzumwa, basaba uru Rukiko kubona ko indishyi z’akababaro zagenwe n’inkiko ziteganywa n’ingingo ya 33 y’Itegeko No 13/2009 ryo ku wa 27/05/2009 rigenga umurimo mu Rwanda ryakoreshwaga Rugina Jason ashyirwa mu mwanya wa Branch Manager,9 ndetse byongera kugarukwaho n’Itegeko N° 66/2018

9 Ingingo ya 33 yateganyaga ko “Iseswa ryose ry’amasezerano y’akazi rinyuranyije n’amategeko rishobora gutuma hatangwa indishyi z'akababaro. Indishyi z’akababaro zihabwa umukozi wirukanwe binyuranije n’amategeko ntizishobora kujya munsi y’umushahara w’amezi atatu (3), ariko kandi ntizishobora kurenza amezi atandatu (6). Ibi ntibibuza itangwa ry’ imperekeza umukozi yari asanzwe afiteho uburenganzira. Iyo umukozi afite uburambe ku kazi burenze imyaka icumi (10) ku mukoresha umwe, indishyi z’akababaro ntizishobora kurenga umushahara w’amezi icyenda (9). Ibi kandi ni ko ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 rigenga umurimo ryasohotse nyuma y’Umwiherero w’Abacamanza i Rubavu. Basobanura kandi ko SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd ivugisha imyanzuro y’Umwiherero wa Rubavu ibyo itavuga kuko icyemejwe ari uko umukozi wirukanywe ku bw’impamvu zikomeye ariko ntahabwe integuza, agenerwa indishyi z’akababaro zitarenze amezi atatu y’imishahara hiyongereyeho amafaranga y’integuza, naho uwasezerewe nta mpamvu kandi nta n’integuza, akagenerwa indishyi z’akababaro zihwanye n’imishahara ye y’amezi atatu kugeza kuri atandatu hiyongereyeho integuza. Ku bireba Rugina Jason, akaba yarasezerewe nta mpamvu kandi atahawe integuza, bityo bakaba basanga nta makosa inkiko zakoze zimugenera indishyi zihwanye n’imishahara ye y’amezi atandatu.

UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [42] Urukiko rurasanga dosiye y’urubanza ntaho igaragaza ko mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire, SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd yajuririye ingano y’indishyi z’akababaro zari zagenwe n’inkiko zabanje. Kuba zaragarutsweho mu gika cya 95 cy’urubanza rusubirishwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane ntibyatewe n’uko hari ubujurire, ahubwo ni uko Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwasanze imibare yashingiweho (base de calcul) izo ndishyi zitangwa ikwiye guhinduka, aho kuzibarira ku mushahara mbumbe zikabarirwa ku mushahara utahanwa nk’uko byasobanuwe haruguru.

bigenda ku bakozi bari intumwa z’abakozi n’abahagarariye sendika. Iyi ngingo yubahirizwa no mu gihe indishyi z’akababaro zigomba gutangwa n’umukozi washeshe amasezerano mu buryo bunyuranyije n’amategeko. SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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[43] Ikibazo cyo kumenya niba ingingo zafashweho icyemezo ntizijuririrwe zishobora kugarurwa mu gihe cyo gusubirishamo urubanza ku mpamvu z’akarengane, cyasuzumwe n’uru Rukiko mu manza zitandukanye harimo n’urwo Ngizweninshuti Albert yaburanaga na Muhima Giovani,10 rusanga iyo ingingo ya 55, igika cya nyuma,11 n’iya 6312 z’Itegeko N° 30/2018 ryo ku wa 02/06/2018 rigena ububasha bw’inkiko zisomewe hamwe, zumvikanisha ko umuburanyi utarajuririye ingingo atanyuzwe nazo hakurikijwe inzira zisanzwe kandi yari abyemerewe n’amategeko, aba yivukije inzira y’ubujurire yari gutuma ibyo yanengaga bikosorerwa mu bujurire, bityo akaba adashobora kwifashisha inzira yo gusubirishamo urubanza ku mpamvu z’akarengane, yirengagije ko hari izindi manza zabaye, ngo ingingo yanze kujuririra ku bushake asabe ko zisuzumwa mu karengane kuko byaba binyuranyije n’ibiteganywa n’amategeko. [44] Urukiko rurasanga rero kuba SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd itarajuririye ingingo ijyanye n’ingano y’indishyi z’akababaro zagenwe n’Urukiko Rukuru ngo bisuzumwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire, uru Rukiko ntaho rwahera rusuzuma

10 Reba urubanza RS/INJUST/RC 00024/2018/SC rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 21/02/2020, ibika bya 18-22. Reba kandi urubanza RS/INJUST/RC 00007/2018/SC rwaciwe ku wa 13/03/2020, haburana Nditiribambe Samuel, Gatera Jason na Nyamaswa Faustin n’urubanza RCOM RS/ INJUST/ RC 00004/2019/SC rwaciwe ku wa 28/07/2020, haburana Mukamana, Havugimana, Umuhoza na Candali. 11 “…umuburanyi wari ufite uburenganzira bwo kwiyambaza izindi nzira z’ubujurire zisanzwe n’izidasanzwe ariko ntabikore mu gihe giteganyijwe n’amategeko ntiyemerewe gusaba ko urubanza yatsinzwe rusubirishwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane …” 12 « Iyo Urukiko rw’Ikirenga cyangwa urundi rukiko Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga agena rushyikirijwe urubanza rusabirwa gusubirwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane, rurusuzuma mu mizi bundi bushya abarubayemo ababuranyi bose bahamagajwe. » ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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iyo ngingo mu rubanza rusubirishwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane. II.

4. Kumenya niba SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd yari gucibwa indishyi kandi yaratsinze urubanza kuri bimwe no kumenya niba ikwiye gusubizwa ibyo yishyuye irangiza urubanza [45] Me Abijuru Emmanuel na Me Basomingera Alberto, baburanira SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd, bavuga ko mu rubanza rusubirishwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane, Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwasanze ubujurire bwabo nta shingiro bufite, ariko indishyi zivanwa kuri 79.431.900 Frw zishyirwa kuri 41.777.748 Frw, bivuze ko mu by’ukuri SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd yatsinze kuri bimwe. Bavuga ko ukwo kwivuguruza kw’Urukiko kwatumye rubaca 1.000.000 Frw y’igihembo cya Avoka kuri buri rwego nyamara aribo bari bayakwiye kuko bari batsinze kuri bimwe ndetse hakiyongeraho n’ingwate y’amagarama batanze mu Rukiko Rukuru no mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire. [46] Rugina Jason na Me Rwagitare Fred umuburanira bavuga ko indishyi Rugina Jason yagenewe zitagabanyijwe n’uko ubujurire bwa SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd bwari bufite ishingiro kuri bimwe ahubwo byatewe n’uko icibwa ry’urubanza mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire ryahuriranye n’umurongo mushya watanzwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga w’uko indishyi zigomba kubarirwa ku mushahara utahanwa. Bavuga kandi ko amafaranga y’igihembo cya Avoka SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd yaciwe mu Rukiko Rukuru itigeze iyajuririra, bityo ikaba itagarura icyo kibazo mu rubanza rusabirwa gusubirishwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane. SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [47] Dosiye y’urubanza igaragaza ko mu gika cya 94 cy’urubanza rusabirwa gusubirishwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane, Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwasanze indishyi Rugina Jason yagenewe zarabazwe hashingiwe ku mushahara mbumbe wa Ntwari Alphonse, nyamara umurongo watanzwe mu rubanza Niwemugeni Jeannette yaburanaga na KCB Bank Rwanda Ltd, Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rwaremeje ko amafaranga umukozi ahabwa mu gihe asezerewe mu kazi atari amafaranga mbumbe ahubwo ari ayo atahana mu ntoki, hamaze kuvamo umusoro ku musaruro n’umusanzu w’ubwiteganyirize. [48] Urukiko rurasanga ibyo SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd iburanisha ko yatsinze urubanza mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire kuko indishyi zari zagenewe Rugina Jason zagabanyijwe kugeza kuri 41.777.748 Frw nta shingiro bikwiye guhabwa kuko kuba Urukiko rwarageze kuri uwo mwanzuro wo kugabanya indishyi bitaturutse ku kuba ubujurire bwari bufite ishingiro ahubwo byatewe n’uko Urukiko, rubyibwirije, rwasanze mu kubara indishyi inkiko zabanje zarashingiye ku itegeko ritari ryo, zizishingira ku mushahara mbumbe kandi Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rwaratanze umurongo w’uko zigomba kubarirwa ku mushahara utahanwa. Ibi bigaragaza rero ko ku bijyanye n’ingingo zari zayijurije, ntacyo SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd yatsindiye ku buryo Urukiko rwari kwanzura ko yatsinze kuri bimwe ku buryo byari gutuma ivanirwaho cyangwa igenerwa igihembo cya Avoka no gusubizwa amagarama y’urubanza. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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II.5. Kumenya niba SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd yasubizwa amafaranga yari yishyuye irangiza urubanza RSOCAA 00007/2020/CA ku neza. [49] Me Abijuru Emmanuel na Me Basomingera Alberto, baburanira SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd, bavuga ko yari yaratangiye kurangiza ku bushake urubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire kuko yari imaze kwishyura 10.000.000 Frw, ikaba isaba uru Rukiko ko mu gihe rwakwemeza ko urubanza rusubirishwamo rwarimo koko akarengane, Rugina Jason yategekwa gusubiza ayo mafaranga. [50] Rugina Jason na Me Rwagitare Fred umwunganira bavuga ko SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd itari gutangira kurangiza urubanza itemera ko hari ibyo imugomba, ndetse ko itasaba gusubizwa amafaranga yishyuye mu irangiza ry’urubanza kandi itaratsinda ikirego yasubirishijemo ku mpamvu z’akarengane.

UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [51] Urukiko rurasanga mu gihe ingingo z’ingenzi

SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd ishingiraho akarengane kayo nta shingiro zifite, nta mpamvu yo kwemeza ko isubizwa 10.000.000 Frw ivuga ko yishyuye Rugina Jason mu rwego rwo kurangiza urubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire. II.

6. Kumenya ishingiro ry’indishyi zisabwa muri uru rubanza. [52] Me Abijuru Emmanuel na Me Basomingera Alberto baburanira SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd bavuga ko Rugina Jason yashoye iyo sosiyete mu manza z’amaherere, bityo SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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ko basaba uru Rukiko kumutegeka kuyishyura 1.000.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza na 1.500.000 Frw y’igihembo cya Avoka kuri uru rwego. [53] Me Rwagitare Fred wunganira Rugina Jason avuga nta karengane kabaye mu rubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire, akaba asaba uru Rukiko kwemeza ko indishyi zose zisabwa na SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd nta shingiro zifite. Avuga na none ko iyo sosiyete ikomeje gukurura Rugina Jason mu manza nta mpamvu, aricyo gituma asaba uru Rukiko kuyitegeka guha Rugina Jason 1.500.000 Frw y’igihembo cya Avoka na 200.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza kuri uru rwego. [54] Me Abijuru Emmanuel na Me Basomingera Alberto, baburanira SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd, bavuga ko Rugina Jason ari we watangije imanza zitari ngombwa, SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd igenda izijuririra uko yagendaga izirenganiramo kugeza ubwo isubirishijemo ku mpamvu z’akarengane urubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire, bityo indishyi asaba zikaba nta shingiro zifite.

UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [55] 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, igira iti: “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.” ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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[56] Urukiko rurasanga indishyi zose zisabwa na SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd ntazo ikwiye kuko ntacyo atsindiye muri uru rubanza. [57] Urukiko rurasanga 200.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza Rugina Jason asaba ayakwiriye kandi ari mu rugero, naho 1.500.000 Frw y’igihembo cya Avoka asaba kuri uru rwego akaba ari menshi kandi atayatangira ibimenyetso, bityo, mu bushishozi bw’Urukiko, akaba agenewe 500.000 Frw. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [58] Rwemeje ko ikirego cya SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd gisubirishamo urubanza

RSOCAA 00007/2020/CA rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire nta shingiro gifite; [59] Rwemeje ko nta gihindutse ku mikirize y’urubanza RSOCAA 00007/2020/CA rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 29/10/2021, hakaba hagomba gushyirwa mu bikorwa icyemezo cyarwo giteye gitya: “125. Rutegetse SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY Ltd kwishyura Rugina Jason 41.777.748 Frw nk’uko yasobanuwe haruguru, hiyongereyeho 3.000.000 Frw y’igihembo cya Avoka na 50.000 Frw y’ingwate yatanze arega yagenwe n’Urukiko Rukuru, yose hamwe akaba 44.827.748 Frw; 126. Rutegetse SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE

COMPANY LTD kwishyurira Rugina Jason ikinyuranyo cy’imisanzu itamutangiye muri RSSB ishingiye ku mushahara mbumbe (salaire brut) SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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ungana na 1.999.252 Frw ku kwezi, aho kuba 514.581 Frw ku kwezi;” [60] Rutegetse SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd guha Rugina Jason 200.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza na 500.000 Frw y’igihembo cya Avoka kuri uru rwego, yose hamwe akaba 700.000 Frw.

ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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URUBANZA RW’UBUCURUZI

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UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO N’UNDI [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’IKIRENGA – RS/INJUST/RCOM 00006/2020/SC, (Cyanzayire, P.J., Nyirinkwaya na Hitiyaremye, J.) 18 Werurwe 2022] Amategeko agenga imanza z’ubucuruzi – Amasezerano y’ubutumwa n’igikorwa gituma uhagarariwe (mandant/représenté) aha ubutumwa umuhagarariye (mandataire/représentant) bwo kugira ibyo akorana n’abandi mu izina rye nk’aho ariwe ubyikoreye – Amasezerano hagati y’uwabaye umuburanyi n’umuhesha w’inkiko w’umwuga wahawe inshingano zo kurangiza urubanza si amasezerano yerekeye ubutumwa bwo gahagararirwa (contrat de mandat), ahubwo n’ amasezerano yo gukora akazi ko kurangiza urubanza (contrat de prestation de services d’exécution de jugement). Amategeko agenga imiburanishirize y’imanza z’ubucuruzi – Gutambamira urubanza – Umuntu ushobora gutambamira urubanza ari utararubayemo nk’urega cyangwa nk’uregwa, kandi we ubwe cyangwa abo ahagarariye bakaba batarigeze barutumirwamo, nyamara akaba arufitemo inyungu. Amategeko agenga imiburanishirize z’imanza z’ubucuruzi – Impaka zishingiye kw’irangizarubanza – Ibibazo byerekeye imihango y’ifatira – Gusaba gutesha agaciro cyamunara kubera ko hari imihango itarubahirijwe ntaho bihuriye n’impaka zishingiye ku irangiza ry’ urubanza – Itandukaniro hagati y’impaka zishingiye ku irangiza ry’urubanza n’ibibazo byerekeye imihango y’ifatira – Impaka zishingiye ku irangiza ry’ urubanza ari impaka ababuranyi bajya hagati yabo cyangwa n’Umuhesha 157

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w’Inkiko ku birebana n’icyo Urukiko rwemeje (dispositif) n’ishyirwa mu bikorwa ryacyo – Naho ibibazo byerekeye imihango y’ifatira ni ibigamije guhagarika cyamunara cyangwa kuyitesha agaciro kubera imihango iyibanziriza itarubahirijwe, cyamunara yaba igikorwa cyangwa yararangiye – Impaka zishingiye ku irangiza ry’urubanza zikemurwa n’Urukiko rwaciye urwo urubanza. Incamake y’ikibazo: Sosiyete HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko yahaye inguzanyo uwitwa Uburiyemuye, bakorana amasezerano, bumvikana ko iyo nguzanyo igomba kwishyurwa mu gihe kingana n’ukwezi kumwe, hatangwa ingwate y’umutungo utimukanwa harimo inzu y’ubucuruzi iherereye mu karere ka Rubavu. Uburiyemuye ntiyubahirije amasezerano, bituma HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko itanga ikirego mu Rukiko rw’Ubucuruzi rwa Nyarugenge isaba kwishyurwa umwenda remezo n’inyungu zawo, Urukiko rwemeza ko agomba kwishyura umwenda remezo hamwe n’ inyungu. Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène yajuririye urubanza mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi, avuga ko yaciwe inyungu zisanzwe kandi yari yarazitanze akimara gufata inguzanyo, anavuga ko inyungu z’ubukererwe yaciwe ari umurengera. Urukiko rwemeza ko ubujurire bwe nta shingiro bufite, ko urubanza rwajuririwe rudahindutse. Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène yasubirishijemo urwo rubanza ingingo nshya, Urukiko rwemeza ko ikirego cye kitakiriwe. Nyuma y’izo manza, Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène yongeye gutanga ikirego mu Rukiko rw’Ubucuruzi asaba kwishyurwa amafaranga yakaswe nk’inyungu zisanzwe agifata inguzanyo, ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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Urukiko rwemeza ko ikirego cye kitakiriwe ku mpamvu z’uko ikibazo cy’inyungu cyaburanywe mu manza zabaye itegeko. Mu kurangiza urubanza rurebana n’umwenda Uburiyemuye yatsinzwe, Umuhesha w'Inkiko w'Umwuga Rugema Ziga yateje cyamunara ingwate, maze wegukanwa na HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko. Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène yatanze ikirego mu Rukiko Rukuru rw'Ubucuruzi arega Umuhesha w’Inkiko Rugema Ziga Jean Claude, asaba ko iyo cyamunara yateshwa agaciro kuko urubanza rwarangijwe mu buryo bunyuranyije n'amategeko, hatubahirijwe ibyari bikubiye mu cyemezo cyo guteza cyamunara cyatanzwe n’Urukiko, harimo kudatanga amatangazo mu gihe cy’iminsi 15 cyagenwe n’ahantu hagenwe, kutagaragaza abapiganwe n’igiciro batangaga, no kugurisha ku giciro gito. Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwaciye urubanza, rwemeza ko ikirego cyatanzwe na Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène gifite ishingiro; ko cyamunara yakozwe n’Umuhesha w’Inkiko arangiza urubanza itakurikije amategeko; rutegeka ko cyamunara iteshejwe agaciro. HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko yatambamiye urwo rubanza mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi, ivuga ko Urukiko rutari rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha mu mizi ikirego cya Uburiyemuye, kandi ko cyamunara itagombaga guteshwa agaciro, Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwemeza ko rutari rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha ibirebana n’ibitarubahirijwe mu muhango wo guteza cyamunara kuko biri mu bubasha bw’Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi, ruvuga ko imikirize y’urubanza rwaciwe n’urukiko rukuru rw’ubucuruzi iteshejwe agaciro. Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwaciye urubanza, rwemeza ko inzitizi y’iburabubasha yatanzwe na Rugema Ziga nta shingiro ifite kuko UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO N’UNDI

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icyajuririwe ari urubanza ku itambama, kandi bene izo manza zikaba zijuririrwa rimwe, rwemeza ko ubujurire bwatanzwe na Uburiyemuye buri mu bubasha bw’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire. Urukiko rwasuzumye kandi ibijyanye n’ububasha bwa HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko bwo gutambamira urubanza, rwemeza ko ntacyayibuzaga kubikora kuko itigeze iba umuburanyi mu rubanza rwatambamiwe. Urukiko rwasuzumye ikibazo cyo kumenya niba Urukiko Rukuru w’Ubucuruzi rutari rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha urubanza, rusanga ibibazo byose byerekeye imihango y'ifatira bivutse mu gihe cy’ifatira bikemurwa n’icyemezo cya Perezida w'Urukiko rw’lbanze cyangwa icya Perezida w'Urukiko rw'Ubucuruzi mu gihe harangizwa urubanza rwaciwe n'inkiko z'ubucuruzi, bityo bikaba bitari mu bubasha bw’Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi, rwemeza ko ubujurire bwa Uburiyemuye budafite ishingiro. Uburiyemuye yandikiye Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga asaba ko urubanza rwasubirwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane, avuga ko Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwaciye urubanza ku nzitizi, rukanafata icyemezo mu mizi ku bijyanye n’impamvu z’ubujurire yari yatanze kandi izo mpamvu zitarigeze ziburanwaho ngo zigibweho impaka n’impande zombi. Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga amaze gusuzuma ubusabe bwe, yemeje ko urubanza rusubirwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane. Uburiyemuye avuga ko asaba uru rukiko gutesha agaciro urubanza rwaciwe n’urukiko rukuru rw’ubucuruzi kuko HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko itashoboraga gutambamira urubanza kuko umuhesha w’inkiko Rugema Ziga yarubayemo umuburanyi, kandi bakaba bari bafitanye amasezerano yo kuyirangiriza urubanza, ku buryo ibyo yakoraga byose bijyanye ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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na cyamunara byari mu nyungu zayo, bivuga ko yamenye urubanza aburana. HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko nayo ivuga ko yari ifite inyungu zo gutambamira urubanza kugirango rusubirwemo kuko rwamurenganyaga kuberako ari yo yaguze muri cyamunara; bityo ko igomba kurengera inyungu zayo kuko itari yaruhamagawemo. Rugema Ziga Jean Claude avuga ko HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko yagombaga gutambamira urubanza kubera inyungu yari irufitemo, zijyanye no kuba ariyo yaguze muri cyamunara umutungo uburanwa. Ku bijyanye no kuvuga ko Rugema Ziga Jean Claude yakoreraga HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko, asobanura ko amasezerano ye yarangiranye no kugurisha. Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène avuga ko Urukiko Rukuru rwari rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha urubanza

RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC kubera ko hari impaka kuri cyamunara yabaye n’imihango y’ifatira. HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko ivuga ko iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi ryakoreshwaga isanga Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi nta bubasha rwari rufite kuko icyaburanwaga ari imihango itarubahirijwe mu cyamunara, ibi bikaba biregerwa mu Rukiko rw’Ibanze cyangwa mu Rukiko rw’Ubucuruzi mu gihe urubanza rurangizwa ari urwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi. Umuhesha w’inkiko avuga ko Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi rwa Musanze arirwo rwari rufite ububasha kuko arirwo rwatanze icyemezo giteza cyamunara. Incamake y’icyemezo: 1. Amasezerano y’ubutumwa n’igikorwa gituma uhagarariwe (mandant/représenté) aha ubutumwa UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO N’UNDI

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umuhagarariye (mandataire/représentant) bwo kugira ibyo akorana n’abandi mu izina rye nk’aho ariwe ubyikoreye 2.Amasezerano hagati y’uwabaye umuburanyi n’umuhesha w’inkiko w’umwuga wahawe inshingano zo kurangiza urubanza si amasezerano yerekeye ubutumwa bwo gahagararirwa (contrat de mandat), ahubwo n’ amasezerano yo gukora akazi ko kurangiza urubanza (contrat de prestation de services d’exécution de jugement).

3. Umuntu ushobora gutambamira urubanza ari utararubayemo nk’urega cyangwa nk’uregwa, kandi we ubwe cyangwa abo ahagarariye bakaba batarigeze barutumirwamo, nyamara akaba arufitemo inyungu.

4. Impaka zishingiye ku irangiza ry’ urubanza ari impaka ababuranyi bajya hagati yabo cyangwa n’Umuhesha w’Inkiko ku birebana n’icyo Urukiko rwemeje (dispositif) n’ishyirwa mu bikorwa ryacyo 5. Impaka zishingiye ku irangiza ry’urubanza zikemurwa n’Urukiko rwaciye urwo urubanza 6. Ibibazo byerekeye imihango y’ifatira n ‘ibirego byose bigamije gusesa cyamunara cyangwa gutesha agaciro cyamunara kubera imihango ibanziriza cyamunara itarubahirijwe, cyamunara yaba igikorwa cyangwa yararangiye. Ikirego nta shingiro gifite. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko No 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, ingingo ya 161. Itegeko N° 21/2012 ryo ku wa 14/06/2012 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, ingingo ya 208 niya 309. Imanza zifashishijwe: Urubanza RCAA 00015/2017/SC, haburana COOPILAK, Sebahire Roger David na Nesongane Marina rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 27/04/2018 Urubanza RSOC 0001/2017/CS, haburana Mutuyubutatu Joséphine na MINERALS SUPPLY AFRICA Ltd (MSA) rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 07/07/2017 Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Ku wa 15/06/2012, Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène na HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko bagiranye amasezerano y’inguzanyo ingana na 15.000.000Frw, bumvikana ko iyo nguzanyo igomba kwishyurwa mu gihe kingana n’ukwezi kumwe, ko inyungu zisanzwe zingana na 750.000 Frw zigomba guhita zishyurwa (zikurwa mu nguzanyo Uburiyemuye ahawe). Hatanzwe ingwate iri mu kibanza gifite UPI:3/03/08/02/7450, harimo inzu y’ubucuruzi iherereye mu Mudugudu wa Kitarimwa, Akagari ka Gikombe, Umurenge wa Nyakiriba, Akarere ka Rubavu. UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO N’UNDI

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[2] Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène ntiyubahirije amasezerano, bituma HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko itanga ikirego mu Rukiko rw’Ubucuruzi rwa Nyarugenge isaba kwishyurwa umwenda remezo n’inyungu zawo, urubanza rwandikwa kuri

RCOM 0987/13/TC/Nyge. Urubanza rwaburanishijwe Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène adahari, rucibwa ku wa 13/12/2013, Urukiko rwemeza ko agomba kwishyura umwenda remezo ungana na 15.000.000Frw, inyungu zisanzwe zingana na 10.500.000Frw, inyungu z’ubukererwe zingana na 21.000.000Frw, n’igihembo cy’Avoka kingana na 700.000Frw. [3] Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène yajuririye urubanza mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi, rwandikwa kuri RCOMA 0164/14/HCC, avuga ko yaciwe inyungu zisanzwe zingana na 10.500.000 Frw kandi inyungu zisanzwe yari yarazitanze akimara gufata inguzanyo, anavuga ko inyungu zingana na 21.000.000 Frw z’ubukererwe ari umurengera. Urubanza rwaciwe ku wa 06/06/2014, Urukiko rwemeza ko ubujurire bwe nta shingiro bufite, ko urubanza rwajuririwe rudahindutse. Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène yasubirishijemo urwo rubanza ingingo nshya, rwandikwa kuri RCOM 00342/2017/CHC/HCC, Urukiko rwemeza ko ikirego cye kitakiriwe. [4] Nyuma y’izo manza, Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène yongeye gutanga ikirego mu Rukiko rw’Ubucuruzi asaba kwishyurwa amafaranga 750.000 yakaswe nk’inyungu zisanzwe agifata inguzanyo. Ikirego cyanditswe kuri

RCOM 003582019/TC, Urukiko rwemeza ko ikirego cye kitakiriwe ku mpamvu z’uko ikibazo cy’inyungu cyaburanywe mu manza RCOM 0987/13/TC/NYGE na RCOMA 0164/14/HCC zabaye itegeko. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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[5] Mu kurangiza urubanza rurebana n’umwenda Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène yatsinzwe, Umuhesha w'Inkiko w'Umwuga Rugema Ziga Jean Claude yateje cyamunara umutungo utimukanwa wa Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène wanditse kuri UPI:3/03/08/02/7451, maze wegukanwa na HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko kuri 4.000.000 Frw. [6] Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène yatanze ikirego mu Rukiko Rukuru rw'Ubucuruzi arega Umuhesha w’Inkiko Rugema Ziga Jean Claude, asaba ko iyo cyamunara yateshwa agaciro kuko urubanza rwarangijwe mu buryo bunyuranyije n'amategeko, hatubahirijwe ibyari bikubiye mu cyemezo cyo guteza cyamunara cyatanzwe n’Urukiko, harimo kudatanga amatangazo mu gihe cy’iminsi 15 cyagenwe n’ahantu hagenwe, kutagaragaza abapiganwe n’igiciro batangaga, no kugurisha ku giciro gito. [7] Ku wa 21/11/2017, Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwaciye urubanza RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC, rwemeza ko ikirego cyatanzwe na Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène gifite ishingiro; ko cyamunara yakozwe n’Umuhesha w’Inkiko Rugema Ziga Jean Claude arangiza urubanza RCOMA 164/14/HCC itakurikije amategeko; rutegeka ko cyamunara yakozwe ku mutungo wanditswe kuri UPI:3/03/08/02/7451 iteshejwe agaciro. Rwategetse kandi Rugema Ziga Jean Claude guha Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cy’Avoka. [8] HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko yatambamiye urwo rubanza mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi, urubanza rwandikwa kuri RCOM 00001/2018/CHC/HCC, ivuga ko Urukiko rutari rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha mu mizi ikirego cya Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène, kandi ko cyamunara yo ku UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO N’UNDI

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wa 04/05/2017 itagombaga guteshwa agaciro. Urubanza rwaciwe ku wa 05/02/2019, Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwemeza ko rutari rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha ibirebana n’ibitarubahirijwe mu muhango wo guteza cyamunara harangizwa urubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi kuko biri mu bubasha bw’Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi, ruvuga ko imikirize y’urubanza RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC iteshejwe agaciro, rutegeka Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène kwishyura HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko amafaranga 575.000 y’igihembo cy’Avoka n’ayo yatanzeho ingwate y’amagarama. [9] Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène yajuririye urwo rubanza mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire, urubanza rwandikwa kuri RCOMA 00004/2019/CA, asaba Urukiko gusuzuma niba HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko yaragombaga gutambamira urubanza RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC, gusuzuma niba Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rutari rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha urwo rubanza, asaba n’indishyi zitandukanye. Rugema Ziga Jean Claude na HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko batanze inzitizi yo kutakira ubujurire bwa Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène, kubera ko mu rubanza RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC yaregeye Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi arusaba gukemura impaka zavutse mu irangiza ry’urubanza RCOMA 0164/14/HCC, ashingiye ku ngingo ya 208 y’Itegeko N° 21/2012 ryo ku wa 14/06/2012 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, kandi bene ibyo birego bitajuririrwa. Urukiko rwashoje iburanisha rufashe umwanzuro ko icyemezo ku nzitizi yatanzwe kizasomwa ku wa 20/03/2020. [10] Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwaciye urubanza RCOMA 00004/2019/CA ku wa 15/05/2020, rwemeza ko inzitizi ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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y’iburabubasha yatanzwe na Rugema Ziga Jean Claude nta shingiro ifite kuko icyajuririwe ari urubanza ku itambama, kandi bene izo manza zikaba zijuririrwa rimwe, rwemeza ko ubujurire bwatanzwe na Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène buri mu bubasha bw’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire. Urukiko rwasuzumye kandi ibijyanye n’ububasha bwa HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko bwo gutambamira urubanza, rwemeza ko ntacyayibuzaga kubikora kuko itigeze iba umuburanyi mu rubanza rwatambamiwe. [11] Urukiko rwanasuzumye ikibazo cyo kumenya niba Urukiko Rukuru w’Ubucuruzi rutari rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha urubanza RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC, rusanga ibibazo byose byerekeye imihango y'ifatira bivutse mu gihe cy'ifatira bikemurwa n'icyemezo cya Perezida w'Urukiko rw'lbanze cyangwa icya Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi mu gihe harangizwa urubanza rwaciwe n'inkiko z'ubucuruzi, bityo bikaba bitari mu bubasha bw’Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi, rwemeza ko ubujurire bwa Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène budafite ishingiro. Urukiko rwemeje ko urubanza RCOM 0001/2018/CHC/HCC rudahindutse. [12] Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène yandikiye Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga asaba ko urubanza

RCOMA 00004/2019/CA rwasubirwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane, avuga ko Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwaciye urubanza ku nzitizi, rukanafata icyemezo mu mizi ku bijyanye n’impamvu z’ubujurire yari yatanze kandi izo mpamvu zitarigeze ziburanwaho ngo zigibweho impaka n’impande zombi. Yavugaga kandi ko Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rutagombaga kumuca indishyi. [13] Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga amaze gusuzuma ubusabe bwe, yemeje ko urubanza RCOMA 00004/2019/CA rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 15/05/2020 UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO N’UNDI

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rusubirwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane, rwandikwa kuri RS/INJUST/RCOM 00006/2020/SC. [14] Iburanisha ryabereye mu ruhame ku wa 13/04/2021, Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène yitabye yunganiwe na Me Nsabimana Jean Baptiste, HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko ihagarariwe na Me Rukarishya Ngenda Philemon, Rugema Ziga Jean Claude ahagarariwe na Me Kagame Kimonyo Alexis. [15] Nyuma yo kumva ibisobanuro by’ababuranyi, Urukiko rwapfundikiye iburanisha ruvuga ko urubanza ruzasomwa ku wa 30/04/2021. Kuri iyi tariki urubanza ntirwasomwe kubera ko umwe mu bacamanza bagize inteko yahinduriwe imirimo, rwongera gushyirwa kuri gahunda y’iburanisha ku wa 09/09/2021. Ababuranyi bose baritabye bunganiwe cyangwa bahagarariwe nka mbere, bavuga ko ntacyo bongera ku byavuzwe mu iburanisha ryo ku wa 13/04/2021. Iburanisha ryarashojwe, bamenyeshwa ko urubanza ruzasomwa ku wa 08/10/2021. [16] Kuri iyo tariki, Urukiko rwasomye urubanza rubanziriza urundi, rwemeza ko Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwaburanishije ku nzitizi gusa ariko rugafata umwanzuro no ku kirego cy’iremezo ; ko urubanza RCOMA 00004/2019/CA rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 15/05/2020 ruvuyeho, bivuga ko n’ibyemezo byose byari byarufashwemo harimo n’ibyerekeye indishyi zaciwe Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène bidafite agaciro. Rwemeje kandi ko iburanisha ry’urubanza ku ngingo z’ubujurire Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène yari yashyikirije Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rizakomeza ku munsi ababuranyi bazamenyeshwa n’Ubwanditsi bw’Urukiko, akaba ari nabwo hasuzumwa indishyi ababuranyi basaba. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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[17] Iburanisha ry’urubanza ryashyizwe ku wa 14/12/2021, ababuranyi barabimenyeshwa, ariko ntirwaburanishwa kubera ko Me Nsabimana Jean Baptiste wunganira Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène yamenyesheje Urukiko ko yagiye mu muhango wo gushyingura, urubanza rwimurirwa ku wa 08/02/2022, ababuranyi bose barabimenyeshwa. Kuri iyi tariki, iburanisha ryatangiye Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène na Me Nsabimana Jean Baptiste umwunganira badahari, abaregwa basaba ko urubanza rwaburanishwa hashingiwe ku biteganywa n’ingingo ya 54 y’Itegeko N° 22/2018 ryo kuwa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi1 Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène n’umwunganira baje mu Rukiko bakererewe, bakomereza aho urubanza rwari rugeze. [18] Ingingo zasuzumwe mu iburanisha, ari nazo zafashweho umwanzuro n’Urukiko, ni ingingo z’ubujurire Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène yari yashyikirije Urukiko rw’Ubujurire zikurikira : a. Kumenya niba HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko yarashoboraga gutambamira urubanza

RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC; b. Kumenya niba Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rutari rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha urwo rubanza.

1 Iyo urega atitabye urukiko nta mpamvu, uregwa ashobora gusaba ko urubanza rusibwa cyangwa agasaba ko ruburanishwa mu mizi yarwo, urubanza ruciwe rukazafatwa nk’aho rwaburanishijwe ababuranyi bahari, keretse iyo urukiko, ku nyungu z’ubutabera kandi mu buryo buteganywa n’iri tegeko, rusanze ari ngombwa ko urubanza rwimurirwa ku yindi tariki kugira ngo urega yongere ahamagazwe. Iyo urubanza rusibwe, icyo cyemezo kiba kivanyeho urubanza n’amagarama yatanzwe yose agaherera k’urega. UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO N’UNDI

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c. Indishyi zinyuranye. [19] Nyuma yo kumva icyo buri ruhande ruvuga kuri izo ngingo, Urukiko rwasoje iburanisha rumenyesha ababuranyi ko urubanza ruzasomwa ku wa 18/03/2022. II. IBIBAZO BIGIZE URUBANZA N’ISESENGURA RYABYO 1. Gusuzuma niba HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko yarashoboraga gutambamira urubanza RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi ku wa 21/11/2017 [20] Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène n’umwunganira basobanura ko

HOME

BASKET

SACCO Kimironko itashoboraga gutambamira urubanza

RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC kuko Rugema Ziga Jean Claude yarubayemo umuburanyi, kandi bakaba bari bafitanye amasezerano yo kuyirangiriza urubanza, ku buryo ibyo yakoraga byose bijyanye na cyamunara byari mu nyungu zayo, bivuga ko yamenye urubanza aburana. Basaba gutesha agaciro imikirize y’urubanza RCOM 00001/2018/CHC/HCC rutambamira RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC. [21] Me Rukarishya Ngenda Philemon uhagarariye HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko avuga ko uwo ahagarariye yari afite inyungu zo gutambamira urubanza

RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC agirango rusubirwemo kuko rwamurenganyaga. Avuga ko nta mpamvu yari kuyibuza ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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kurutambamira kuko ariyo yishyuzaga akaba ari nayo yaguze muri cyamunara; kuba rero Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène yararegeraga gutesha agaciro iyo cyamunara nta mpamvu yari kubuza HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko gutambamira urubanza kugira ngo irengere inyungu zayo kuko itari yaruhamagawemo. [22] Me Kagame Kimonyo Alexis uhagarariye Rugema Ziga Jean Claude avuga ko HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko yagombaga gutambamira urubanza kubera inyungu yari irufitemo, zijyanye no kuba ariyo yaguze muri cyamunara umutungo uburanwa. Ku bijyanye no kuvuga ko Rugema Ziga Jean Claude yakoreraga HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko, asobanura ko amasezerano ye yarangiranye no kugurisha.

UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [23] Ingingo ya 161, igika cya mbere, y’Itegeko No 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, iteganya ko gutambamira urubanza ari ugushaka ko ruvanwaho cyangwa ruhindurwa bisabwe n’umuntu utararuburanye. Naho igika cya mbere cy’ingingo ya 162 y’Itegeko rimaze kuvugwa cyo kigateganya ko umuntu utareze cyangwa ngo aregwe mu rubanza ariko arufitemo inyungu, ashobora gutambamira urwo rubanza rumurenganya ashaka ko rusubirwamo iyo, ari we cyangwa ari n’abo ahagarariye nta warutumiwemo. [24] Icyumvikana mu ngingo zimaze kuvugwa, ni uko ushobora gutambamira urubanza ari utararubayemo nk’urega cyangwa nk’uregwa, kandi we ubwe cyangwa abo ahagarariye UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO N’UNDI

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bakaba batarigeze barutumirwamo, nyamara akaba arufitemo inyungu. [25] Guhagararira bisobanurwa nk’uburyo uhagarariwe (mandant/représenté) aha ubutumwa umuhagarariye (mandataire/représentant) bwo kugira ibyo akorana n’abandi mu izina rye nk’aho ariwe ubyikoreye. Guhagararira bishobora kubaho ku bw’itegeko, nko guhagararira umwana utaragera ku myaka y’ubukure cyangwa kuba abanyamigabane ba sosiyete bahagararirwa n’umuyobozi wayo; bishobora kandi kubaho ku bw’icyemezo cy’urukiko nko guhagararira udafite ubushobozi (incapable), cyangwa ku bw’amasezerano yerekeye ubutumwa bwo guhagararirwa (contrat de mandat)2. Aya masezerano

2 La représentation ….est l'effet soit d'une convention, soit de la Loi, elle règle l'effet par lequel une personne, dite le représenté ou encore le mandant, engage une personne dite, le mandataire ou représentant, lequel reçoit de ce mandant la mission de traiter avec un ou plusieurs tiers comme s'il avait directement traité avec ce ou ces tiers, Serge Braudo, Dictionnaire du Droit privé, Définition de représentation, https://www.dictionnaire- juridique.com/definition/representation.php, 1996-2022, consulté le 9/03/2022. La représentation est le mécanisme par lequel une personne, le représentant, conclut un acte juridique pour le compte d'une autre, le représenté, en vertu d'un pouvoir que lui confère soit la loi (représentation légale), soit une décision de justice (représentation judiciaire), soit un contrat (représentation conventionnelle); le mécanisme de la représentation, définition, https://www.labase-lextenso.fr/ouvrage/9782275097763-42, consulté le 9/03/2022. Le pouvoir de représentation dont est investi un représentant peut lui avoir été conféré au titre d’un contrat. Le pouvoir de représentation sera ainsi le produit d’un accord de volontés. Cette hypothèse correspond à la conclusion d’un contrat de mandat; Aurélien Bamdé (Docteur en droit privé), in Droit des contrats, Droit des obligations, Effet relatif, Effets du contrat, https://aurelienbamde.com/2017/07/14/la-representation-droit-commun/, posted le 14/07/2017, consulté le 9/03/2022. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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asobanurwa nk’igikorwa gituma umuntu aha undi ububasha bwo kumukorera ikintu kandi akagikora mu izina ry’uwamutumye3, atandukanye n’amasezerano yo gukora akazi (contrat de prestation de services) aho umuntu agirana n’undi amasezerano yo kumukorera akazi runaka. [26] Ku bireba urubanza RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi ku wa 21/11/2017, bigaragara ko Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène yarurezemo Rugema Ziga Jean Claude, aregera kurangiza mu buryo bunyuranyije n’amategeko urubanza RCOMA 164/14/HCC yari yatsinzwemo na HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko kubera umwenda yari ayifitiye. HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko ntiyigeze iba umuburanyi mu rubanza

RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC, kuko itarurezwemo cyangwa ngo iruhamagarwemo; ndetse n’abo ihagarariye ku bw’itegeko, ni ukuvuga abanyamigabane bayo, nta warubayemo cyangwa ngo arutumirwemo. [27] Urukiko rusanga, mu gihe HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko ubwayo cyangwa abo ihagarariye nta wigeze aregwa

…La représentation du mineur est assurée : soit par ses parents, soit par un tuteur ; ibidem …tandis que les associés expriment en assemblée la volonté de la personne morale, les dirigeants sociaux représentent cette volonté qui a été exprimée par les associés, ibidem. Lorsqu’une personne est frappée d’une incapacité d’exercice générale ou spéciale, l’expression de sa volonté ne peut s’opérer que par l’entremise d’un représentant………Le juge désignera ………un représentant chargé d’agir au nom et pour le compte de la personne protégée; ibidem d'une autre, le représenté, en vertu d'un pouvoir que lui confère soit la loi (représentation légale), soit une décision 3 Le mandat ou procuration est un acte par lequel une personne donne à une autre le pouvoir de faire quelque chose pour le mandant et en son nom; ibidem. UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO N’UNDI

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cyangwa ngo ahamagarwe mu rubanza

RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC nk’uko bimaze gusobanurwa, kandi nyamara yari irufitemo inyungu kuko ariyo yarangirizwaga urubanza Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène yaregeraga ko rwarangijwe mu buryo bunyuranyije n’amategeko, nta cyari kuyibuza kurutambamira hashingiwe ku biteganywa n’ingingo za 161 na 162 z’Itegeko No 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryavuzwe haruguru. [28] Urukiko rusanga ibivugwa na Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène ko

HOME

BASKET

SACCO Kimironko itashoboraga gutambamira urubanza kuko Rugema Ziga Jean Claude yarubayemo umuburanyi, kandi bakaba bari bafitanye amasezerano yo kuyirangiriza urubanza, nta shingiro byahabwa kuko Rugema Ziga Jean Claude atakwitiranywa na HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko cyangwa abo yaba ihagarariye hakurikijwe ibisobanuro byatanzwe haruguru. Ikindi kandi, amasezerano bari bafitanye ntiyari amasezerano yerekeye ubutumwa bwo gahagararirwa (contrat de mandat), ahubwo yari amasezerano yo gukora akazi ko kurangiza urubanza (contrat de prestation de services d’exécution de jugement)4.

4 Le contrat de prestation de services est défini à l’article 1710 du Code civil sous le nom de « louage d’ouvrage ». Il s’agit d’une convention généralement conclue à titre onéreux entre deux parties, un prestataire et son client, et qui fait naître entre eux des droits et obligations. D’aucuns diraient que le contrat de prestation de services matérialise une sorte de relation de travail où un professionnel se rend responsable de l’accomplissement d’une mission pour le compte d’un donneur d’ordre; Contrat de prestation de services, par Avocats Picovschi, Avocats d’affaires, https://www.avocats- picovschi.com/contrat-de-prestation-de-services_article_267.html, mis à jour le 13/08/2021, consulté le 09/03/2022. Ingingo ya 38 y’Itegeko N°12/2013 ryo ku wa 22/03/2013 rigenga umurimo w’Abahesha b’Inkiko iteganya ko mbere yo kurangiza urubanza, ibyemezo cyangwa izindi nyandikompesha, umuhesha w’inkiko w’umwuga abanza ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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[29] Hashingiwe ku bisobanuro bimaze gutangwa, Urukiko rurasanga HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko yarashoboraga gutambamira urubanza RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi ku wa 21/11/2017.

2. Gusuzuma niba Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rutari rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha urubanza RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC [30] Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène n’umwunganira bavuga ko Urukiko Rukuru rwari rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha urubanza RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC rushingiye ku ngingo ya 2085 y’Itegeko N° 21/2012 ryo ku wa 14/06/2012 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, kubera ko hari impaka kuri cyamunara yabaye ku wa 04/05/2017, rukaba rutari gushingira ku ngingo ya 3096 y’iryo Tegeko yerekeye ibibazo birebana n’imihango y’ifatira. Basobanura ko impaka zavutse ku wa 04/05/2017 ubwo Umuhesha w’Inkiko yemezaga ko habaye

kugirana amasezerano yanditse n’umwiyambaje, yerekana umubare w’amafaranga y’igihembo cy’umurimo n’uburyo azishyurwa…. 5 Impaka zishingiye ku irangiza ry’ urubanza ryaba riri gukorwa cyangwa ryararangiye zikemurwa n’urukiko rwaruciye bwa nyuma cyangwa urwemeje ko urubanza rwo mu mahanga rurangirizwa mu Rwanda mu gihe kitarenze iminsi cumi n’itanu (15) guhera igihe urukiko rwakiriye ikirego. Bene izo manza ntizijuririrwa. 6 Ibibazo byose byerekeye imihango y’ifatira bivutse mu gihe cy’ifatira bikemurwa n’icyemezo cya Perezida w’Urukiko rw’ibanze cyangwa Perezida w’urukiko rw’ubucuruzi mu gihe harangizwa urubanza rwaciwe 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 UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO N’UNDI

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cyamunara atagaragaza abayijemo, amafaranga yatanzwe n’uwayatanze, n’igiciro cyahawe inzu kitemeranywaho. [31] Me Rukarishya Ngenda Philemon uhagarariye HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko avuga ko hashingiwe ku ngingo ya 309 y’Itegeko N° 21/2012 ryo ku wa 14/06/2012 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi ryakoreshwaga igihe urubanza rwaburanishwaga, asanga Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi nta bubasha rwari rufite kuko icyaburanwaga ari imihango itarubahirijwe mu cyamunara, ibi bikaba biregerwa mu Rukiko rw’Ibanze cyangwa mu Rukiko rw’Ubucuruzi mu gihe urubanza rurangizwa ari urwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi. [32] Avuga ko ashingiye ku ngingo ya 260 y’Itegeko N° 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi asanga icyemezo cyafashwe n’Urukiko kitaragombaga kujuririrwa, ko ahubwo cyagombaga gukurikizwa uko cyakabaye, akaba asanga nta karengane kari mu rubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire. [33] Me Kagame Kimonyo Alexis uhagarariye Rugema Ziga Jean Claude avuga ko Urukiko Rukuru rutagombaga kuburanisha urubanza

RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC, kubera ko haregerwaga kurangiza urubanza mu buryo bunyuranyije n’amategeko, hanasabwa ko cyamunara yakozwe ku wa 04/05/2017 iteshwa agaciro. Asobanura ko mu kuburana Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène yahinduye ikiregerwa akavuga ko ari impaka zivutse mu irangiza ry’urubanza, ariko wareba imiterere y’ikirego ugasanga yari ishingiye ku ngingo ya 309 y’Itegeko N° 21/2012 ryo ku wa 14/06/2012 ryavuzwe, yateganyaga ibyerekeye gukemura ibibazo birebana n’imihango ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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y’ifatira. Yongeraho ko Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi rwa Musanze arirwo rwari rufite ububasha kuko arirwo rwatanze icyemezo giteza cyamunara.

UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [34] Impaka z’ababuranyi kuri iki kibazo, zishingiye ku kumenya niba ikirego cyatanzwe na Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène mu rubanza RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC ari ikirego kirebana n’impaka zishingiye ku irangiza ry’ibyemezo by’inkiko kivugwa mu ngingo ya 208 y’Itegeko N° 21/2012 ryo ku wa 14/06/2012 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi ryakoreshwaga igihe cyatangwaga, cyangwa niba ari ikirego kirebana no gukemura ibibazo byerekeye imihango y’ifatira bivutse mu gihe cy’ifatira kivugwa mu ngingo ya 309 y’Itegeko rimaze kuvugwa. [35] Ingingo ya 208 y’Itegeko N° 21/2012 ryo ku wa 14/06/2012 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi yateganyaga ko impaka zishingiye ku irangiza ry’urubanza ryaba riri gukorwa cyangwa ryararangiye zikemurwa n’urukiko rwaruciye bwa nyuma(….), naho ingingo ya 309 y’iryo Tegeko igateganya mu gika cyayo cya mbere ko ibibazo byose byerekeye imihango y’ifatira bivutse mu gihe cy’ifatira bikemurwa n’icyemezo cya Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ibanze cyangwa Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi mu gihe harangizwa urubanza rwaciwe n’inkiko z’ubucuruzi. [36] Ibi bibazo bijyanye n’itandukaniro hagati y’impaka zishingiye ku irangiza ry’urubanza n’ibibazo byerekeye UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO N’UNDI

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imihango y’ifatira, byasobanuwe n’uru Rukiko mu rubanza COOP ILAK yarezemo Sebahire Roger David na Nesongane Marina. Muri urwo rubanza, Urukiko rwasobanuye ko impaka zishingiye ku irangiza ry’ urubanza zivugwa mu ngingo ya 208 y’Itegeko N° 21/2012 ryo ku wa 14/06/2012 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, ari impaka ababuranyi bajya hagati yabo cyangwa n’Umuhesha w’Inkiko ku birebana n’icyo Urukiko rwemeje (dispositif) n’ishyirwa mu bikorwa ryacyo, bivuze ko ari impaka zo kutumvikana ku cyemejwe n’Urukiko n’uburyo cyagombye gushyirwa mu bikorwa7. Naho ibibazo byerekeye imihango y’ifatira bivugwa mu ngingo ya 309 y’Itegeko rimaze kuvugwa, bikaba bigomba kumvikana nk‘ibirego byose bigamije gusesa cyamunara cyangwa gutesha agaciro cyamunara kubera imihango ibanziriza cyamunara itarubahirijwe, cyamunara yaba igikorwa cyangwa yararangiye8. [37] Nanone mu rubanza Mutuyubutatu Joséphine yaregagamo MINERALS SUPPLY AFRICA Ltd (MSA), uru Rukiko rwasesenguye ibivugwa mu ngingo ya 208 y’Itegeko N° 21/2012 ryo ku wa 14/06/2012, rugaragaza ko impaka ziregerwa ziba zavutse mu rubanza rurangizwa, maze ababuranyi bagasanga hari ibyo batumvikanaho mu gushyira mu bikorwa icyemezo cy’Urukiko rwaciye urubanza, ku buryo byakemurwa no gusaba urwo rukiko kubisobanura kugira ngo urubanza rwabo rurangizwe neza9. Ibi bisobanuro ni nabyo bitangwa na Gasasira

7 Urubanza RCAA 00015/2017/SC rwaciwe ku wa 27/04/2018, haburana COOPILAK, Sebahire Roger David na Nesongane Marina, para 26 8 Ibidem, para 35 9 Urubanza rubanziriza urundi RSOC 0001/2017/CS rwaciwe ku wa 07/07/2017, haburana Mutuyubutatu Joséphine na MINERALS SUPPLY AFRICA Ltd (MSA), para 10. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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Ephrem mu gitabo yanditse ku byerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano n’ubucuruzi10. [38] Ku birebana n’uru rubanza, dosiye igaragaza ko Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène yatanze ikirego mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi cyanditswe kuri

RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC, aregera kurangiza urubanza mu buryo bunyuranye n’amategeko, asaba ko cyamunara yateshwa agaciro. Yasobanuye icyo kirego avuga ko ku wa 04/05/2017, Umuhesha w'Inkiko w'umwuga witwa Rugema Ziga Jean Claude yamugurishirije umutungo utimukanwa ufite UPI: 3/03/08/02/7451, atubahirije ibyategetswe mu cyemezo cya Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi cyo kugurisha mu cyamunara, birimo: a. Kudatanga amatangazo mu gihe cyateganyijwe cy’iminsi 15 n’ahantu hagenwe (radiyo, ibinyamakuru, aho cyamunara yagombaga kubera n’ahandi); b. Kutagaragaza abapiganwe n’igiciro batangaga; c. Kugurisha ku giciro gito. [39] Urukiko rusanga ibyo Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène yaregeye agamije gutesha agaciro cyamunara kubera ko hari imihango itarubahirijwe, bihura n’ibiteganywa n’ingingo ya 309 y’Itegeko N° 21/2012 ryo ku wa 14/06/2012 yavuzwe haruguru nk’uko byasobanuwe, bikaba ntaho bihuriye n’impaka zishingiye ku irangiza ry’ urubanza zivugwa mu ngingo ya 208

10 « ……Il arrive qu’un jugement soit difficile à exécuter, notamment quand il est obscur ou ambigu…, il faudra s’adresser à la juridiction qui a rendu le jugement dont exécution pour lui demander d’éclaircir sa pensée en vue de la rendre plus compréhensible ; Gasasira Ephrem, Manuel de Droit Rwandais, Procédure Civile et Commerciale, Printerset, 1993, p.294. UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO N’UNDI

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y’iryoTegeko, ikoreshwa igihe hari ibitumvikanwaho mu cyemezo cyafashwe n’urukiko n’uburyo cyashyirwa mu bikorwa. [40] Hashingiwe ku bisobanuro byatanzwe, no ku biteganywa n’ingingo ya 309 imaze kuvugwa, Urukiko rusanga Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rutari rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha urubanza RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC.

3. Kumenya niba indishyi ababuranyi basaba bakwiye kuzihabwa i. Indishyi zasabwe mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire [41] Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène n’umwunganira basabye Urukiko rw’Ubujurire kumugenera 1.000.000Frw y’igihembo cy’Avoka, 1.000.000 Frw y’indishyi z’akababaro, 500.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza no kumusubiza igarama. [42] Me Rukarishya Ngenda Philemon uhagarariye HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko avuga ko indishyi zasabwe na Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène zitagomba gusuzumwa kuko byaba ari ukumuhembera amakosa yo gutinza irangiza ry’urubanza. Avuga kandi ko kuva mu 2014 urega yakomeje kunaniza ishyirwa mu bikorwa rya cyamunara kugeza ubu, akaba yibitseho miliyoni 50 z’abaturage, akaba rero ntacyo yahombye cyatuma ahabwa indishyi. [43] Me Rukarishya Ngenda Philemon yasabye ko Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène yategekwa guha uwo ahagarariye indishyi mbonezamusaruro zingana na 200.000Frw, 500.000Frw y’igihembo cy’Avoka, na 200.000Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza; akanacibwa ihazabu mbonezamusaruro ingana na 200.000 Frw kubera kujuririra urubanza azi ko rutajuririrwa agamije gutinza irangiza ryarwo. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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[44] Me Kagame Kimonyo Alexis uhagarariye Rugema Ziga Jean Claude avuga ko indishyi Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène yasabye nta shingiro zifite kubera ko ariwe nyirabayazana akaba ariwe wishoye mu manza. Avuga ko mu gihe Urukiko rwasanga ibyo avuga nta shingiro bifite yategekwa guha uwo ahagarariye 500.000 Frw y’indishyi mbonezamusaruro, na 1.000.000Frw y’igihembo cy’Avoka. [45] Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène n’umwunganira bavuga ko indishyi asabwa nta shingiro zifite kuko kujurira ari uburenganzira ahabwa n’amategeko. ii. Indishyi zisabwa mu Rukiko rw’Ikirenga [46] Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène n’umwunganira basaba 10.000.000Frw y’indishyi z’akababaro, 5.000.000Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cy’Avoka, kuko abaregwa bamushoye mu manza ku maherere, agatakaza igihe n'umwanya ashaka umwunganizi umufasha kuburana uru rubanza. [47] Me Rukarishya Ngenda Philemon uhagarariye HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko avuga ko urega agomba gucibwa indishyi zingana na 4.000.000Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza harimo n’indishyi zo gukerereza cyamunara igomba gukorwa, na 3.000.000Frw zishyuwe Avoka mu nzego eshatu. [48] Me Kagame Kimonyo Alexis uhagarariye Rugema Ziga Jean Claude yatanze ikirego kiregera kwiregura agamije gusaba Urukiko gutegeka Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène kumuha indishyi zingana na 2.000.000Frw zo gusiragizwa mu nkiko nta mpamvu, 1.000.000Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza, na 1.000.000Frw y’igihembo cy’Avoka. UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO N’UNDI

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[49] Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène avuga ko indishyi abaregwa basaba badakwiye kuzihabwa kuko aribo ba nyirabayazana b’uru rubanza.

UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA i. Indishyi zasabwe mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire [50] Igika cya mbere cy’ingingo 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 giteganya ko ikirego cy’amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza ari ikirego gishamikira ku kirego cy’iremezo kigamije kwishyuza ibyakoreshejwe mu rubanza. [51] Mu bujurire bwe, Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène yasabye Urukiko kumugenera amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza, indishyi, n’igihembo cy’Avoka. Urukiko rusanga amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza asaba ashingiye ku ngingo imaze kuvugwa, kimwe n’andi yose asaba atayagenerwa kuko atsinzwe urubanza. [52] Urukiko rusanga amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cy’Avoka yasabwe na HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko mu bujurire bwuririye ku bundi yayagenerwa kuko byabaye ngombwa gukurikirana urubanza no kwishyura Avoka, ikaba igenewe ayo yasabye kuko ari mu rugero, ni ukuvuga 500.000 Frw y’igihembo cy’Avoka na 200.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza. Urukiko rusanga ariko nta ndishyi mbonezamusaruro yagenerwa kuko itasobanuye ishingiro ryazo; ndetse n‘ihazabu mbonezamusaruro yasabye ko Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène yacibwa kubera kujurira ashaka gutinza urubanza, akaba nta shingiro yahabwa kuko nta kigaragaza ko ubujurire bwatanzwe mu rwego rwo gutinza urubanza koko. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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[53] Ku bijyanye n’amafaranga y’igihembo cy’Avoka yasabwe na Rugema Ziga Jean Claude mu bujurire bwuririye ku bundi, Urukiko rusanga yagenerwa mu bushishozi bwarwo 500.000 Frw yo ku rwego rw’ubujurire. Urukiko rusanga ariko atagenerwa indishyi mbonezamusaruro kuko atasobanuye ishingiro ryazo. ii. Indishyi zisabwa mu Rukiko rw’Ikirenga [54] Urukiko rusanga indishyi z’akababaro, amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cy’Avoka bisabwa na Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène atabihabwa kuko atsinzwe urubanza. [55] Urukiko rusanga amafaranga y‘ indishyi zo gukerereza cyamunara asabwa na HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko, kimwe n’ indishyi zo gusiragizwa mu nkiko nta mpamvu zisabwa na Rugema Ziga Jean Claude mu kirego kigamije kwiregura ntabyo bahabwa kuko ataribo basabye ko urubanza rusubirwamo ku mpamvu z‘akarengane, ibyo bikaba byarasobanuwe mu manza zinyuranye zaciwe n’uru Rukiko11. Rusanga ariko bagenerwa amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cy’Avoka agenwe mu bushishozi bw’Urukiko kuko ayo basaba ari menshi kandi batayatangira ibimenyetso, bakaba bagenewe

11 Urubanza RS/INJUST/RC 00024/2018/SC rwaciwe ku wa 21/02/2020, haburana Ngizweninshuti Albert na Muhima Giovanni; urubanza RS/INJUST/RC 00007/2018/SC rwaciwe ku wa 13/03/2020, haburana Nditiribambe Samuel, Gatera Jason na Nyamaswa ; urubanza RS/INJUST/RCOM 00005/2018/SC rwaciwe ku wa 12/06/2020, haburana Prime Insurance Ltd na Kansiime James ; urubanza RS/INJUST/RSOC 00001/2018/SC rwaciwe ku wa 25/09/2020, haburana Banki y'Abaturage y'u Rwanda na Ukwibishaka Alexis, n’izindi. UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO N’UNDI

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buri wese 300.000Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza, na 500.000 Frw buri wese y’igihembo cy’Avoka kuri uru rwego. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [56] Rwemeje ko ikirego cyo kujuririra urubanza RCOM 00001/2018/CHC/HCC rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi ku wa 05/02/2019, cyatanzwe na Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène, kidafite ishingiro; [57] Rwemeje ko nta gihindutse ku rubanza RCOM 00001/2018/CHC/HCC rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi ku wa 05/02/2019; [58] Rwemeje ko Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rutari rufite ububasha bwo kuburanisha urubanza

RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC; [59] Rutegetse Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène kwishyura

HOME

BASKET

SACCO Kimironko 200.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza na 500.000 Frw y’igihembo cy’Avoka ku rwego rw’ubujurire, 300.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza na 500.000 Frw y’igihembo cy’Avoka kuri uru rwego, yose hamwe akaba 1.500.000Frw; [60] Rutegetse Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène kwishyura Rugema Ziga Jean Claude 500.000 Frw y’igihembo cy’Avoka ku rwego rw’ubujurire, 300.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza na 500.000 Frw y’igihembo cy’Avoka kuri uru rwego, yose hamwe akaba 1.300.000Frw. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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URUBANZA NSHIJYABYAHA

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NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA N’UNDI [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’UBUJURIRE – RS/INJUST/RP 00001/2019/CA, (Karimunda, P.J., Nyirandabaruta na Umugwaneza, J., 08 Mutarama 2021] Amategeko agenga imiburanishirize y’imanza z’inshinjabyaha – Icyaha cy’imaragihe – Ku byerekeye icyaha cyo gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano, kubara igihe cy’ubuzime bitangira ku uhereye igihe igikorwa cya nyuma cyarangiriyeho. Incamake y’ikibazo: Uru rubanza rwatangiye ubwo urega witwa Nyirabatoni yaregaga uwitwa Gahima avuga yamuhaye umurima maze bagirana amasezerano yanditse y’impano, ariko nyuma Gahima aza kumuhemukira, bituma Nyirabatoni atangiza imanza ashaka gusubirana umurima we, atsindwa n’uko Gahima yahakanye iyo mpano, ahubwo yerekana inyandiko igaragaza ko uwo murima asangiye na murumuna we Mupenzi, ari uwo basaranganyijwe na Nyirabatoni. Nyuma yaho, mu mwaka wa 2013, Nyirabatoni yareze Gahima ndetse n’uwitwa Munyakarama wanditse inyandiko y’isaranganya ubwo yari Umunyamabanga w’Akagali ka Nyagahinga, mu Murenge wa Rusororo, ko bakoze icyaha cyo gukora no gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano. Ubugenzacyaha bwohereje dosiye mu Bushinjacyaha ariko bufata umwanzuro wo gushyingura dosiye ku mpamvu yuko icyaha cyashaje. Nyirabatoni yatanze ikirego mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo, atisunze Ubushinjacyaha, arega Gahima na Munyakarama icyaha cyo gukora no gukoresha inyandikompimbano, maze urwo Rukiko ruca urubanza rwemeza 187

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ko icyo kirego kitakiriwe kuko habaye ubusaze bwo kugikurikirana. Nyirabatoni yajuririye urwo rubanza mu Rukiko Rukuru, arusaba gukosora amakosa yakozwe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo, asobanura ko yareze Gahima na Munyakarama atisunze Ubushinjacyaha, icyaha cyo gukora no gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano, mu guca urubanza Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo rusuzuma ibijyanye n’icyaha cyo gukora inyandiko mpimbano gusa, rwemeza ko cyashaje, ko rutasuzumye icyo kuyikoresha kandi ari icy’imaragihe. Urukiko Rukuru, rwasanze icyaha Nyirabatoni yareze Gahima na Munyakarama, ari icyo gukora inyandiko mpimbano, kandi akaba ari cyo cyaha yari yatanze mu Bushinjacyaha bukemeza ko cyashaje, ruvuga ko uburenganzira bwe bwo gutanga ikirego atisunze Ubushinjacyaha bugarukira gusa ku cyaha cyari gikubiye muri dosiye yashyinguwe, cyo gukora inyandiko mpimbano, kuko icyo gikorwa cy’Ubushinjacyaha cyo gushyingura dosiye ari cyo yahereyeho arega atabwisunze, rubiheraho rwemeza ko ubujurire bwe nta shingiro bufite. Nyirabatoni yandikiye Umuvunyi Mukuru, amusaba gusuzuma akarengane kabaye mu rubanza RPA 0571/14/HC/KIG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru, Nyuma yo gusuzuma dosiye y’urubanza rwe, Urwego rw’Umuvunyi rwasanze urwo rubanza rugaragaramo akarengane maze rwandikira Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga, rumugaragariza akarengane Nyirabatoni yagize, mu cyemezo N° 086/CJ/2019 cyo ku wa 14/03/2019, Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga yemeza ko urubanza RPA 0571/14/HC/KIG rusubirwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane, maze urwo rubanza ruburanishwa n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire. Mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire, urubanza rwaburanishijwe Gahima adahari ariko yarahamagajwe mu buryo bukurikije amategeko, ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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iburanisha ryatangiye hasuzumwa inzitizi yatanzwe na Munyakarama, y’uko umwirondoro Nyirabatoni yatanze atari uwe. Nyuma yo kumva icyo ababuranyi bose babivugaho no gusuzuma umwirondoro we, Urukiko rwemeza ko ntawe ufite uburenganzira bwo kumenya umwirondoro w’umuntu kurusha nyirawo, bityo ko inzitizi nta shingiro ifite. Iburanisha ryaje gukomeza, Nyirabatoni avuga ko yaregeye gukora no gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano, nk’uko bigaragara muri dosiye z’Ubugenzacyaha, ahagaragara ibimenyetso by’icyo cyaha, kuko no mu bigize dosiye (inventaire) mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo ndetse no mu rubanza RP 0140 /14/TGI/GSBO, bigaragara ko aricyo cyaregwe, ndetse aba aricyo kijuririrwa mu Rukiko Rukuru, ariko ko ibijyanye no gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano bitigeze bisuzumwa n’inkiko zombi, akaba ari cyo cyamuteye akarengane, yongeraho kandi ko inyandiko baregera ko ari impimbano igikoreshwa kugeza ubu, kandi yagiye ishingirwaho mu manza zisaba gutesha agaciro impano yatanzwe, kuko urubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rw’Ibanze rwa Rusororo rwavuze ko nta mpano yabayeho ahubwo habaye isaranganya, ko rero ubuzime butagomba kubarwa kuko iyo nyandiko igikoreshwa kugeza ubu, akaba ariho bashingira bavuga ko icyaha cyo gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano ari icy’imaragihe. Munyakarama, avuga ko atigeze aregwa gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano ahubwo yarezwe icyo kuyikora, naho Gahima aregwa n’icyo kuyikoresha, ko nk’Umuyobozi n’Umwanditsi wa Komite yo gusaranganya, yakoze inyandiko y’isaranganya ry’isambu yahoze ari iya Benda na Mukagatare hagati ya Nyirabatoni na Gahima, kuko bombi bari batangiye kuyirwaniramo, ubuyobozi bufata icyemezo cyo kuyibasaranganya. Ku bijyanye no kumenya niba icyaha cyo gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano ari NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA N’UNDI

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icyaha cy’imaragihe, Munyakarama avuga ko icyo cyaha atakirezwe. Ubushinjacyaha bwo buvuga ko, nubwo muri uru rubanza butazanywe no kugira uwo bushinja cyangwa bushinjura, ikirego cyatanzwe na Nyirabatoni ndetse kikakirwa n’Ubugenzacyaha ari icyo gukora no gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano, ko Ubushinjacyaha butashishoje uko bikwiye bushyingura dosiye bushingiye ku cyaha cyo gukora inyandiko mpimbano gusa, busaba ko mu bushishozi bwarwo, Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwasuzuma niba koko Nyirabatoni yararegeye no gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano, rwasanga yari yabiregeye, rukemeza ko yarenganye. Incamake y’icyemezo: 1. Ku bijyanye n’icyaha cy’imaragihe, ni icyaha gifite ibikorwa bikomeza mu gihe, kandi bikagaragaza nta gushidikanya umugambi uhoraho wo kugikora, kubara igihe cy’ubuzime bitangira ku munsi icyaha cyarangiriyeho, kandi umucamanza akaba agomba gutanga igihano kimwe ku bikorwa byose bikigize biba byakozwe. Gusubirishamo urubanza ku mpamvu z’akarengane bifite ishingiro kuri bimwe. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko Nº 027/2019 ryo ku wa 19/09/2019 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’inshinjabyaha, ingingo ya 6,7,107 n’iya 118. Itegeko nº 30/2013 ryo ku wa 24/5/2013 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’inshinjabyaha, Ingingo ya ya 5, 1° n’iya 6. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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Itegeko Ngenga N° 01/2012/OL ryo ku wa 02/05/2012 rishyiraho Igitabo cy’amategeko ahana, Ingingo ya 22, 609 n’iya 610 Itegeko Nº 15/2004 ryo ku wa 12/06/2004 ryerekeye ibimenyetso mu manza n’itangwa ryabyo, Ingingo ya 2. Nta manza zifashishijwe. Inyandiko z’abahanga: Jean-Paul DOUCET, Dictionnaire de droit criminel Michel Franchimont, Ann Jacobs et Adrien Masset, Manuel de Precédure Pénale, 4ed, Larcier, Bruxelles, 2012, P. 131 Serge Guinchard et Jacques Buisson, Procedure Penale, 10 ed, LexisNexis, Paris, 2014, P.806 Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Uru rubanza Nyirabatoni Elizabeth, avuga ko yahaye Gahima Dembe Eduard umurima maze bagirana amasezerano yanditse y’impano, ariko nyuma Gahima Dembe Eduard aza kumuhemukira, bituma Nyirabatoni Elizabeth atangiza imanza ashaka gusubirana umurima we, atsindwa n’uko Gahima Dembe Eduard yahakanye iyo mpano, ahubwo yerekana inyandiko igaragaza ko uwo murima asangiye na murumuna we Mupenzi Vincent, ari uwo basaranganyijwe na Nyirabatoni Elizabeth. Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yaregeye Ubugenzacyaha mu mwaka wa 2013, avuga ko Gahima Dembe Eduard na Munyakarama Pierre wanditse inyandiko y’isaranganya ubwo yari Umunyamabanga w’Akagali ka Nyagahinga, mu Murenge wa Rusororo, bakoze NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA N’UNDI

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icyaha cyo gukora no gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano. Ubugenzacyaha bwohereje dosiye mu Bushinjacyaha ariko bufata umwanzuro wo gushyingura dosiye ku mpamvu yuko icyaha cyashaje. [2] Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yatanze ikirego mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo, atisunze Ubushinjacyaha, arega Gahima Dembe Eduard na Munyakarama Pierre icyaha cyo gukora no gukoresha inyandikompimbano, maze mu rubanza RP 0140/14/TGI/GSBO rwaciwe ku wa 15/07/2014, urwo Rukiko rwemeza ko icyo kirego kitakiriwe kuko habaye ubusaze bwo kugikurikirana. [3] Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yajuririye urwo rubanza mu Rukiko Rukuru, arusaba gukosora amakosa yakozwe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo, asobanura ko yareze Gahima Dembe Eduard na Munyakarama Pierre atisunze Ubushinjacyaha, icyaha cyo gukora no gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano, mu guca urubanza Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo rusuzuma ibijyanye n’icyaha cyo gukora inyandiko mpimbano gusa, rwemeza ko cyashaje, ko rutasuzumye icyo kuyikoresha kandi ari icy’imaragihe. [4] Urukiko Rukuru, mu rubanza RPA 0571/14/HC/KIG rwaciye ku wa 31/12/2015, rwasanze icyaha Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yareze Gahima Dembe Eduard na Munyakarama Pierre, ari icyo gukora inyandiko mpimbano, kandi akaba ari cyo cyaha yari yatanze mu Bushinjacyaha bukemeza ko cyashaje, ruvuga ko uburenganzira bwe bwo gutanga ikirego atisunze Ubushinjacyaha bugarukira gusa ku cyaha cyari gikubiye muri dosiye yashyinguwe, cyo gukora inyandiko mpimbano, kuko icyo gikorwa cy’Ubushinjacyaha cyo gushyingura dosiye ari cyo yahereyeho arega atabwisunze, rusanga icyemezo cyafashwe ku ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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rwego rwa mbere gishingiye ku biteganywa n’ingingo ya 6 y’Itegeko ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’inshinjabyaha, gifite ishingiro, rubiheraho rwemeza ko ubujurire bwe nta shingiro bufite, ko imikirize y’urubanza rwajuririwe idahindutse. [5] Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yandikiye Umuvunyi Mukuru, amusaba gusuzuma akarengane kabaye mu rubanza RPA 0571/14/HC/KIG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru ku wa 31/12/2015. [6] Nyuma yo gusuzuma dosiye y’urubanza rwe, Urwego rw’Umuvunyi rwasanze n’ubwo Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo rwemeje ko habayeho ubuzime bw’ikurikiranacyaha ku kirego cyari cyatanzwe na Nyirabatoni Elizabeth, yari yarugaragarije ko icyaha akurikiranyeho Gahima Dembe Eduard na Munyakarama Pierre atari iccyo gukora inyandiko mpimbano gusa, ahubwo hari n’icyo kuyikoresha kandi akaba yaramenye iriya nyandiko ari uko Gahima Dembe Eduard ayitanzeho ikimenyetso mu Rukiko Rw’Ibanze rwa Rusororo, mu rubanza RC0143/011/TB/RUS rwaciwe ku wa 25/08/2011, Gahima Dembe akaba yaranayitanze mu rubanza rw’ubujurire RCA 0231/12/TGI/GSBO rwaciwe ku wa 07/09/2012 n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo, bivuga ko iyo nyandiko Gahima Dembe Eduard yayikoresheje bwa nyuma ku wa 07/09/2012. [7] Urwego rw’Umuvunyi rwandikiye Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga, rumugaragariza akarengane Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yagize, mu cyemezo N° 086/CJ/2019 cyo ku wa 14/03/2019, Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga yemeza ko urubanza RPA 0571/14/HC/KIG rusubirwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane, ategeka ko rwoherezwa mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire kugira ngo abe ari rwo ruzaruburanisha, muri urwo Rukiko ruhabwa RS/INJUST/RP00001/2019/CA. NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA N’UNDI

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[8] Iburanisha mu ruhame ryashyizwe ku wa 16/10/2019, uwo munsi ryimurwa ku mpamvu yuko Munyakarama Pierre arwaye, na nyuma rikomeza kwimurwa biturutse ku mpamvu z’ababuranyi ndetse n’icyorezo cya COVID-19, kugeza ubwo ku wa 22/9/2020 rwaburanishijwe, Ubushinjacyaha buhagarariwe na Rudatinya Nyangezi Gaspard, Umushinjacyaha ku rwego rw’igihugu, Nyirabatoni Elizabeth ahagarariwe n’umuhungu we Munanira John, nawe ahagarariwe na Me Karangwa Vincent na Me Bandora Alfred, Munyakarama Pierre yunganiwe na Me Nsengimana Emmanuel na Me Nizeyimana Boniface, naho GAHIMA Dembe Eduard atitabye, ariko yarahamagajwe mu buryo bukurikije amategeko, urubanza ruburanishwa adahari. [9] Iburanisha ryatangiye hasuzumwa inzitizi yatanzwe na Me Nsengimana Emmanuel wunganira Munyakarama Pierre, y’uko umwirondoro Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yatanze atari uwe. Nyuma yo kumva icyo ababuranyi bose babivugaho no gusuzuma umwirondoro wa Nyirabatoni Elizabeth mwene Gacemeri na Kabera, ukubiye mu nyandiko ziri muri dosiye, nk’uko wagaragajwe haruguru, rushingiye ku ngingo ya 61 y’Itegeko nº 32/2016 ryo ku wa 28/08/2016 rigenga abantu n’umuryango, iteganya ko “… Inyandiko z’irangamimerere cyangwa imanza zizisimbura cyangwa zizikosora zubahwa na buri wese .…”, rwemeza ko ntawe ufite uburenganzira bwo kumenya umwirondoro w’umuntu kurusha nyirawo, bityo ko inzitizi yazamuwe na Me Nsengimana Emmanuel nta shingiro ifite. [10] Iburanisha ry’urubanza mu mizi ryarakomeje, ruburanishwa mu ngingo zarwo zose, iburanisha rirapfundikirwa, ariko Ubushinjacyaha busabwa gushyikiriza Urukiko dosiye bwashyinguye y’ikirego Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yareze Gahima ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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Dembe Eduard na Munyakarama Pierre, ababuranyi bamenyeshwa ko urubanza ruzasomwa ku wa 30/10/2020. [11] Ku wa 05/10/2020, Ubushinjacyaha Bukuru bwashyize muri dosiye y’uru rubanza (muri IECMS) dosiye y’Ubugenzacyaha y’ikirego Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yatanze arega Gahima Dembe Eduard na Munyakarama Pierre, ababuranira Nyirabatoni Elizabeth nabo bashyiramo ikimenyetso gishya kigizwe n’umwanzuro we, ubwo yatangaga ikirego atisunze Ubushinjacyaha, ndetse n’inyandiko igaragaza amategeko yerekeye impano. [12] Ku wa 30/10/2020, Urukiko rwemeje mu rubanza rubanziriza urundi, ko iburanisha rizasubukurwa ku wa 10/11/2020 saa mbili n’igice za mu gitondo, kugira ngo ababuranyi bagire icyo bavuga ku nyandiko n’ibimenyetso byashyizwe muri dosiye nyuma y’uko iburanisha ripfundikiwe, uwo munsi ugeze ntirwaburanishwa kuko Ubushinjacyaha butitabye, rwimurirwa ku wa 08/12/2020, ruburanishwa mu ruhame ababuranyi bahagarariwe cyangwa bunganiwe, nka mbere.

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II. IBIBAZO BIGIZE URUBANZA N’ISESENGURA RYABYO 1. Kumenya niba mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo, Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yarareze Gahima Dembe Eduard na Munyakarama Pierre icyaha cyo gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano no kumenya niba ari icyaha cy’imaragihe. [13] Me Karangwa Vincent avuga ko Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yaregeye gukora no gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano, nk’uko bigaragara muri dosiye z’Ubugenzacyaha, ahagaragara ibimenyetso by’icyo cyaha, kuko no mu bigize dosiye (inventaire) mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo ndetse no mu rubanza RP 0140 /14/TGI/GSBO, bigaragara ko aricyo cyaregwe, ndetse aba aricyo kijuririrwa mu Rukiko Rukuru, ariko ko ibijyanye no gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano bitigeze bisuzumwa n’inkiko zombi, akaba ari cyo cyateye Nyirabatoni Elizabeth akarengane. [14] Me Karangwa Vincent, avuga ko inyandiko baregera ko ari impimbano igikoreshwa kugeza ubu, kandi yagiye ishingirwaho mu manza zisaba gutesha agaciro impano yatanzwe, kuko urubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rw’Ibanze rwa Rusororo rwavuze ko nta mpano yabayeho ahubwo habaye isaranganya, ko rero ubuzime butagomba kubarwa kuko iyo nyandiko igikoreshwa kugeza ubu, ari naho bashingira bavuga ko icyaha cyo gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano ari icy’imaragihe. [15] Me Bandora Alfred avuga ko Nyirabatoni Elizabeth na Gahima Dembe Eduard bose batahutse bava Uganda, Nyirabatoni Elisabeth amaze kuzungura umutungo wa Mukagatare, umuvandimwe we, aha Gahima Dembe Eduard ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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impano, nyuma haza kuvuka ikibazo umuryango wa Gahima Dembe Eduard uhemukira uwa Nyirabatoni Elizabeth, bituma asaba ko iyo mpano iteshwa agaciro. Asobanura ko inyandiko y’impano yahinduwemo iy’isaranganya ari naho hakomotse icyaha cyo gukora no gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano, ko kubera ko Nyirabatoni Elizabeth afite imyaka irenga mirongo inani, umuhungu we ariwe watanze ikirego muri Criminal Investigation Department (CID) cyo gukora no gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano, ko icyaha cyabagizeho ingaruka nk’uko bigaragara mu myanzuro yabo mu Bugenzacyaha ari icyo gukoresha iyo nyandiko nyuma y’uko ihinduwemo isaranganya kandi yari iy’impano. [16] Me Bandora Alfred avuga kandi ko icyaha cyo gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano ari icyaha cy’imaragihe, kuko yakoreshejwe n’ubu ikaba igikoreshwa, kandi na Rwanda Forensic Laboratory ikaba yaremeje ko Munyakarama Pierre na Gahima Dembe Eduard bagize uruhare mu guhindura inyandiko y’impano iy’isaranganya, bituma Nyirabatoni Elisabeth atakaza uburenganzira ku mutungo we. [17] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko, nubwo muri uru rubanza atazanywe no kugira uwo ashinja cyangwa ashinjura, ikirego cyatanzwe na Nyirabatoni Elisabeth ndetse kikakirwa n’Ubugenzacyaha ari icyo gukora no gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano, ko Ubushinjacyaha butashishoje uko bikwiye bushingura dosiye bushingiye ku cyaha cyo gukora inyandiko mpimbano gusa, ko inkiko zari zararegwe ibyaha byombi, ariko zibanda ku cyaha cyo gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano gusa, asaba ko mu bushishozi bwarwo, Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwasuzuma niba koko Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yararegeye no gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano, rwasanga yari yabiregeye, NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA N’UNDI

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rukemeza ko yarenganye kuko inkiko zitari kwanga kwakira ikirego kijyanye n’icyaha cyo gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano Gahimba Dembe Edouard na Munyakarama Pierre bakomeje gukoresha kugeza mu mwaka wa 2013 bitewe n’uko icyo cyaha ari icy’imaragagihe kandi kikaba cyarangirije Nyirabatoni Elisabeth. [18] Munyakarama Pierre, avuga ko atigeze aregwa gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano ahubwo yarezwe icyo kuyikora, naho Gahima Dembe Eduard aregwa icyaha n’icyo kuyikoresha, ko nk’Umuyobozi n’Umwanditsi wa Komite yo gusaranganya, yakoze inyandiko y’isaranganya ry’isambu yahoze ari iya Benda na Mukagatare hagati ya Nyirabatoni Elizabeth na Gahima Dembe Eduard, kuko bombi bari batangiye kuyirwaniramo, ubuyobozi bufata icyemezo cyo kuyibasaranganya, ko yabikoze mu nyungu z’abanyarwanda aho kuba mu nyungu ze, kuko nta n’umwe mu bo yasaranganyije bari baziranye, ndetse ko nta bubasha yari afite bwo guhindura amasezerano abantu babiri bagiranye, cyangwa ngo hagire ubuyobozi bwivanga muri bene ayo masezerano uretse kuyashyiraho kashe, kandi ko ibyo yakoraga byose byemezwaga n’Umurenge, asaba uru Rukiko narwo kwemeza ko icyaha yarezwe cyo gukora inyandiko mpimbano cyashaje. [19] Me Nsengimana Emmanuel, umwunganira, avuga ko inteko yatangiye urubanza yari yasabye abahagarariye Nyirabatoni Elizabeth kugaragaza inyandiko yatangiyeho ikirego kugira ngo harebwe niba yararegeye ibyaha byombi, ariko bakaba batarabikoze, ko mu nyandiko ziri muri dosiye (cote 38) hagaragara inyandiko y’Ubushinjacyaha ishyingura dosiye, igaragaza ko icyaha Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yaregeye ari icy’inyandiko mpimbano cyateganywaga n’ingingo ya 609 ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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y’Igitabo cy’amategeko ahana ibyaha, ko ahereye ku biteganywa n’ingingo ya 111 y’Itegeko ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’inshinjabyaha asanga hari ugushidikanya, kuko Nyirabatoni Elizabeth atagaragaje ibimenyetso by’ibyo aregera, kuko abazwa mu Bugenzacyaha yavuze ko aregera icyaha cyo gukora inyandiko mpimbano, arega Gahima Dembe Eduard na Munyakayanza Pierre, bivuze ko nta nyungu yari afite yo kurega, kuko yatanze ikirego mu mwaka wa 2013, amaze kubona uburenganzira bwo kuzungura, ko kuba Ubushinjacyaha buvuga ko habaye kwibeshya byarengera uregwa. [20] Me Nizeyimana Boniface, nawe wunganira Munyakarama Pierre, avuga ko akosora ibyo yari yavuze mbere ko Munyakarama Pierre na Gahima Dembe Eduard barezwe icyaha cyo gukora no gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano kandi bararezwe icyo gukora inyandiko mpimbano gusa, ko ikirego Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yagitanze atisunze Ubushinjacyaha agatsindwa ariko ntabe yarasabye ko ayo makosa akosorwa, kandi ko imanza zamurenganyije atari zo zasuzumwe, ko mu gihe gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano byaba byaramwangirije, hazarebwa niba Munyakarama Pierre cyangwa Gahima Dembe Eduard barayikoresheje. [21] Ku bijyanye no kumenya niba icyaha cyo gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano ari icyaha cy’imaragihe, abunganira Munyakarama Pierre bavugaka ko icyo cyaha atakirezwe. [22] Munanira John (umuhungu wa Nyirabatoni Elizabeth ari nawe uri mu mwanya wa nyina mu rubanza), avuga ko NyirabatonI Elizabeth nta sano afitanye na Gahima Dembe Eduard, ahubwo ko ahantu Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yari yazunguye, Gahima Dembe Eduard yaje kuhabohoza bituma ajya kumurega mu buyobozi, ariko Gahima ashaka abayobozi NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA N’UNDI

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bamufasha gukora inyandiko mpimbano bandika ko habaye isaranganya. Avuga ko impano itangwa Gahima Dembe Eduard yasabye ko hakorwa inyandiko Nyirabatoni Elizabeth arabyemera, basaba Munyakarama Pierre kubyandika mu gitabo cy’amakuru cy’Akagari ari naho yahereye akora inyandiko mpimbano kuko yari yungirije Responsable w’Akagari, ariko ko Umuyobozi w’Akagari kimwe n’Umuyobozi w’Umurenge bemeje ko nta nyandiko y’isaranganya yabayeho, kandi ko na forensic Laboratory yabyemeje. [23] Mupenzi Vincent (umuvandimwe wa Gahima Dembe) wumviswe nk’utanga amakuru, avuga ko Gahima Dembe Eduard yari muri iyo sambu guhera mu mwaka wa 1994, Nyirabatoni Elizabeth aza mu mwaka wa 2000 asanga Gahima Dembe Eduard yarubatsemo inzu, Nyirabatoni Elizabeth asaba ko yava muri iyo sambu, Ubuyobozi buvuga ko Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yaguma muri iyo nzu kuko avuga ko ari iy’umuvandimwe we, ibindi bigasaranganywa kuko ari yo yari gahunda ya Leta, ariko ko ibyiswe impano bitabayeho kuko Nyirabatoni Elizabeth na Gahima Dembe Eduard batari baziranye ahubwo bagonganiye muri iyo sambu.

UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA a) Kumenya niba Gahima Dembe Eduard na Munyakarama Pierre bararezwe icyaha cyo gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano. [24] Ingingo ya 2 y’Itegeko nº 15/2004 ryo ku wa 12/06/2004 ryerekeye ibimenyetso mu manza n’itangwa ryabyo iteganya ko ikimenyetso cyo mu rubanza ari uburyo bukoreshwa kugira ngo ukuri kw’ ibyabaye kugaragare. Naho ingingo ya 3 y’iryo tegeko ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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igateganya ko buri muburanyi agomba kugaragaza ukuri kw’ibyo aburana. [25] Ingingo ya 107 y’Itegeko nº 027/2019 ryo ku wa 19/09/2019 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’inshinjabyaha, iteganya ko « Ubushinjacyaha, uwakorewe icyaha cyangwa se abamufiteho uburenganzira iyo baregeye indishyi z’akababaro cyangwa biregeye umuburanyi, ni bo bagomba gutanga ibimenyetso byemeza icyaha (…) ». [26] Ku cyaha cyo gukora inyandiko mpimbano, Urukiko rurasanga nta mpaka ziri hagati y’ababuranyi, zishingiye ku kuba mu kirego Nyirabatoni Elisabeth yareze Gahima Dembe Eduard na Munyakarama Pierre, yarabareze icyaha cyo gukora inyandiko mpimbano, cyangwa kuba ikurikiranacyaha kuri icyo cyaha ryarazimwe kuko cyashaje, ahubwo impaka zishingiye ku kumenya niba mu kirego cye, Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yarabareze n’icyaha cyo gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano. [27] Ku cyaha cyo gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano, dosiye igaragaza ko ku wa 30/7/2013, Ubugenzacyaha bwoherereje Ubushinjacyaha ku rwego rw’Ibanze rwa Rosororo dosiye igaragaza ko ibyaha biregwa Gahima Dembe Eduard na Munyakarama Pierre, ari ibyo gukora no gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano, naho inyandiko yo ku wa 14/8/2013, ishyingura dosiye y’ikirego cyatanzwe na Nyirabatoni Elizabeth igaragaza ko Ubushinjacyaha bwashyinguye dosiye bwashyikirijwe bushingiye ku ngingo ya 609 y’Igitabo cy’amategeko ahana, iteganya kandi igahana icyaha cyo gukora inyandiko mpimbano, bivuze ko Ubushinjacyaha bushyingura dosiye bwahereye gusa ku cyaha cyo gukora inyandiko mpimbano, busanga cyarashaje, burayishyingura. NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA N’UNDI

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[28] Umwanzuro w’ikirego Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yashyikirije Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo, aho yareze atisunze Ubushinjacyaha, ugaragaza ko icyaha yareze Gahima Dembe Eduard na Munyakarama Pierre ari icyo gukora no gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano, bigaragara kandi ko mu gika cya 13 cy’urubanza RP 0140/14/TGI/GSBO, rwaciwe ku wa 15/07/2014, abaregwa baburanishijwe kuri ibyo byaha byombi, uburanira Nyirabatoni Elizabeth avuga ko icyaha cy’inyandiko mpimbano akurikiranyeho Gahima Dembe Eduard ari icy’imaragihe, Urukiko rusanga nta shingiro bifite kuko icyaha cyo gukora inyandiko mpimbano atari icyaha gikomeza, ko iyo inyandiko itanzwe, icyaha kibarwa ku munsi inyandiko yatanzweho bikarangirana n’igikorwa cyo kuyitanga, ko kuba yakongera kuyitanga nk’ikimenyetso ikindi gihe atari byo biyigira icyaha cy’imaragihe. [29] Dosiye igaragaza mu rubanza RPA 0571/14/HC/KIG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru ku wa 31/12/2015, Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yajuririye urwo Rukiko avuga ko uburyo Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwitwaye mu kirego yaruregeye atari bwo, ko rwitaye ku cyaha cyo gukora inyandiko mpimbano gusa ntirwita ku cyo kuyikoresha, asaba ko byakosorwa. Urwo Rukiko rushingiye ku nyandiko y’Ubushinjacyaha ishyingura dosiye, rwasanze uburenganzira bwa Nyirabatoni Elizabeth bwo kurega atisunze Ubushinjacyaha bugarukira ku cyaha cyari cyaregewe muri dosiye yashyinguwe, ni ukuvuga icyo gukora inyandiko mpimbano, ko rero icyemezo cyafashwe ku rwego rwa mbere nta nenge gifite, kikaba kigomba kugumaho. [30] Ku byerekeye icyaha cyo gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano, Urukiko rurasanga nk’uko byerekanwe haruguru, muri dosiye y’ikirego cya Nyirabatoni Elizabeth Ubugenzacyaha ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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bwoherereje Ubushinjacyaha ari nayo Ubushinjacyaha bwashyinguye, mu mwanzuro wa Nyirabatoni Elizabeth utanga ikirego mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo atisunze Ubushinjacyaha, ndetse no mu rubanza RP 0140/14/TGI/GSBO rwaciwe n’urwo Rukiko, kuri icyo kirego, Nyirabatoni Elisabeth yaregeye icyaha cyo gukora n’icyo gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano, bityo imvugo ya Munyakarama Pierre n’abunganizi be y’uko Nyirabatoni Elizabeth atanga ikirego yabareze icyaha cyo gukora inyandiko mpimbano gusa, ikaba nta shingiro ifite. [31] Urukiko rurasanga kuba Urukiko Rukuru mu gusesengura ikibazo cyo kumenya niba Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yarareze Gahima Dembe Eduard na Munyakarama Pierre icyaha cyo gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano rushingiye ku nyandiko y’Ubushinjacyaha bwemeje ko ikurikiranacyaha ryazimye rushingiye gusa ku cyaha cyo gukora inyandiko mpimbano kandi bwari bwaregewe n’icyo kuyikoresha, dore ko n’Ubushinjacyaha bwemereye uru Rukiko ko butashishoje bihagije, bushyingura dosiye, urwo Rukiko rukita gusa kuri iyo nyandiko ishyingura dosiye ntirusuzume na dosiye nyiri izina yashyinguwe, rukabiheraho rwemeza ko nta gihindutse ku mikirize y’urubanza RP 0140/14/TGI/GSBO rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo, bigaragaza amakosa urwo Rukiko rwakoze, bikaba kandi bigaragaza akarengane Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yatewe n’urubanza yasabiye ko rwasubirwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane. b) Kumenya niba icyaha cyo gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano ari icyaha cy’imaragihe. [32] Ingingo ya 6 y’Itegeko nº 30/2013 ryo ku wa 24/5/2013 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’inshinjabyaha yakoreshwaga igihe ikirego cyatangwaga, iteganya ko ubusaze NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA N’UNDI

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bw’ikirego cy’ikurikiranacyaha butangira kubarwa guhera ku munsi icyaha cyakoreweho iyo muri icyo gihe nta bikorwa by’iperereza cyangwa iby’ikurikiranacyaha byigeze bikorwa. Ku byerekeye ibyaha bikozwe ako kanya kandi bidakomeza, igihe cy’ubusaze bw’ikirego cy’ikurikiranacyaha gitangira kubarwa ku munsi icyaha gikoreweho. Ku byerekeye ibyaha by’imaragihe, igihe cy’ubusaze bw’ikirego cy’ikurikiranacyaha gitangira kubarwa ku munsi igikorwa cya nyuma kigize icyaha cyarangiriyeho. Ibiteganywa muri iyi ngingo akaba aribyo bigarukwaho n’ingingo ya 7 y’Itegeko nº 027/2019 ryo ku wa 19/09/2019 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’inshinjabyaha1. [33] Ingingo ya 5, 1° y’Itegeko y’Itegeko nº 30/2013 ryo ku wa 24/5/2013 ryavuzwe haruguru yakoreshwaga igihe ikirego cyatangwaga, iteganya ko uretse icyaha cya jenoside, ibyaha byibasiye inyokomuntu n’ibyaha by’intambara bidasaza, ikirego cy’ikurikiranacyaha ku bindi byaha gisaza mu gihe cy’imyaka icumi (10) yuzuye ku byaha by’ubugome. [34] Ingingo ya 22 y’Itegeko Ngenga N° 01/2012/OL ryo ku wa 02/05/2012 rishyiraho Igitabo cy’amategeko ahana ryakoreshwaga igihe icyaha Gahima Dembe Eduard na Munyakarama Pierre bakurikiranyweho cyakorwaga, iteganya ko

1 Ingingo ya 7 y’itegeko Nº 027/2019 ryo ku wa 19/09/2019 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza w’inshinjabyaha, iteganya ko ubusaze bw’ikirego cy’ikurikiranacyaha butangira kubarwa guhera ku munsi icyaha cyakoreweho iyo muri icyo gihe nta bikorwa by’iperereza cyangwa iby’ikurikiranacyaha byigeze bikorwa. Ku byerekeye ibyaha bikozwe ako kanya kandi bidakomeza, igihe cy’ubusaze bw’ikirego cy’ikurikiranacyaha gitangira kubarwa ku munsi icyaha gikoreweho. Ku byerekeye ibyaha by’imaragihe, igihe cy’ubusaze bw’ikirego cy’ikurikiranacyaha gitangira kubarwa uhereye igihe icyo gikorwa cyarangiriye (…) ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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icyaha cy’ubugome ari icyaha itegeko rihanisha igihano cy’iremezo cy’igifungo kirenze imyaka itanu (5). [35] Ingingo ya 609 y’Itegeko Ngenga N° 01/2012/OL ryo ku wa 02/05/2012, iteganya ko “Umuntu wese uhimba cyangwa uhindura mu buryo ubwo ari bwo bwose inyandiko, ashyiraho umukono cyangwa igikumwe bitari byo, yonona inyandiko cyangwa imikono, asimbuza abantu abandi, ahimba amasezerano, imiterere y’ingingo zayo, igitegetswe gukorwa cyangwa icyarangije kwemeranywa, ahanishwa igifungo kirenze imyaka itanu (5) kugeza ku myaka irindwi (7)”. Naho ingingo yaryo ya 610, iteganya ko “Umuntu wese uzi ko inyandiko ari impimbano, akayikoresha ku buryo ubwo ari bwo bwose, ahanishwa ibihano bimwe n’iby’uwayihimbye”. [36] Dosiye igaragaza inyandiko yo ku wa 28/5/2000, Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yahereyeho Gahima Dembe Eduard isambu, harimo kandi inyandiko yo ku wa 28/4/2000 yiswe raporo y’uko igabana hagati ya Nyirabatoni Elizabeth na Gahima Dembe Eduard ryagenze, havugwa ko Nyirabatoni Elisabeth na Gahima Dembe Eduard bagabanye isambu, Gahima Dembe Eduard agasubirana ahantu bari baramugabanyije na Nyirabatoni Elizabeth. [37] Dosiye igaragaza urubanza RC 0143/011/TB/RUS rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ibanze rwa Rusororo ku wa 25/8/2011, Nyirabatoni Elizabeth aburana na Gahima Dembe Eduard gutesha agaciro impano, aho urwo Rukiko rwemeje ko “ikirego cya Nyirabatoni Elizabeth nta shingiro gifite, kuko habayeho amasezerano yo gutanga umurima hagati ye na Gahima Dembe Eduard, ayo masezerano agakorerwa inyandiko yo ku wa 20/8/2009 (niko byanditse mu rubanza) mu Kagari ka NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA N’UNDI

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Nyagahinga, bityo akaba agumanye agaciro kayo kandi akaba agomba gushyirwa mu bikorwa”. [38] Dosiye igaragaza ko Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yajuririye urubanza RC 0143/011/TB/RUS mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo, ruca urubanza RCA 0231/12/TGI/GSBO ku wa 7/9/2012, rwemeza ko ikirego cya Nyirabatoni Elizabeth nta shingiro gifite, ko habayeho isaranganya ry’isambu hagati ye na Gahima Dembe Eduard n’umuvandimwe we Mupenzi Vincent, imikirize y’urubanza RC 0143/011/TB/RUS ikaba idahindutse, bikaba bigaragara ko mu gufata icyemezo, Urukiko rwashingiye ku kuba Gahima Dembe Eduard na Mupenzi Vincent bararugaragarije inyandiko y’isaranganya yo ku wa 28/4/2000 kandi Nyirabatoni Elizabeth akaba atarashoboye kuyivuguruza. Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yavuze ko iyo nyandiko atayizi, ko ari impimbano, kuko ubwo yahaga Gahima Dembe Eduard impano babikoreye inyandiko yo ku wa 28/5/2000, iyo nyandiko akaba ari yo Gahima Dembe Eduard yahinduyemo iy’isaranganya yo ku wa 28/4/2000. [39] Dosiye igaragaza ko inyandiko yo ku wa 28/04/2000 n’iyo ku wa 28/05/2000 zombi zapimwe na Forensic Laboratory, isanga: “umubare 5 wari wanditswe mu itariki warahinduwemo 4, bityo itariki nyakuri y’amasezerano y’impano hagati ya Nyirabatoni Elizabeth na Gahima Eduard ni ku wa 28/5/2000; ko amagambo “Gusaranganya hagati …y’abantu (2)” yanditswe nyuma y’andi magambo ari ku masezerano y’impano hagati ya Nyirabatoni Elisabeth na Gahima Dembe Eduard, ikanagaragaza ko imyandikire (handwriting) y’inyuguti n’umubare kabiri byanditsse ku mutwe w’amasezerano bigibwaho impaka, bifitanye isano y’imyandikire n’ibyanditse ku masezerano hagati ya Nyirabatoni Elizabeth na Gahima Eduard”. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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[40] Ku bijyanye n’icyaha cy’imaragihe, umuhanga mu mategeko Jean-Paul Doucet, muri Dictionnaire de droit criminel2, avuga ko ari icyaha gifite ibikorwa bikomeza mu gihe, kandi bikagaragaza nta gushidikanya umugambi uhoraho wo kugikora …. Icyaha kizima ku munsi icyaha cyarangiriyeho, kandi umucamanza akaba agomba gutanga igihano kimwe ku bikorwa byose bikigize biba byakozwe ( … ), naho Michel Franchimont, Ann Jacobs na Adrien Masset3, bavuga ko icyaha cy’imaragihe kigamije kubyara kandi kikagumishaho ibikorwa bikurikiranwa nk’icyaha, ko ubusaze butangira kubarwa uhereye ku munsi igikorwa gikurikiranwe cyahagaze4. [41] Urukiko rurasanga nk’uko dosiye ibigaragaza, umuntu wanditse inyandiko y’impano yo ku wa 28/5/2000, ari nawe wayihinduye iy’isaranganya bivugwa ko ryakozwe ku wa 28/04/2000, kuko raporo ya Forensinc Laboratory yerekanye ko imyandikire/umukono (handwriting) y’ibiri ku mutwe w’iyo

2 Jean-Paul DOUCET, Dictionnaire de droit criminal, (Infraction continue. Une infraction est dite continue, ou continuée, lorsqu’elle résulte d’une activité qui se prolonge dans le temps et qui marque concrètement la persistance d’une intention délictueuse (tel est le cas du délit d’édification d’un bâtiment sans permis de construire, qui se prolonge pendant toute la durée des travaux). Les auteurs parlent parfois, dans un sens proche, d’Infraction successive*, ou d’infraction continue successive. Le délai de prescription ne commence à courir que du jour où l'infraction a pris fin, mais les juges ne peuvent prononcer qu'une seule peine pour l'ensemble des agissements reprochés.) 3 Michel Franchimont, Ann Jacobs et Adrien Masset, Manuel de Precédure Pénale, 4ed, Larcier, Bruxelles, 2012, P. 131 (Lorsque l’infraction est continue, c’est-à-dire lorsqu’elle vise la création et le maitien d’une situation délictueuse, la prescription ne commence à courrir que le jour ou l’état délictuel prend fin). 4 Serge Guinchard et Jacques Buisson, Procedure Penale, 10 ed, LexisNexis, Paris, 2014, P.806 NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA N’UNDI

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nyandiko, ahavugwa ngo “Gusaranganya hagati …y’abantu (2)” bifitanye isano n’imyandikire y’ibyanditse mu masezerano, byemeza ko inyandiko yo ku wa 28/04/2008 ari impimbano. [42] Urukiko rusanga kuva iyo nyandiko yo ku wa 28/04/2000 yarakoreshejwe kugeza ku wa 07/09/2012, ubwo Gahimba Dembe Eduard yayitangagaho ikimenyetso cy’uko yasaranganyije na Nyirabatoni Elizabeth, mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo, mu rubanza RCA 0231/12/TGI/GSBO rwaciwe ku wa 07/09/2012, Nyirabatoni Elizabeth akaba yaratanze ikirego cyo gukora no gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo mu mwaka wa 2013, ariko urwo Rukiko rukavuga ko ikirego cy’ikurikiranacyaha cyashaje kuko inyandiko ari iyo mu mwaka wa 2000, rwaritiranyije ibintu, kubera ko n’ubwo inyandiko yakozwe mu mwaka wa 2000 ariko yakomeje gukoreshwa mu manza zitandukanye kugeza mu mwaka wa 2012. [43] Urukiko rusanga igihe Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yamenyeye ko inyandiko yo ku wa 28/05/2000, ariyo Gahima Dembe Eduard yahinduyemo inyandiko y’isaranganya ari igihe yayitanzeho ikimenyetso mu rubanza rwaciwe ku wa 25/08/2011. Kuba rero Gahima Dembe Eduard yarakomeje kuyikoresha kugeza mu mwaka wa 2012, nk’uko byavuzwe haruguru, ubusaze bw’ikurikiranacyaha bwagombaga kubarwa uhereye igihe iyo nyandiko yakoresherejwe bwa nyuma, ni ukuvuga guhera mu mwaka wa 2012, bivuze ko kuba ikoreshwa ry’inyandiko mpimbano ryararegewe mu mwaka wa 2013, icyo gihe hari hataraba ubuzime kw’ikurikiranwa kuri icyo cyaha, kuko nk’uko byasobanuwe mu mategeko yagaragajwe haruguru, ubusaze ku byaha by’ubugome ari imyaka icumi, kandi icyaha cyo gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano Gahima Dembe Eduard na Munyakarama ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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Pierre bakurikiranyweho n’icy’ubugome, byumvikana rero ko bareze icyaha bakurikiranyweho kitarasaza. [44] Urukiko rusanga kuba Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yaratanze ikirego nticyakirwe ku mpamvu y’uko ngo habaye ubusaze bw’ikurikiranacyaha, bigaragaza ko yarenganye, bityo akaba agomba kurenganurwa, ikirego cye kikakirwa, abaregwa bagakurikiranwa ku cyaha cyo gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano.

2. Kumenya niba hari ibimenyetso bihamya Gahimba Dembe Eduard na Munyakarama Pierre icyaha cyo gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano [45] Abahagarariye Nyirabatoni Elizabeth, bavuga ko Gahimba Dembe Eduard na Munyakarama Pierre bakoze inyandiko mpimbano, aho bafashe inyandiko yo ku wa 28/5/2000 y’impano, bayihinduramo iy’isaranganya bavuga ko ryakozwe ku wa 28/4/2000. Bavuga kandi ko hari ibimenyetso bibahamya icyaha, birimo inyandiko z’abayobozi bemeza ko muri ako gace nta saranganya ryabayeho, ndetse n’ikigo Rwanda Forensic Laboratory kikaba cyaremeje ko inyandiko yo ku wa 28/4/2000 ari impimbano, kandi iyo nyandiko ikaba yarakomeje gukoreshwa mu nkiko mu manza zitandukanye, zigaherwaho Nyirabatoni Elizabeth atsindwa, basaba ko Gahima Dembe Eduard na Munyakarama Pierre bahanirwa nk’uko amategeko abiteganya. [46] Munyakarama Pierre kimwe n’abamwunganira, bavuga ko nta nyandiko mpimbano yakoze, kuko isaranganya ryabaye rikandikwa mu gitabo cyabugenewe, kandi ko n’iyo yaba yarayikoze habayeho ubuzime bw’ikurikirana cyaka, kuko inyandiko ivugwa ko ari impimbano ari iyo mu mwaka wa 2000, Nyirabatoni Elizabeth akaba yaratanze ikirego mu mwaka wa NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA N’UNDI

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2013, kandi ko n’icyaha cyo kuyikoresha cyiswe icyaha cy’imaragihe hatagaragazwa igihe Munyakarama Pierre yagikoreye, basaba ko yagirwa umwere ku cyaha akurikiranweho. [47] Uhagarariye Ubushinjajcyaha avuga ko dosiye yashyinguwe ku cyaha cyo gukora inyandiko mpimbano, atari ku cyaha cyo kuyikoresha, ariyo mpamvu ashingiye ku bimenyetso byagaragajwe n’abahanga ndetse no kunyandiko y’ubuyobozi bw’Umurenge wa Rusosororo, abaregwa bahamwa n’ibyaha bakurikiranyweho, bagahanwa hakurikijwe ibiteganywa n’ingingo ya 609 n’iya 610 y’Itegeko Ngenga N° 01/2012/OL ryo ku wa 02/05/2012 rishyiraho Igitabo cy’amategeko ahana ryakoreshwaga igihe icyaha cya korwaga.

UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [48] Ingingo ya 609 y’Itegeko-Ngenga N° 01/2012/OL ryo ku wa 02/05/2012 rishyiraho igitabo cy’amategeko ahana ryakoreshwaga igihe icyaha Gahima Demde Eduard na Munyakarama Pierre bakurikiranyweho cyakorwaga, iteganya ko umuntu wese uhimba cyangwa uhindura mu buryo ubwo ari bwo bwose inyandiko, ashyiraho umukono cyangwa igikumwe bitari byo, yonona inyandiko cyangwa imikono, asimbuza abantu abandi, ahimba amasezerano imiterere y’ingingo zayo, igitegetswe gukorwa cyangwa icyarangije kwemeranywa, ahanishwa igifungo kirenze imyaka itanu (5) kugeza ku myaka irindwi (7) n’ihazabu y’amafaranga y’u Rwanda kuva ku bihumbi magana atatu (300.000) kugeza kuri miliyoni eshatu (3.000.000). Naho ingingo ya 610 y’iryo Tegeko Ngenga igateganya ko Umuntu wese uzi ko inyandiko ari impimbano, ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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akayikoresha ku buryo ubwo ari bwo bwose, ahanishwa ibihano bimwe n’iby’uwayihimbye.5 [49] Ingingo ya 118, igika cya kabiri, y’Itegeko no 027/2019 ryo ku wa 19/09/2019 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’inshinjabyaha igira iti :“Kuregera urukiko utisunze Ubushinjacyaha bikorwa mu kirego uwangirijwe n’icyaha atanga mu rukiko ruburanisha imanza z’inshinjabyaha agamije ko uwakoze icyaha, uwo bafatanyije cyangwa icyitso bahanwa kandi bagategekwa no kwishyura indishyi zihwanye n’ibyo bangije”. [50] Ingingo ya 6 y’Itegeko no 027/2019 ryo ku wa 19/09/2019 ryavuzwe haruguru, iteganya ko: “Uretse ibyaha bidasaza biteganywa n’amategeko, ikirego cy’ikurikiranacyaha ku bindi byaha gisaza: 1° mu gihe cy’imyaka icumi (10) yuzuye ku byaha by’ubugome”. [51] Dosiye igaragaza ko ku wa 10/2/2013, Umunyamabanga Nshingwabikorwa w’Umurenge wa Rusororo yandikiye Umuyobozi wa Station ya Police ya Kabuga, amumenyesha ko mu gitabo cy’isaranganya bafite nta mazina ya Nyirabatoni Elizabeth na Gahima Dembe bagaragaramo nk’abasaranganyijwe. [52] Dosiye igaragaza na none ko nk’uko byagarutsweho haruguru, inyandiko yo ku wa 28/5/2000 y’impano n’iyo ku wa 28/04/2000 y’iswe iy’isaranganya zapimwe na Rwanda Forensic Laboratory, igasanga umubare 5 wari wanditswe mu itariki warahinduwemo 4, amagambo gusaranganya hagati y’abantu (2)

5 Iki gihano ni nacyo giteganywa n’ingingo ya 276, igika cya 3, y’Itegeko nº68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange. NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA N’UNDI

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yaranditswe nyuma y’andi magambo ari ku masezerano y’impano hagati ya Nyirabatoni Elisabeth na Gahima Dembe Eduard, bityo itariki nyakuri y’amasezerano y’impano hagati ya Nyirabatoni Elizabeth na Gahima Dembe Eduard akaba ari iyo ku wa 28/05/2000. [53] Dosiye igaragaza ko ku wa 8/7/2013 uwitwa Ntidendereza Anaclet wayoboye Akagari ka Runyonza guhera mu mwaka wa 1997 kugeza mu mwaka wa 2004, wari muri Komite y’isaranganya, yemeje ko nta saranganya ryabaye hagati ya Nyirabatoni Elizabeth na Gahima Dembe Eduard, ahubwo ko (Nyirabatoni Elizabrth) yamuhaye ariko ahanditse impano hakaba harahinduwemo gusaranganya bikozwe n’umunyamabanga w’Akagari (secrétaire) witwa Munyakarana Pierre kuko ariwe wandikaga, kuko igikorwa cyo gutanga cyabaye we, Munyakarama Pierre, uwari ugiye guhabwa n’uwatanze bahari, kikaba kitaritabirwaga n’abantu benshi, uretse igihe cy’isaranganya. [54] Urukiko rurasanga n’ubwo Gahima Dembe Eduard na Munyakarama Pierre badakurikiranyweho icyaha cyo gukora inyandiko mpimbano kubera ko ikurikiranacyaha kuri icyo cyaha ryashaje, ari ngombwa kwemeza niba inyandiko y’isaranganya yo ku wa 28/04/2000, ari impimbano, mbere yo kwemeza niba abo bombi bahamwa cyangwa badahamwa n’icyaha cyo kuyikoresha. [55] Ku bijyanye n’iyo nyandiko, Urukiko rushingiye ku buhamya bwa Ntidendereza Anaclet, wari Umuyobozi w’Akagari ka Runyonza, wari uhari impano itangwa akaba yaranashyize umukono ku nyandiko y’impano, no kuri raporo y’Ikigo Rwanda Forensic Laboratory byavuzwe haruguru, rurasanga nk’uko kandi isesengura ryakozwe mu gika cya [49] ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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muri uru rubanza ribyerekana, inyandiko yo ku wa 28/04/2000 yiswe iy’isaranganya ryabaye hagati ya Nyirabatoni Elizabeth na Gahima Dembe Eduard ari inyandiko mpimbano. a) Ku byerekeye Gahima Dembe Eduard [56] Ku bijyanye n’icyaha cyo gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano, Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rusanga Gahima Dembe Eduard ahamwa n’icyaha cyo gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano yo ku wa 28/4/2000, kuko nk’uko byavuzwe haruguru, yayikoresheje mu rubanza RC 0143/011/TB/RUS rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ibanze rwa Rusororo ku wa 25/8/2011, anayikoresha ku wa 7/9/2012, mu rubanza RCA 0231/12/TGI/GSBO rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo, aho yayikoresheje nk’ikimenyetso cyerekana ko isambu yaburanaga na Nyirabatoni Elizabeth bayisaranganyijwe, Urukiko ruyishingiraho rwemeza ko ikirego cya Nyirabatoni Elizabeth nta shingiro gifite, ko habayeho isaranganya ry’isambu hagati ye na Gahima Dembe Eduard, bityo akaba agomba kubihanirwa. [57] Urukiko rushingiwe ku biteganywa n’ingingo ya 609 n’iya 610 z’Itegeko-Ngenga N° 01/2012/OL ryo ku wa 02/05/2012 rishyiraho Igitabo cy’amategeko ahana ryakoreshwaga igihe icyaha cyakorwaga, rurasanga Gahima Dembe Eduard agomba guhanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka itanu (5) n’ihazabu y’amafaranga y’u Rwanda ibihumbi Magana atatu (300.000 Frw). [58] Urukiko rusanga ariko igihano cy’imyaka itanu (5) Gahima Dembe Eduard ahawe gikwiye gusubikwa mu gihe cy’umwaka umwe, kubera ko kugeza ubu nta kindi gihano kizwi yigeze ahabwa mu rubanza rwabaye ndakuka, cy’igifungo NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA N’UNDI

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cyangwa igihano nsimburagifungo cy’imirimo ifitiye igihugu akamaro kirenze amezi atandatu (6). b) Kuri Munyakarama Pierre [59] Urukiko rurasanga nta bimenyetso Nyirabatoni Elizabeth cyangwa Ubushinjacyaha batanze bigaragaza ko Gahima Dembe Eduard akoresha inyandiko mpimbano yavuzwe, yari kumwe na Munyakarama Pierre, cyangwa ngo berekane ahandi Munyakarama Pierre ubwe yaba yarayikoresheje, bityo icyaha cyo gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano kikaba kitamuhama, akaba agomba kugirwa umwere kuri icyo cyaha. [60] Urukiko rurasanga ibijyanye no gusesa amasezerano y’impamo bivugwa n’abahagarariye Nyirabatoni Elizabeth, bitasuzumwa muri uru rubanza, kuko bitigeze biburanwa mu rubanza RPA 0571/14/HC/KIG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru ku wa 15/07/2014, rwasabiwe gusubirwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane. c) Ku byerekeye n’indishyi [61] Me Karangwa Vincent na Me Bandora Alfred basaba gutegeka Gahima Dembe Eduard na Munyakarama Pierre guha Nyirabatoni Elisabeth 5.000.000 Frw y’indishyi z’akababro kubera gushorwa mu manza, 1.000.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza na 3.000.000 Frw y’igihembo cya Avoka. [62] Munyakarama Pierre avuga ko nta ndishyi yasabwa, Me Nsengimana Emmanuel, umwunganira, nawe akavuga ko indishyi zisabwa Munyakarama Pierre nta shingiro zifite, kuko nta ruhare cyangwa inyungu yigeze agira mu ikoreshwa ry’iyo nyandiko mpimbano, naho ku bijyanye n’igihembo cya Avoka, ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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avuga ko ababuranira Nyirabatoni Elisabeth bakwiye kugisaba uwabahaye izo nshingano.

UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [63] Ku byerekeye indishyi z’akababaro Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yaka kubera gushorwa mu manza, Urukiko rusanga igikorwa cyose cy’umuntu cyangiririje undi, gituma nyiri ukugikora abiryozwa, bityo kuba Gahimba Dembe Eduard yarakoresheje inyandiko mpimbano, bikaba ari byo byatumye Nyirabatoni Elisabeth atsindwa mu manza mbonezamubano, yaregeraga gutesha agaciro impano yamuhaye, ariyo nacyo cyatumye agana Ubugenzacyaha arega Gahima Dembe Eduard na Munyakarama Pierre gukora no gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano, Ubushinjacyaha bushyinguye dosiye buvuga ko icyaha cyashaje, yiyambaza inkiko atabwisunze, byumvikana ko yababajwe no kubona yaragiriye neza Gahima Dembe Eduard akamuha isambu, bakagirana amasezerano yanditse, nyuma akamuhemukira bigatuma asiragira mu nzego z’ubutabera, agashaka na Avoka wo kumuburanira, bityo Gahima Dembe Eduard akaba agomba gutegekwa kwishyura Nyirabatoni Elisabeth indishyi z’akababaro, akanamwishyura ibyagiye kuri izo manza, nk’uko ngingo 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 ibiteganya. [64] Urukiko rurasanga ariko 5.000.000Frw y’indishyi z’akababaro Nyirabatoni Elizabeth asaba ari ikirenga, mu bushishozi bw’Urukiko akaba akwiye guhabwa 1.000.000 Frw. NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA N’UNDI

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[65] UrukiKo rusanga kandi Gahima Dembe Eduard akwiye kumuha 500.000Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza, na 1.000.000Frw y’igihembo cya Avoka wamuburaniye ku nzego zose, akaba agenwe mu bushishozi bw’Urukiko kuko ayo Nyirabatoni Elizabeth yaka ari menshi, yose hamwe akamuha 2.500.000Frw. [66] Urukiko rurasanga Munyakarama Pierre nta ndishyi yacibwa kuko icyaha cyo gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano kitamuhama, bityo indishyi zikaba zigomba kwishyurwa na GAHIMA Dembe Eduard. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [67] Rwemeje ko ikirego cya Nyirabatoni Elizabeth gisubirishamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane urubanza RPA 0571/14/HC/KIG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru ku wa 15/07/2014 gifite ishingiro kuri bimwe ; [68] Rwemeje ko Munyakarama Pierre adahamwa n’icyaha cyo gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano ; [69] Rwemeje ko Gahima Dembe Eduard ahamwa n’icyaha cyo gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano ; [70] Ruhanishije Gahima Dembe Eduard igifungo cy’imyaka itanu (5) gisubitswe mu gihe cy’umwaka umwe, n’ihazabu y’amafaranga y’u Rwanda ihumbi magana atatu (300.000 Frw); [71] Rutegetse Gahima Dembe Eduard guha Nyirabatoni Elizabeth 1.000.000 Frw y’indishyi z’akababaro, 1.000.000 Frw y’igihembo cya Avoka na 500.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza ku nzego zose, yose hamwe akaba angana na 2.500.000Frw. ICYEGERANYO CY’IBYEMEZO BY’INKIKO

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ENGLISH VERSION

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TEAM OF EDITORS ................................................................ iii I. LAW REPORTING TEAM ............................................. iii II. MULTI-INSTITUTIONAL COMMITTEE ..................... v PREFACE ................................................................................ vii SCOPE OF THE REPORTS ..................................................... ix CITATION ................................................................................ ix

LIST OF STATUTES AND STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS CONSIDERED .......................................................................... xi LIST OF CASES CONSIDERED ........................................... xiii SUBJECT INDEX .................................................................... xv SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI ET AL ............................... 1 MUNYABURANGA v ECOBANK Plc (the former BCDI) ... 31 ERJB v. UWAMARIYA ......................................................... 49 BAYINGANA ET AL v NDABAMENYE ............................. 65 UWIMANA v KAGITARE ..................................................... 87 SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA ................................................................................................ 115 UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO ET AL ..................................................................................... 155 NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA ET AL .................................... 185 i

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TEAM OF EDITORS

I. LAW REPORTING TEAM

KAGABO U. Stephanie

KAVUTSE M. Claude

KUBWIMANA Jean Claude

MUJABI K. Naphtal

UWINKINDI Angelique

UWIMANA Jean Marie Vianney

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II. MULTI-INSTITUTIONAL COMMITTEE

Prof. Dr. NGAGI M. Alphonse : President of the Committee, Judge of the Court of Appeal

Dr. MUHIRE G. Yves : Vice President of the Committee, Lecturer in the School of Law/UR

NSENGIYUMVA Jean Claude : Secretary of the Committee, Inspector of Courts

RUKUNDAKUVUGA F. Regis : President of Court of Appeal

Dr. KARIMUNDA M. Aimé : Judge at Supreme Court

NDAHAYO Xavier : President of High Court

RUTAZANA Angeline : Inspector General of Courts

KALIWABO Charles : Judge of the Court of Appeal

Dr. SEZIRAHIGA Yves :

BURAYOBERA UMUZAYIRE : Bibiane

Rector of ILPD

Vice-Chairman of Rwanda Law Reform Commission BWIZA N. Blanche : Inspector of Courts

KIBUKA Jean Luc : Judge at Commercial High Court v

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HABARUREMA Jean Pierre : Prosecutor at National Level

BUNYOYE Grace : Prosecutor at National Level KABIBI Specioza : State Attorney

MUREREREHE Saouda : Judge at High Court

Lt. Col. MADUDU A. Charles : Judge at Military Court

Dr. NSHIMIYIMANA Didace : Peresident of Intermediate Court GIRANEZA Clémentine :

UMUTESI Vestine

TASHOBYA Benon :

Judge of the Intermediate Court Judge Commercial Court

Judge of the Intermediate Court BAGABO Faustin :

Dr. SHEMA Pierre :

KARAKE Canisius :

Dr HABIMANA Pie :

YANKURIJE Dorotheé : Advocate at Rwanda Bar Association Lecturer at ULK

Lecturer at UNILAK

Advocate at Rwanda Bar Association Judge of Primary Court

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PREFACE Dear Readers, We are pleased to present to you the Law Reports Volume 1 [2023]. As usual, we select cases that solve some of the legal issues you encounter, either in your career or in your daily life. This volume contains eight (8) cases, which includes; two (2) civil cases, one (1) labour case, one (1) commercial case, one (1) criminal case and thre (3) procedural cases. These cases can be accessed on the website of the judiciary: http://decisia.lexum.com/rlr/en/nav.do. Dr NTEZILYAYO Faustin President of the Supreme Court and President of the High Council of Judiciary

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SCOPE OF THE REPORTS These reports cover cases decided by the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and the Commercial Court.

CITATION The Reports in this volume are cited as: [2023] 1 RLR

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LIST OF STATUTES AND STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS

CONSIDERED

a. Current laws The Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda of 2003 revised in 2015, article 30…………………………………………………….119 Law Nº 027/2019 of 19/09/2019 relating to the criminal procedure, articles 6,7,107 and 118…………………………….188 Law n° 30/2018 of 02/06/2018 determining the jurisdiction of courts, articles 55, 62 and 63………………………………………..5 article 55 and 63…………………………………………..119 Law nº 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 relating to civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure, articles 12 and 111…………………………………………..5 articles 171 and 278………………………………………..33 articles 241 and 242………………………………………..50 article 9 and 121……………………………………………67 article 111………………………………………………….119 article 161………………………………………………….160 Law no 32/2016 of 28/08/2016 governing to persons and family, articles 113 and 150………………………………………..33 article 15…………………………………………………….67 article 6 (1&2)………………………………………………89 Law nº27/2016 of 08/07/2016 governing matrimonial regimes, donations and successions, article 8……………………………...90 Law nº 83/2013 of 11/09/2013 establishing the Bar Association in Rwanda and determining its organization and functioning, article 2 and 47………………………………………………………67 xi

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Law N° 005/2008 of 14/02/2008 on arbitration and conciliation in commercial matters, article 44…………………………………50 Law nº 15/2004 of 12/06/2004 relating to evidence and its production in courts, article 3……………………………………………………….5 article 65…………………………………………………….90 article 2…………………………………………………….188 Ministerial Order n° 002/2008 of 01/04/2008 determining modalties of land registration, article 8……………………………5

b. Repealed laws Organic law n° 01/2012/OL of 02/05/2012 establishing the penal code, articles 22, 609 and 610……………………………………188 Law n° 43/2013 of 16/06/2013 governing land in Rwanda, article 10……………………………………………………………………….5 Law nº 30/2013 of 24/5/2013 relating to the criminal procedure, articles 5 (1°) and 6………………………………………………..188 Law no 21/2012 of 14/06/2012 relating to civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure, articles 208 and 309….160 Law n° 13/2009 of 27/05/2009 regulating labour in Rwanda, article 83……………………………………………………………119

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LIST OF CASES CONSIDERED Busoro Gervais vs Busoro Mugunga Desire et al, RS/INJUST/RC 00022/2018/SC, rendered by the Supreme Court on 28/06/2019…………………………………………………………….5 Case RCAA 00015/2017/SC, between COOPILAC, Sebahire Roger David v. Nesongane Marina of 27/04/2018 by the Supreme Court………………………………………………………………..161 Case RSOC 0001/CS between Mutuyubutatu Josephine v. MINERALS SUPPLY AFRICA Ltd (MSA) of 07/07/2017 by the Supreme Court……………………………………………………..161 Cour de Cassation, Chambre sociale, n° 07-42-107, 16 décembre 2008, Bull Civ, V. n° 250………………………………………….120 Nditiribambe ctrs. v. Nyamwasa Faustin, RS/INJUST/RC 00007/2018/SC decided by Supreme Court on 13/03/2020…..120 Mukamana ctrs. v. Umuhoza, RCOM RS/ INJUST/ RC 00004/2019/SC decided by Supreme Court on 28/07/2020…..120 Ngizweninshuti v. Muhima, RS/INJUST/RC 00024/2018/SC decided by Supreme Court on 21/02/2020……………………...120 Nyamuhungu v Rusenyi Coffee Growers, RS/REV/RCOMA003/12/CS rendered by the Supreme Court on 06/09/2013…………………………………………………………...68 Prosecution v RWIGASS CIGARETTE COMPANY SARL et al, RPAA 0056/06/CS-RPAA0155/06/CS rendered by the Supreme Court on 30/05/2008………………………………………………..68 Uwitonze et al v Rwigema, RCAA0028/11/CS rendered by the Supreme Court on 11/05/2012, Rwanda Law Report, book 3, nº 14,July,2012, P.58-60………………………………………………68

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SUBJECT INDEX 1. Civil Procedure – Contract – Representation contract – Advocate – Contract of representation in court – Even if an Advocate is presumed to have a power of attorney to represent his or her client, in case the power of attorney he or she was entitled to is doubted, he or she has to prove the entitled mandate for good conduct of the trial BAYINGANA ET AL v NDABAMENYE……………65 Contract – Contract of representation of the litigant – Consequences of representing the litigant who did not give you the power of attorney – Those who represent others in courts do it under the power of attorney given to them – When an advocate has pleaded a case without being given the power of attorney, all his or her acts are declared null and void, and consequently, all things regain their status quo as before the hearing of those cases BAYINGANA ET AL v NDABAMENYE……………65 2. Commercial law – Contract – The contract of agency is a contract whereby one person (the principal/represented) mandates another person (agent /representative) to carry out legal transactions on behalf and account of the principal as if the latter performs them him/herself – The contract between a party to a case and a professional court bailiff is not an agency contract, it is rather a contract meant for delivery of service for judgement execution.

UBURIYEMUYE v

HOME

BASKET

SACCO KIMIRONKO ET AL………………………………..155 3. Commercial Procedure – Delays limits for application for case review – illness that can be invoked as a serious unpredictable event that might lead to the extension of the xv

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appeal time – Limits – An illness that can only be invoked as a serious unpredictable event that might lead to the extension of the appeal time limits is such an illness that puts a person in particular conditions that disable his/her capacity of thoughts, speech, hearing and writing or make them fall so unconscious that they may not even manage to delegate an attorney for their cause. MUNYABURANGA v ECOBANK Plc (the former BCDI) ………………………………………………….31 Execution of arbitral awards – A claim requesting to compel an administrative authority to execute an arbitral award is in the jurisdiction of the Commercial Court. ERJB v. UWAMARIYA………………………………49 Third party opposition – A person can make a third party opposition while he/she has never been a party in the initial case whether himself/herself or those he/she represents have never been summoned, but he/she has personal interest thereof.

UBURIYEMUYE v

HOME

BASKET

SACCO KIMIRONKO ET AL………………………………..155 Disputes arising from judgement execution – Issues related to the seizure procedure – Claim for invalidation of the auction owing to violation of seizure procedure has nothing to do with disputes arising from judgement execution – The difference between judgement execution related disputes and seizure related disputes –Judgement execution related disputes are those resulting from disagreement between parties themselves or between the latter and the court bailiff over the interpretation of the court’s ruling and its related implementation – While seizure related disputes are disputes that seek for the invalidation or revocation of the auction due to the alleged violation of the pre-auction

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formalities whether in the course or following the auction. Disputes in relation to judgement execution are settled by the Court that heard the concerned case.

UBURIYEMUYE v

HOME

BASKET

SACCO KIMIRONKO ET AL………………………………..156 4. Criminal law – Offences – Continuing offence – Concerning the continuing offence, it is a crime that implies an ongoing criminal activity, and which reveals without doubt the permanent intent to commit it – The computation of the statute of limitation commences at the last day of the commission of the last criminal act, and a judge pronounces the same penalty for all constitutive acts committed. NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA ET AL……………….185 5. Family law – Divorce – Sharing of the matrimonial property – A divorce ruling terminates the community property regime and the spouses share their assets equally or in any other consented way – In case of the existence of common assets unrevealed at the time of divorce – nothing is likely to bar the interested person to sue at the time of their discovery in order to also subject them to sharing. UWIMANA v KAGITARE…………………………...87 6. Labour law – Salary of the employee - Equality of an employee in relation to salary – Employees who perform the same work, with equal skills, experience and ability must be paid equally, otherwise there is discrimination. – An employee who is equal to his or her colleagues in terms of skills, experience and ability, who is not paid equally as those at the same level, has the right to fight for being paid the same as his/her colleagues or to ask for to be paid a fair wage

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SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA……………………………………………...115 Salary of the employee – Equality of an employee in relation to salary – What makes the salaries of employees at the same level different is when the employer is able to prove to the Court objectively that the employees who were paid a higher salary have special and particular skills that is useful for the work they do, and this is approved by the Court in its discretion. SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA……………………………………………...115 Salary of the employee – Equality of an employee in relation to salary – Appreciation – Although there is nothing preventing the employer from awarding some of the employees a bonus, if that appreciation is included in the salary it is given to all employees.

3. Prescription period starts counting from the time the employee should have been paid, and it is stopped if the employer made a financial statement, the employer and the employee agreed that there is a debt, the employee's case was brought to court or even if the labour inspection office was asked to handle them has not yet given its conclusion SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA……………………………………………...116 Salary of an employee – Prescription of salaries – Prescription of salaries is counted as prescription of other personal rights or other property rights. Its calculation begins when the right owner knew or could have known the reason for the pursuit SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA……………………………………………...116

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7. Review of the case due to injustice – When the President of the Supreme Court examines the report submitted on the case of injustice, and approves that it should be reviewed, the Court tries the case in merit without any other objections that will lead to the dismissal of the case except those of public order SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI ET AL…………....1 Grounds that have been reinstated yet they have not been appealed – The party who did not appeal the grounds of which he/she was not satisfied with according to the ordinary procedure and yet was allowed by law, construed to being deprived of the procedure of appeal which would make his/her criticisms being corrected in the appeal – He/she cannot resort to the procedure of application for review due to injustice. SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA……………………………………………...116

SUBJECT INDEX

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PROCEDURAL CASES

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CASE

RELATED

TO

THE

PROCEDURE FOR REVIEW OF A

JUDGMENT DUE TO INJUSTICE

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SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI ET AL [Rwanda SUPREME COURT– RS/INJUST/RAD 00002/2020/SC– (Ntezilyayo, P.J., Nyirinkwaya, Cyanzayire, Hitiyaremye and Kalimunda, J.) December 10, 2021] Review of the case due to injustice – When the President of the Supreme Court examines the report submitted on the case of injustice, and approves that it should be reviewed, the Court tries the case in merit without any other objections that will lead to the dismissal of the case except those of public order. Facts: Semapondo filed a complaint in Gasabo Intermediate Court requesting to order Goboka Cooperative to give him the document which could help him get titles of the land he bought from that Cooperative; to terminate the long-term lease agreement held by Rwasimpenzi; and to award him moral damages because he was the one who bought the land after depositing 4.9 million into the account of that Cooperative, but when he went to register it, he found that the disputed land was registered to another person called Rwasinpenzewa. The court ruled that the land belongs to him, that the long-term lease agreement is annulled and that moral damages have to be was awarded. The Defendant appealed the ruling to the High Court stating that the claim should not be admitted on ground that it is related to the property that was contested in the judgment which became final. Another reason is that the court disregarded the elements of evidence presented to it by the defense and relied only on the claimant's statements. The court ruled that the objection has merit, held that the judgment rendered by the Intermediate Court 1

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is quashed, and ordered the claimant to award him various compensations. The claimant appealed to the Supreme Court, but following judicial reforms, his appeal was transferred to the Court of Appeal, where he claims that the High Court erred in declaring that the judgment RC 1207/14/TB/KCY was final, which is not true. The very court analyzed the appeal, and held that the said judgment was not final, ruling that the judgment rendered by the High Court is reversed on matters related to admissibility of the claim in the Intermediate Court, finding that it should have been admitted, so it should have not been quashed. With regard to the appeal on the merits of the claimant's case in the High Court, the Court of Appeal ruled that it has merit in part, that the disputed land belongs to him, that the long-term lease agreement on that land between him and the Government of Rwanda remains valid, and hence ordered the claimant to award him and Goboka Cooperative damages. After the approval by the Supreme Court that the judgment rendered by the Supreme Court be reviewed on the grounds of being vitiated by injustice, the Claimant argues that the Court disregarded elements of evidence presented to it proving that he was the one who bought the disputed plot of land, while the Defendants and the Land Management and Use Authority state that no elements of evidence were disregarded, but that it instead examined them and found them baseless. Prior to the hearing in merit of this case, the Defendants raised an objection related to the fact that there is no any reason among those mentioned in the provisions of Article 55 of the Law determining the Jurisdiction of Courts presented by the claimant,

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and the Supreme Court ruled on the bench, and held that the objection was not admitted. The trial continued on the issue of determining the buyer of the disputed plot of land from Goboka Cooperative, which is the subject matter in the instant case, where the Plaintiff claims that the Court of Appeal unfairly disregarded the written evidence and on the testimony of witnesses who knew well how the Cooperative used to provide (sell) plots in 2007. He alleges that among ignored witnesses who bought the land in 2007, include the Former Engineer of Cooperative Goboka, who was responsible for making maps of the plots and showing the buyers where their plots are located. He further states that even though the Court is the one to confirm the witnesses it should hear, it should not refuse to hear those witnesses who knew exactly how the plots were bought at that time, how the proof of purchase was given, and how the numbers of the plots kept changing, which constitutes the mistake it made, that if these evidences were taken into account, the Court would have found that he was the first buyer of the disputed plot in 2007. He states that another disregarded evidence he presented was the bank deposit slip of 4,900,000 Frw that he deposited into the Cooperative's account, which was approved and signed by the said Cooperative to confirm that they have received the deposited amount in cash on

19/11/2007, which is a proof that there was an agreement on the purchase and the price, because if it wasn't for that, there would be no reason for this payment to have happened. The defendant claims that no evidence was disregarded by the Court of Appeal in finding that Goboka Cooperative was not the seller of the disputed plot of land. He submits that the element of evidence consisting of a bank deposit slip showing that the plaintiff transferred 4,900,000 Frw to the account of the SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI ET AL

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Association GOBOKA. was examined by the Court and the latter found that it did not help to confirm that the money was definitely for the purchase of the plot, especially since the words on the bank deposit slip written by a Bank employee, do not indicate the plot number, its size, location and bordering plots. He goes on to state that the Plaintiff's claim that he bought the plot in 2007 is not founded, because it is not clear how he could have reached the end of 2015 without obtaining land titles, especially since the registration of land for the people who own it is mandatory. He states that another evidence that the Plaintiff's claim that he bought the disputed land is unfounded is that he has never paid taxes for that land, in addition, the defendant has been growing different crops on the disputed land every year, and the plaintiff has never attempted to ask him why he was using his land or has he reported the issue to local leaders, and that attitude clearly shows that the plot is not his and never was. On matters related to the witnesses, the defendant states that the Court did not make a mistake in not summoning them, because it found that their statements could not replace the elements of evidence that the Plaintiff should have presented in support of the bank deposit slip he is referring to, especially that even though he stated that he could not be given the the

titles for the land he pretends to have bought, stating that Goboka Cooperative refused to give him a plot allocation certificate, he failed to at least prove to the Court that he used those witnesses to show the authorities that the land is in dispute, so that it would not be registered to someone else. Held: When the President of the Supreme Court examines the report submitted on the case of injustice, and approves that it should be reviewed, the Court tries the case in merit without any

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other objections that will lead to the dismissal of the case except those of public order. Application for the review of the judgment due to injustice lacks merit; Statutes and statutory instruments referred to: Law n° 30/2018 of 02/06/2018 determining the jurisdiction of courts, articles 55, 62 and 63; Law nº 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 relating to civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure, articles 12 and 111; Law n° 43/2013 of 16/06/2013 governing land in Rwanda, article 10; Law nº 15/2004 of 12/06/2004 relating to evidence and its production in courts, article 3; Ministerial Order n° 002/2008 of 01/04/2008 determining modalties of land registration, article 8. Cases referred to: RS/INJUST/RC 00022/2018/SC; Busoro Gervais vs Busoro Mugunga Desire et al rendered by the Supreme Court on 28/06/2019. I. BACKGROUND OF THE CASE

On 19/11/2007, Semapondo Charles deposited 4,900,000 FRW to the account of Association Goboka opened in the in the Banque Populaire du Rwanda, and the reason for the deposit was the purchase of Goboka plot. He states that the money was meant to conclude a purchase with Association Goboka, which later became a Cooperative, for a plot number 12438 which later SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI ET AL

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changed to number 1418, located in Nyirabwana Village, Kibagabaga Cell, Kimironko Sector, Gasabo District, Kigali City; after that purchase, the Land Management and Use Authority in Rwanda told him that the land was registered to Rwasimpenzi Wellars, so he filed a complaint in the Intermediate Court of Gasabo seeking to order Goboka Cooperative to hand to him the document which will help him to register the land they bought, to annul the lease agreement which is held by Rwasimpenzi Wellars and to award him moral damages.

On 30/06/2017, the very Court rendered the judgment RAD 00073/2016/TGI/GSBO, and held that the disputed land belongs to Semapondo Charles, that the long-term lease agreement held by Rwasimpenzi Wellars is annulled, ordering the Land Management and use Authority in Rwanda to register the concerned plot to Semapondo Charles, and ordered Goboka Cooperative to award him moral damages amounting to 3,700,000 Frw.

In issuing its ruling, the instant Court based on the following grounds: - The fact that the element of evidence consisting of the bank deposit slip of 4,900,000 Frw produced by Semapondo Charles, an evidence which is not supported by a purchase agreement or showing the actual plot of land he bought, should not invalidate such element of evidence because its purpose and its price are very clear (the purchase of the plot), and the buyer and the seller are clearly determined, and this is not different from the purchase agreement concluded between the aforementioned parties, especially since Goboka Cooperative did not return to Semapondo

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Charles the money he paid in order to prove that the purchase agreement they concluded was dissolved. Another reason is that the disputed plot of land was presented to him by an Engineer of Goboka Cooperative. - The fact that the long-term lease agreement in possession of Rwasimpenzi Wellars for the plot number 1418 is invalid because it does not indicate how he acquired it, such a purchase agreement, so it can be determined whether he bought it, or from another acquisition modality, as per Article 10 of Law no 43/2013 of 16/06/2013 governing land in Rwanda. In addition, even if he had a purchase agreement, he would have bought someone else's property because Semapondo Charles was the first buyer.

Rwasimpenzi Wellars appealed the ruling to the High Court stating that the claim filed Semapondo Charles in the High Court of Gasabo should not have been admitted on ground that it is related to the property disputed in the case RC 1207/14/TB/KCY which became final. Another ground of appeal he submitted is related to the fact that the Court disregarded elements of evidence he submitted to it, and rather relied only on the claimant’s statements.

On 09/11/2017, the Court rendered the judgment RADA 00037/2017/HC/KIG and held that the objection to not admitting the claim because on ground that it contains the same subject matter disputed in another case, has merit, and decided that the judgment rendered by the Intermediate Court is quashed, and ordered Semapondo Charles to pay Rwasimpenzi Wellars SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI ET AL

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200,000 Frw for procedural fee and 1,000,000 Frw for counsel fee.

Semapondo Charles appealed the decision to the Supreme Court alleging that the High Court erred in declaring the case RC 1207/14/TB/KCY was final while it was not. Following judicial reforms, his appeal was tranferred to the Court of Appeal, and the case was registered to RADAA 00006/2018/CA.

The Court of Appeal examined whether the case RC 1207/14/TB/KCY was final as it was ruled by the High Court, and on 14/06/2019, it held that it was not, and decided that the judgment RADA 00037/2017/HC/KIG rendered by the High Court is reversed on matters related to the admissibility of the claim filed by Semapondo Charles in the Intermediate Court of Gasabo, finding that his claim should have been admitted in that Court, and that judgment RAD 00073/2016/TGI/GSBO should not be quashed.

With regard to the appeal on the merits of the case Rwasimpenzi Wellars had filed in the High Court, on 04/10/2019, the Court of Appeal held that it has merit in part, that the plot number 1418 located in Nyirabwana Village, Kibagabaga Cell, Kimironko Sector, Gasabo District, Kigali City, belongs to Rwasimpenzi Wellars, that the long-term lease agreement for that plot that was concluded between him and the Government of Rwanda is sustained, ordering Semapondo Charles to pay him 1,000,000 Frw for procedural and counsel fees at that level, and to pay Goboka Cooperative, which is in the liquidation process, 600,000 Frw for counsel fee at that level.

The Court of Appeal based its ruling on the ground that the bank deposit slip dated 11/19/2007 cannot be considered as

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proof that the 4,900,000 Frw mentioned on it was paid by Semapondo Charles for the purchase of the disputed plot number 1418, and that there is no indication that the land that Engineer Musheja Innocent presented to Semapondo Charles is the one in question, while Rwasimpenzi Wellars shows evidence that the land is his own, consisting of an invoice proving that he bought the plot number 12438, and its surface area (size), its location ( Nyirabwana) and its price, and among people who signed on that invoice include Engineer Musheja Innocent (as the verifier) and Bayito Innocent (as the person who approved it), the document confirming the price mentioned in the said "invoice", plot allocation certificate, and other certificates issued by the Authority as well as the long-term land lease agreement.

On behalf of Semapondo Charles, Counsel Mutembe Protais wrote to the President of the Supreme Court requesting that the judgment RADAA 00006/2018/CA rendered by the Court of Appeal on 04/10/2019 be reviewed on grounds of being vitiated by injustice. After considering his application, on 21/08/2020, the President of the Supreme Court made a decision number 016/CJ/2020 and held that the judgment RADAA 00006/2018/CA be reviewed on grounds of being vitiated by injustice, and the case was registered to RS/INJUST/ RAD 00002/2020/SC.

Counsel Mutembe Protais assisting Semapondo Charles stated that the reason why they requested that the judgement rendered by the Court of Appeal be reviewed due to injustice is that the latter disregarded elements of evidence presented to it proving that he was the real buyer of the plot number 1418, but the representatives of Rwasimpenzi Wellars and Cooperative Goboka, which is in the process of liquidation, as well as the SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI ET AL

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representative of the Rwanda Land Management and Use Authority, stated no elements of evidence were disregarde by the Court, that instead, the very Court has examined them and found them to be baseless.

The case was heard in public on 14/04/2021, Semapondo Charles assisted by Counsel Mutembe Protais, Rwasimpenzi Wellars represented by Counsel Rugeyo Jean, Cooperative Goboka, which is in liquidation process, represented by Counsel Barahira Eric, and the Land Management and Use Authority did not appear while it was duly summoned.

Counsel Rugeyo Jean representing Rwasimpenzi Wellars raised an objection relating to inadmissibility of the claim filed by Semapondo Charles stating his ground is not in accordance with none of the reasons provided under article 55 of Law determining the jurisdiction of the courts, Counsel Barahira Eric also supports such objection, while Counsel Mutembe Protais finds it unfounded because the judgment contains a violation of the law as per Article 55 of the aforementioned Law.

After hearing to the detailed submissions provided by the parties on the raised objection, based on the legal position adopted in the judgment RS/INJUST/RC 00022/2018/SC1 where it analyzed article 62, paragraph one, and article 63 of Law no 30/ 2018 of 02/06/2018 determining the jurisdiction of courts, and found that Where, upon considering a report on the judgement vitiated by injustice that is submitted to him/her, the President of the Supreme Court decides that the case be readjudicated, he/she

1 Judgment RS/INJUST/RC 00022/2018/SC about Busoro Gervais vs Busoro Mugunga Desire et al., rendered by the Supreme Court on 28/06/2019, paragraph 18.

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forwards the file to the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court for him/her to set the date for hearing thereof, the court hears the case in merit anew without any other objections except for those of public order, the instant court decided on the bench, and held that the raised objection lacks merit.

The hearing resumed on the issue of determining the real buyer of the disputed plot numbered 1418 of Goboka Cooperative between Semapondo Charles and Rwasimpenzi Wellars. After hearing the explanations and evidence presented by the parties on the matter, the case was closed, the Court informed the parties that the judgment will be pronounced on 30/04/2021, but on that day, it was not pronounced because one of the judges who were members of the panel was assigned to new duties.

The case was opened on 31/05/2021, the parties were again informed that the judgment would be pronounced on 25/06/2021, but in its discretion, the court found necessary to summon the witnesses in order to have their explanations regarding the case, the hearing was then scheduled for 09/08/2021. On that day, after hearing the witnesses who had been summoned, the Court decided that Rwasimpenzi Wellars would appear in person, and the hearing was postponed to 16/11/2021.

After all these procedures, the Court analyzed the main issue in the instant case which is to determine the right owner of the plot number 1418 between Semapondo Charles and Rwasimpenzi Wellars.

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II. ANALYSIS OF LEGAL ISSUE IN

THIS CASE 1. To determine the right owner of the plot number 1418 between Semapondo Charles and Rwasimpenzi Wellars

Counsel Mutembe Protais, representing Semapondo Charles, submits that the Court of Appeal wronged him by disregarding written elements of evidence, based on the testimony of witnesses who were well aware of how Goboka Cooperative use to provide plots of land in 2007, as per paragraph 8, and paragraph 30 to 33 of the judgment under review due to injustice, this also appears in the copy of the judgment RADA 00037/2017/HC/KIG, paragraph 25. He alleges that among ignored witnesses include Munyanshongore Viateur who bought the plot of land with Cooperative Goboka in 2007 and Musheja Innocent, the Former Engineer of Cooperative Goboka, who was responsible for making maps of the plots and showing the buyers where their plots are located.

He further states that even though the Court is the one to confirm the witnesses it should hear, it should not refuse to hear those witnesses who full well knew how the plots of Goboka Cooperative were bought at that time in 2007, how the proof of purchase was provided by such Cooperative, and how the numbers of the plots kept changing, which constitutes the mistake it made, that if these evidences were taken into account, the Court would have found that Semapondo Charles was the first buyer of the disputed plot in 2007.

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He further states that another disregarded evidence he presented was the bank deposit slip of 4,900,000 Frw that Semapondo Charles deposited into Goboka Cooperative's account, which was approved and signed by the said Cooperative to confirm that they have received the deposited amount in cash on 19/11/2007, which is a proof that there was an agreement on the purchase and the price, because if it wasn't for that, there would be no reason for this payment to have happened.

Counsel Mutembe Protais adds that the surprising thing is that in the judgment RADAA 00006/2018/CA, the Court stated that even though it was accepted that there was a plot for which the purchase money had been paid, nowhere did it confirm that the disputed plot still has the number 1418, and stated that "there is no otherwise, the document would help in identifying the characteristics of the property, including its number, size and location, so that it can be confirmed that the payment made is related to the property in question; asking if the plot number is the most important proof in identifying the disputed plot, while the Court confirmed that Rwasimpenzi Wellars is the owner of plot number 1418, and then come to state that he bought plot number 12438. He avers that the most important thing is not to know the plot number, because the numbers keep changing, that what matters was to know the location of the land because it cannot move to another place, and to analyse whether there wasan agreement between the seller and the buyer. He argues that a purchase agreement was concluded between Semapondo Charles and Goboka Cooperative, and Bayito Innocent who was its manager admitted it before the Police during an interview about the matter. SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI ET AL

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Counsel Rugeyo Jean representing Rwasimpenzi Wellars states that no evidence was ignored by the Court of Appeal in confirming that Semapondo Charles was not the real buyer of plot number 12438 which later became number 1418 of the former Goboka Association. He submits that the element of evidence consisting of a bank deposit slip showing that the plaintiff transferred 4,900,000 Frw to the account of the Association GOBOKA was examined by the Court, and the latter found that it did not help to confirm that the money was definitely for the purchase of the plot 1418, especially since the words on the bank deposit slip (VT for the purchase of Goboka plot) written by a Bank employee, do not indicate the plot number, its size, location and bordering plots. This corroborates the ruling of the Primary Court of Kacyiru in its judgment RC 1207/14/TB/KCY, paragraph 9, rendered on 15/10/2015.

He further states that Goboka Association, which later became a Cooperative, itself denied to have sold to Semapondo Charles a plot number 1418, that the person whom they concluded a purchase agreement on that plot is Rwasimpenzi Wellars as mentioned in paragraph 22 of the judgment RADAA00006/2018/CA. He states that Semapondo Charles has presented to the Court other evidences in support of the bank deposit slip that he provided alone, because the words on it were written by a bank employee.

Counsel Rugeyo Jean adds that Semapondo Charles 'statements that he bought the plot of land in 2007 is unfounded, because it is not clear how he could have arrived at the end of 2015 without seeking documents, especially since the registration of land for the land owners is mandatory as per the provisions of article 8 of Ministerial Order no 002/2008 of 01/04/2008

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determining modalities of land registration. He states that another evidence that Semapondo Charles’ claim that he bought the disputed land is unfounded is that he has never paid taxes for that land, in addition, Rwasimpenzi Wellars has been growing different crops on the disputed land every year, and the plaintiff has never attempted to ask him why he was using his land or has he reported the issue to local leaders, and that attitude clearly shows that the plot number 1418 is not his and never was.

On matters related to the witnesses, Semapondo Charles alleges that the Court refused to hear, Counsel Rugeyo Jean argues that the Court did not commit any error in not summoning Musheja Innocent and Munyanshongore Viateur because it found that their statements could not replace the elements of evidence that the Semapondo Charles should have presented in support of the bank deposit slip he is referring to, especially that even though he stated that he could not be given the the titles for the land he pretends to have bought, stating that Goboka Cooperative refused to give him a plot allocation certificate, he failed to at least prove to the Court that he used those witnesses to show the authorities that the land is in dispute, so that it would not be registered to someone else.

In addition to that, he states the defense of Semapondo Charles told the Court that they sued Bayito Innocent, who was the manager Goboka Cooperative, and that manager told the Prosecution that they never sold Semapondo Charles that plot number 1418 as mentioned in paragraph 31 of the judgment RADAA 00006/ 2018/CA.

He avers that asking Musheja Innocent to intervene in the case would not have changed anything because he would not contradict the invoice he signed on 30/07/2012 that Goboka SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI ET AL

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Cooperative did for Rwasimpenzi Wellars, confirming that it was for the purchase of the land number 12438 which changed to number 1418 during the land census. He states that, instead, Rwasimpenzi Wellars is the one who has the evidence that he is the real buyer of the disputed plot, which is the bank deposit slip for it, the plot allocation certificate given to Goboka Cooperative, the titles for the property number 12438, the land titles number 1418, and a copy of the judgment rendered by the Primary Court of Kacyiru. He concludes by stating that, based on all the foregoing reasons, he finds that there was no injustice in the judgment rendered by the Court of Appeal.

Rwasimpenzi Wellars, who was requested by the Court to appear in person, stated that in order to buy the disputed land, he got information from his brother named Rurangwa Alexis, that Goboka had such plot, but because he was at work and busy, his brother did everything on his behalf, and the latter should be the one to explain the to the Court all the steps he went through to find such plot.

Counsel Barahira Eric representing Goboka Cooperative which is in liquidation, states that although Semapondo Charles criticizes what was stated by the Court of Appeal in the judgment RADAA 000006/2018/CA regarding the bank deposit slip presented as an evidence, where the Court explained that such element of evidence does not help in knowing the characteristics of the plot that was paid, its number, its size and its location, so there was nothing to base on to confirm that it still has the number 1418 which is the one that refers to the payment he made, when you read those details and combine them with the bank deposit slip that Semapondo Charles presented as a sole evidence, the

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Court finds that it is clear that Goboka Association did not sell him the plot number 1418.

Counsel Barahira Eric further adds that the fact that Semapongo Charles pretends that the number Rwasimpenzi Wellars was given is number 12438 while the Court confirmed that his plot is number 1418, he finds that it is an attempt to create confusion because Goboka used to register its plots and give them numbers, and the plot was given to the buyer in accordance with those numbers; therefore, when a person wanted to register his/her plot for getting a permanent lease agreement, he/she was given a number that is different from that of Goboka, because the Government is the one that issues permanent documents, based on its land census and registration information and numbers it assigned to each plot according to the its location, and it is the only authority mandated to do so.

With regard to witnesses that the Court refused to hear, Counsel Barahira Eric states that no mistake was made and no injustice occurred because there were elements of evidence provided consisting of documents issued by those with authority, and the latter confirmed it, therefore, there was no need for the Court to summon such witnesses. He avers that the Court explained it clearly in paragraphs 33 and 34, that apart from that, the Court has the authority to summon the witness if it finds that his/her testimony would not help the trial.

Counsel Habiyambere Clément, representing Rwanda Land Management and Use, submits that Semapondo Charles bought a plot of land but could not register it, because, he states, Goboka Cooperative made it difficult for him and did not give him the necessary documents to register the land. He states that the disputed land belongs to Rwasimpenzi Wellars who bought SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI ET AL

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and registered it, especially since the registration of land for the land owners is mandatory as per the provisions of Article 20 of the Law governing land in Rwanda. He adds that it was not necessary to summon the witnesses, while there were documents made by Goboka Cooperative, which has its own policy of providing plots.

The witnesses that the Court wanted to be questioned about what they know about the disputed land, stated the following: - Ruzindana Munana Jean, who was the Chairman of Board of Directors of Goboka in 2007, explained to the Court that after the government gave them the land in Kibagagaba and divided such land into different plots, the any person who wanted to buy a plot would first visit the plot he wanted, and if he decided to buy, he would then deposit the money to Banque Populaire, and then submit a receipt to finance service, which had to give him a document as a proof of ownership, or conclude with him/her a purchase agreement. He states that both documents contain the plot number. With regard to how Semapondo Charles was given the plot, he told the Court that the got information about it just after this Semapondo Charles sued Goboka, but the information he had received was that he paid for the plot and did not bring a receipt until all plots were taken. - Bayito Innocent, who was the Manager of the Cooperative, told the Court that what ensured that a person would be given a plot in Goboka was the document for ownership for the purchased plot. He

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explained that before paying, the person looking for a plot had to first visit it, and upon appreciation and payment, the buyer had to submit the receipt to the the Management, and follow up his file until he/she gets that an ownership document. He states that the buyer could loose the purchased plot in case he/she failed to follow up his file in a period of two or three years. He further stated the Court that the fact that Semapondo Charles has a receipt bearing the stamp of Goboka, they may have stamped it but he did not take it to the plot delivery services, because the person who respected the foregoing, was given an ownership document for the bought plot, and in case the receipt was not submitted to the competent authority, the plot was still considered as for sale. - Musheja Innocent, who was the Engineer of Goboka, states that there were two ways of selling plots, that some would come and register, sometimes they would give an advance payment, and others would come and visit the plots and then go to pay. Regarding Semapondo Charles, he states that he showed him the plot with number 12438, he went to pay and brought the receipt, that he does not know what happened next because it was not in his responsibility. On matters regarding to the statement that he latter showed the plot belonging to Semapondo Charles to Rwasimpenzi Wellars, he states that he does not know him, that he had never shown him any plot. After being shown the invoice he signed confirming that the plot with number 12438 belongs to Rwasimpenzi Wellars, he stated that in 2012 there was an invoicing problem, those in finance said that the existing SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI ET AL

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invoices were insufficient, they made other invoices with the numbers of the plots and their size, they instructed the technicians to verify that, that it is possible that the disputed plot number 12438 was registered to Rwasimpenzi Wellars, that he signed the invoice confirming that the size of the plot corresponds to its number, that he did not care about the owner's name. - Munyanshongore Viateur, one of the people who bought the plot with Goboka at that time, told the Court that the person looking for the plot would go to see the engineer and show him the map, and upon appreciation, he would go to pay and bring a receipt thereof, and they would give him a plot allocation certificate. He states that the he knows the plot sold to Semapondo Charles because their plots are separated by one plot, but the information he got was that Goboka sold it again. - Havumiragira Théophile, who was in charge of the liquidation of the Goboka Cooperative, states that they got information about the issue relating to the fact that Semapondo Charles bought a plot from Goboka, and then Goboka resold it to Rwasimpenzi Wellars, when it was brought to Court, and leaved the case to their lawyer for follow up, that if it was the case, it should be a mistake. - Rurangwa Alexis, who willingly appeared before the Court when he accompanied Rwasimpenzi Wellars, was given the floor to inform the Court about the case, and explained that he was the one who held talks with Goboka's employees, namely Musheja Innocent,

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Bayito Innocent and their accountant named Julie, on behalf of of Rwasimpenzi Wellars who had sent him. He states that they showed him five (5) plots and he chose two (2) of them including the disputed plot, which he paid and brought to them a receipt thereof, and they gave him an invoice that he signed in the name of Rwasimpenzi Wellars because he was not the owner of the plot, and then they handed to him a plot allocation certificate, which he handed to Rwasimpenzi Wellars, who later and started the process of registering his land.

DETERMINATION OF THE COURT

The issue in this case, which the parties want the Court to resolve, is to determine between Semapondo Charles and Rwasimpenzi Wellars, the person having elements of evidence proving beyond reasonable doubt that he is the real buyer of Goboka plot number 12438 which later became number 1418, because each of them claims that it is his. Semapondo Charles states that he was the first buyer in 2007, while Rwasimpenzi Wellars states that he bought it in 2012 and it was registered to no-one. The Goboka cooperative, which is in liquidation process, admits to have sold the land to Rwasimpenzi Wellars, although it does not deny that it also sold the plot to Semapondo Charles, but that that plot no longer had number 1418.

Article 12, paragraph one, of the Law Nº 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 relating to civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure provides that the claimant must prove a claim. Failure to do so, the respondent wins the case. The provisions of this article corroborate with the content of article 3, SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI ET AL

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paragraph one, of the Law nº 15/2004 of 12/06/2004 relating to evidence and its production, which reads that “Each party has the burden of proving the facts it alleges”.

In confirming that the plot now numbered 1418 which is also in question belongs to Rwasimpenzi Wellars, the Court of Appeal found that the bank deposit slip Semapondo Charles relied on as an evidence to claim that he is the real buyer of the disputed plot, should not be considered because such evidence does not portray the characteristics of the plot such as its number, its size, and location in such a way that it would be based on the assumption that the payment he made is related to that plot. That Court ruled that the land belongs to Rwasimpenzi Wellars because he managed to present to the Court an invoice showing he bought the disputed plot of land number 12438 which became number 1418, stating its area, location (Nyirabwana) and the price, and among the people who signed on that invoice include Musheja Innocent as the verifier and Bayito Innocent as a the person who approved it, the land allocation certificate and other documents issued by the administration including the long-term lease agreement.

The elements of evidence presented by Semapondo Charles to prove that he is the real buyer of the disputed plot are the following:

- Bank deposit slip issued by Banque Populaire du Rwanda on 19/11/2007; Such bank deposit slip contains 4,900,000 FRW, for “versement pour achat parcelled Goboka” (payment for the purchase of Goboka plot);

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- The testimony given by Bayito Innocent who admitted before the Police that he sold a plot to Semapondo Charles; - The testimony of Musheja Innocent who was the Engineer of Goboka, who also confirmed that Semapondo Charles bought the plot from the Goboka Cooperative and that he paid 4,900,000 Frw thereof, and he bases his statements on the fact that no one was allowed to visit the plot without first paying; - The testimony of Munyanshongore Viateur who confirms that the disputed plot belongs to Semapondo Charles.

The elements of evidence presented by Rwasimpenzi Wellars to prove that he is the real owner of the disputed plot are the following:

- An invoice of 14,000,000 Frw issued by Goboka Cooperative on 30/07/2012, that invoice was related to the purchase of the plot n° 12438 which later became 1418; - A bank deposit slip for the payment of the plot number 12438; - Plot allocation certificate issued to him by Goboka Cooperative; - The Property titles for the plot number 12438; - Titles for the land number 1418 issued by the Land Management and Use Authority on 17/12/2012; - Judgment RC 1207/14/TB/KCY rendered by the Primary Court of Kacyiru on 15/10/2015, where it SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI ET AL

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was held that no double different agreement existed for the plot number 1418;

With regard to the bank deposit slip issued by Banque Populaire du Rwanda 19/11/2007 presented as an evidence that Semapondo Charles bought the disputed plot, the Court finds that there is no doubt that he paid for the plot in Goboka, and Bayito Innocent who was its managing director admitted this before the Court. The court finds, however, as also found by the Court of Appeal, there is no evidence that the plot he was paying for was the one with number 12438 which later became number 1418, which is also the subject matter in this case because there is no plot number on that bankslip.

Regarding the testimony of Musheja Innocent, who states that before Semapondo Charles went to pay, he showed him the plot numbered 12438, which is also the subject matter in this case, and the testimony of Munyanshongore Viateur, who states that the plot was sold to Semapondo Charles, that there was information that Goboka sold it again, the Court finds those testimonies baseless because on 30/07/2012, Musheja Innocent signed a receipt confirming that the plot belongs to Rwasimpenzi Wellars, which is not clear how in 2007 he would have shown the same plot to Semapondo Charles and then came up to confirm that it belongs to Rwasimpenzi Wellars. His statements that what happened was about to check that the numbers of the plots corresponded to their area (size), should not be considered because it was not what was written on the receipt, and when a person signs a document, he is signing for everything that is written on it. The receipt showing Rwasimpenzi Wellars as having bought the plot number 12438 for 14,000,000 Frw, was signed by Kayisinga Claudien as the preparer, Musheja Innocent

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signed it as the verifier, and then it was approved by Bayito Innocent.

Based on the provisions of Article 12, paragraph one, of the aforementioned Law no 22/2018 of 29/04/2018, and Article 3, paragraph one, of Law no 15/2004 of 12/ 06/2004, and based on the motivations provided, and in accordance with the finding of the Court of Appeals, the instant Court also finds the evidence provided by Semapondo Charles to be insufficient to show that he is the real buyer of the plot number 12438 which later became number 1418, while the aforementioned elements of evidence presented by Rwasimpenzi Wellars indicates the characteristics of the plot including its number, location and area, and this is also confirmed by the seller of the disputed plot. Based on all the foregoing reasons, the Court finds the complaint filed by Semapondo Charles requesting a review of the judgment on the grounds of injustice to be unfounded.

2. Matters related to damages requested in the instant case

Semapondo Charles is asking the Court to order Goboka and Rwasimpenzi Wellars Cooperative to compensate him for denying him the opportunity to build on his plot before the prices get high. He avers that the role of the Goboka Cooperative is that it denied him a plot allocation letter (lettre d’attribution de parcelle), and sold his plot to another person, causing him to be go to court from 2013 until today. He submits that the role of Rwasimpenzi Wellars is that he found out that the plot he bought from the Goboka Cooperative had been sold to someone else, instead of asking for his money back, he continued to drag him in the lawsuits, causing him to continue to spend the money he paid to the legal counsels. SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI ET AL

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Based on all the foregoing reasons, Semapondo Charles requests the following damages to be jointly paid to him by Goboka and Rwasimpenzi Wellars: - 2,500,000 Frw for the Counsel fee; - 1,300,000 Frw he paid to Rwasimpenzi Wellars including its interest computed at the bank’s rate (16% per year); - 10,000,000 Frw for the increase of construction costs and pecuniary loss resulted from not exploiting his plot for more that ten (10) years; as well as moral damages for the injustice he suffered.

Counsel Rugeyo Jean, representing Rwasimpenzi Wellars, states that Semapondo Charles deserves no compensation because he is the one who dragged himself into the lawsuits, and he has to be held liable of all the consequences thereof. He states that, instead, the Court should order him to award damages to Rwasimpenzi Wellars for dragging him in unnecessary lawsuits. They are hence requesting 3,000,000 Frw for the counsel fee and 500,000 Frw for procedural fee at this level.

Counsel Barahira Eric, representing Goboka Cooperative which is in liquidation, states that, based on Article 111 of the Law relating to civil, commercial, labor and administrative procedure, prays the Court to order Semapondo Charles to pay Goboka Cooperative which is in liquidation procees, 500,000 Frw for procedural fee and 1,000,000 Frw for counsel fee for dragging it in frivolous lawsuits.

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In his submission, Counsel Habiyambere Clément, representing Rwanda Land Management and Use Authority, states that he finds that the said Authority was frivolously dragged into lawsuits, because Semapondo Charles admits that the mistake was made by Goboka Cooperative which did not give him the documents to help him register the land he sold to him, that based on the foregoing reasons, he is asking that Land Authority to award him damages amounting to 600,000 Frw, including 100,000 Frw for the procedural fee and 500,000 Frw for case preparation.

DETERMINATION OF THE COURT

With regard to damages requested by Semapondo Charles, the Court finds that he should not be awarded to them because he has not won anything in this case.

The court finds that the procedural and counsel fee requested by Rwasimpenzi Wellars and Goboka Cooperative, which is in liquidation process should be awarded to them because it was necessary to pursue the case and to hire lawyers to assist them, but because the amount they are requesting is excessive and they failed to prove it, the Court, in its discretion, awarded them 500,000 Frw each for counsel fees and 300,000 Frw for procedural, all totaling to 800,000 Frw for each.

On matters relating to the money requested by Rwanda Land Management and Use Authority, the Court finds that it should only be awarded 100,000 Frw for the procedural fee because they failed to prove the money for case preparation they requested, especially since they did not appear in the pretrial conferences, or and the hearings. SEMAPONDO v RWASIMPENZI ET AL

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III. DECISION OF THE COURT

Holds that the application filed by Semapondo Charles for the review due to injustice of the judgment RADAA 00006/2018/CA rendered by the Court of Appeal on 04/10/2019, lacks merit;

Decides that no injustice was vitiated in the impugned judgment;

Holds that the plot number UPI 1/02/09/02/1418 located in Nyirabwana village, Kibagabaga cell, Kimironko sector, Gasabo district, City of Kigali, belongs to Rwasimpenzi Wellars;

Decides that the long-term lease agreement for the disputed plot concluded between Rwasimpenzi Wellars and the Government of Rwanda is sustained;

Orders Semapondo Charles to pay Rwasimpenzi Wellars eight hundred thousand Rwandan francs (800,000 Frw) for counsel and procedural fees;

Orders Semapondo Charles to pay Goboka Cooperative, which is in liquidation process, eight hundred thousand Rwandan francs (800,000 Frw) for counsel and procedural fees;

Orders Semapondo Charles pay Rwanda Land Management and Use Authority one hundred thousand Rwandan francs (100,000 Frw).

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CASES RELATING TO CIVIL, COMMERCIAL,

LABOUR

AND

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE

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MUNYABURANGA v ECOBANK Plc (the former BCDI) [Rwanda SUPREME COURT – RS/REV/RCOM 00001/2022 (Mukamulisa, PJ, Cyanzayire and Kalimunda, J.) July 15, 2022] Commercial Procedure – Delays limits for application for case review – Illness that can be invoked as a serious unpredictable event that might lead to the extension of the appeal time – Limits – An illness that can only be invoked as a serious unpredictable event that might lead to the extension of the appeal time limits is such an illness that puts a person in particular conditions that disable his/her capacity of thoughts, speech, hearing and writing or make them fall so unconscious that they may not even manage to delegate an attorney for their cause. Facts: ECOBANK Plc (the former BCDI) sued Munyaburanga Jean Damascène in the court for a debt he owed them; he lost the case and the Court ordered him to pay 40,217,971 Frw to BCDI. Following that ruling, Munyaburanga Jean Damascène filed a claim to the Prosecution accusing Mr. Mudenge Didace, the Court’s bailiff, for documents’ forgery. He reported the forgery of the document of 02/08/2018 that summoned him for the hearing of 18/12/2001 before Kigali Intermediate Court. The case got recorded as RP 0772/10/TGI/ NYAGE and it was heard on 13/01/2012 with ECOBANK Plc, the former BCDI forced to intervene while Mudenge Didace was in absentia. The Court convicted Mudenge to the offence documents forgery and sentenced him to 5 years of imprisonment with a fine of 50,000 Frw. The Court has as well ordered ECOBANK Plc Jean Damascène to pay Munyaburanga Jean Damascène 500,000 for the undergone damages. 31

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ECOBANK Plc appealed the above ruling to the High Court. The case was heard on 13/01/2014 and it was pronounced on the 07/02/2014 and the Court admitted the merit of ECOBANK’s appeal and held that the appealed judgement changes solely on the issue of the damages that ECOBANK Plc ought to pay, and the Court therefore revoked them. On 7/12/2021, Munyaburanga Jean Damascène lodged an application to the Supreme Court praying to have case RCOMAA 0006/07/CS reviewed; and backed his application by some criminal verdicts that confirmed the forgery of documents that were used to summon him to Kigali Intermediate Court for a hearing over a debt he owed BCDI. The case was thereby registered as RS/REV/RCOM 00001/2022/SC. The Court first examined the objection related to appeal delays limits raised by ECOBANK Plc. The defendant referred to article 171 of the Law n0 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 relating to civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure, and said that the application for case review lapses within two months; however, paragraph 2 of the very article provides that the time limits for such an application remain imprescriptible for sole incapable persons. They also remind that the evidence with which he backs his application is a certain court judgement of 07/02/2014; this means that he was to file his application as soon as he leant of the above judgement and he was not to

exceed 06/ 04/2014. Considering that he did not observe the above time- limits, his application should not be admitted. The person who sought for the case review argued that yes the evidence brought forth for the case review is the verdict of 07/02/2014 by the High Court, but he explained that the delay owed to a mental illness that struck him shortly after the pronouncement of the verdict till up to 03/11/2021 as it is

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evidenced by a report of some medical doctors who attended to him. He therefore submits that he was thereby incapable to lodge a related application in a two-month time-limit Held: 1 For an illness be invoked as a serious unpredictable event that might lead to the extension of the appeal time limits is such an illness that puts a person in particular conditions that disable his/her capacity of thoughts, speech, hearing and writing or make them fall so unconscious that they may not even manage to delegate an attorney for their cause.

2. An illness of diabetes can only be invoked as a serious unpredictable event that might lead to the extension of the appeal time-limits if such an illness puts a person in particular conditions that disable his/her capacity of thoughts, speech, hearing and writing or make them fall so unconscious that they may not even manage to delegate an attorney for their cause. The application for case review did not meet time-limits for appeal. Statutes and statutory instruments referred to: Law no 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 relating to civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure, articles 171 and 278; Law no 32/2016 of 28/08/2016 governing to persons and family, articles 113 and 150. No cases referred to.

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Judgment I. BACKGROUND OF THE CASE

On the 08/08/1996, Munyaburanga Jean Damascène contracted a loan of 10,000,000 Frw by BCDI for the loan to be invested into his business. For the loan security, he mortgaged his house located in Kimihurura in the plot number 1089, and he topped it up with his business stock and the total security stood at 20, 000,000 Frw; and the loan was to be fully repaid by 13/08/1997. On the 31/01/1997 he again contracted another loan of 30,000,000 Frw meant to help him complete his flat house under construction located in Remera-Nyarutarama, in the plot n0 5435; and as a security he mortgaged that very house plus his business stock, and the total security amounted to 60,000,000 Frw; and this loan was to be fully repaid by 31/01/2000.

Munyaburanga Jean Damascène did not repay the loan as per the agreement and this made BCDI to write a notice notifying to make the full repayment of the loan, and the last notice was served on 03/09/1998. On the 16/04/1999, parties agreed to combine the two debts and the total debt debt to repay amounted to 30,686,465 Frw meant to be fully repaid within 60 months starting from 10/05/1999.

On the 24/08/1999, BCDI wrote a letter to Munyaburanga Jean Damascène requesting him to repay the debt as they had agreed, and they requested him to pay the related arrears as well. On 31/07/2001 BCDI instituted a case before Kigali Intermediate

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Court, claiming that Munyaburanga failed to abide by the agreement; the case was recorded as RC 35,782/01 and it was heard in public on 16/01/2002 with Munyaburanga Jean Damascène in absentia. The Court held that he lost the case and ordered him to pay BCDI 40,217,971 Frw for the total outstanding debt.

Munyaburanga Jean Damascène appealed the above ruling before Kigali High Court, and the case was registered as RCA 13,859/KIG. But owing to the then judicial reforms, the case was later on sent to the High Court of the Republic and it was registered as RCOMA 0018/05/KIG; the case was heard on 28/09/2007 with BCDI in absentia, and the Court held that the appeal by Munyaburanga Jean Damascène has no justification and moved that the appealed judgement remains unchanged.

Munyaburanga Jean Damascène again appealed to the Supreme Court, the case was recorded as RCOMAA 0006/07/CS and it was heard on 19/06/2009. The Court held that the appeal by Munyaburanga Jean Damascène lacks merit, and moved that the ruling of appealed judgement remains intact.

Following the adjudication of the loan case, Munyaburanga Jean Damascène instituted a claim before the Investigation Bureau and accused Mudenge Didace, the Court’s bailiff, for the offence of documents forgery. He reports the forgery of the document of 02/12/2001 that summoned him for the hearing of 18/12/2001 before Kigali Intermediate Court, and that was the document that made him to be tried in absentia. The case was registered as RP 0772/10/TGI/ NYGE and it was heard on 13/01/2012 with Mudende Didance in absentia while ECOBANK Plc was thereby forced to intervene. The Court convicted Mudenge Didance to the offence of forgery and MUNYABURANGA v ECOBANK Plc (the former BCDI)

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sentenced him to 5 years of imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 Frw; the Court has as well ordered ECOBANK Plc to give Munyaburanga Jean Damascène 50,000 Frw for the undergone damages.

ECOBANK Plc appealed the above ruling and the appeal was registered as RPA 0196/12/KIG and it was heard on 13/01/2014 with Mudenge Didace still in absentia yet he had been legally summoned. The case was pronounced on 07/02/2014 and the Court held the appeal by ECOBANK Plc has merit, and moved that the appealed judgement changes on the sale issue of damages that ECOBANK Plc ought to pay and the Court thereby revoked them.

On 07/12/2021, Munyaburanga Jean Damascène applied to the Supreme Court and prayed to have the case RCOMAA 0006/07/CS reviewed. And he backed his application by some criminal verdicts that confirmed the forgery of documents that were used to summon him to Kigali Intermediate Court for a hearing over a debt he owed BCDI. The case was thereby registered as RS/REV/RCOM 00001/2022/SC.

The hearing was scheduled on 24/05/2022 and it was conducted in public with Munyaburanga Jean Damascène assisted by Counsel Murutasibe Joseph while ECOBANK Plc was represented by Counsel Nsengiyumva François. The Court had to first examine the objection of delay limits raised by ECOBANK Plc. After the Court has thereof heard from each party, it informed litigants that the decision on the raised objection will be pronounced on 15/07/2022.

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II. ISSUES OF THE CASE AND THEIR

ANALYSIS 1. Whether the claim by Munyaburanga Jean Damascène seeking for review of case RCOMAA 0006/07/CS of 19/06/2009 by the Supreme Court has been filed within the time-limits provided by the law.

In their submissions to the Court, Counsel Nsengiyumva François and Counsel Mukakabanda Athanasie representing ECOBANK Plc refer to article 171 of the Law n0 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 relating to civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure which states that the time-limits for applying for case review is within a two months’ period. However, paragraph 2 of the very article, the said time-limit does not apply to persons in the status of incapacity. They also remind that the evidence with which he backs his application is a certain court judgement of 07/02/2014; this means that he was to file his application as soon as he leant of the above judgement and he was not to exceed 06/ 04/2014. Considering that he did not observe the above time- limits, his application cannot be admitted for examination since he did not abide by the law provisions.

With regards to the three medical reports that Munyaburanga Jean Damascène filed in the system to prove of his sickness serves him nothing since none of the State certified medical doctor has ever proved that he suffered from such an illness from 06/04/2014. They even add that for the two State certified medical doctors that Munyaburanga Jean Damascène brings forth, none has ever testified that he has ever suffered from a mental illness; as the first was Doctor Gasangwa who, on MUNYABURANGA v ECOBANK Plc (the former BCDI)

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22/03/2021 issued him a certificate testifying that from 14/05/2015 he suffered from diabetes. The second is Kagame Abel, an internist of internal medicine in CHUK, who, on 20/04/2021 issued him a certificate testifying that from 2000 he had an incurable disease, yet for all this, he had been ably attending and handling related criminal cases.

With regard to the third certificate of 03/11/2021 apparently issued from Karagwe in Tanzania, Counsel Nsengiyumva François together with Counsel Mukakabanda Athanasie argue that this certicate should get no consideration since it did not emanate from a medical doctor. Counsel Nsengiyumva François adds that Munyaburanga Jean Damascène cannot account for his itinerary neither can he provide a medical transfer that took to Tanzania for treatment. They even argue that those who issued him with this certificate are not competent to do so since they are just mere medical assistants with no authority to issue a certificate testifying that a person suffers from a mental illness; he backed his arguments by personal research he conducted on google.

Counsel Nsengiyumva François has also added that Munyaburanga Jean Damascène should not invoke diabetes and relate it to article 278 of the law n0 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 relating to civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure1 since diabetes is not an illness that would prevent a person from filing a claim, more so that he is currently and ably attending the present pleadings with a lot of ease.

1 If a party delays in complying with time limits of appeal procedures due to exceptional reasons that are beyond his/her control, the time limit for filing the appeal is extended until such reasons cease to exist.

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In their submission to the Court, Munyaburanga Jean Damascène together with his legal counsel argued that though the evidence brought forth for the case review is the verdict of the case number RP 0772/10/TGI/NYGE coupled with the ruling of case RPA 0196/12/HC/KIG of 07/02/2014 by the High Court, he explained that from since the pronouncement of the verdict he had a problem of a mental illness that discomforted him till up to 03/11/2021 just as it is evidenced by medical reports issued to him from the Republic of Tanzania by doctors who attended to him. They alleged that, for the two months that followed the pronouncement of this judgement for which he seeks a review, he was incapable of initiating a lawsuit; they therefore request not to apply the related appeal time-limits just as per the provisions of article 171, paragraph 2 of the law n0 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 relating to civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure.2

In the course of the hearing, they provided the following submissions:  Munyaburanga Jean Damascène lived in Tanzania running a business since 2003 until he fell sick, that is why he should not be asked about a related medical transfer. They also added that he even has a passport and possesses an air ticket that he travelled with and he even bought there a piece of land.  With reference to article 278 of the Law n0 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 relating to civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure,

2 This time limit does not apply to persons declared incapable to sue in court during the period of their incapacity. MUNYABURANGA v ECOBANK Plc (the former BCDI)

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the two months period that followed the pronouncement of the verdict on the criminal case, should not apply since he immediately fell ill.  A medical certificate by Dr. Kagame Abel shows that since the year 2000 he suffers from diabetes, an incurable disease that causes him periods of disequilibrium, which means that he had a health incapacity.  A medical certificate issued by Dr. Gasangwa shows that he suffers from the sickness of diabetes since 2015, and this is a sickness that can healthy incapacitate to the extent of making unable to initiate a lawsuit.  A medical certificate by Nyakahanga Hospital that shows that from 2014, he suffers from a sickness that healthily makes him unable to reason. He did not have a mental illness as ECOBANK’s representatives seemed to insinuate, he simply had no capacity to undertake initiatives on his own.  With regard to the concern to a certificate by Nyakahanga Hospital which is said to have been issued by a mere Medical officer, and not a doctor, they called it a common practice in Tanzania, that a Medical officer is actually a Doctor, and a medical certificate does not necessarily bear the name of the issuer.  Concerning the failure to apply in due time yet the peremptory criminal verdict brought forth in

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evidence convicted Mudenge didace in 2012, they explained that such delay was due to a factor that ECOBANK Plc had as well appealed, and they could not attack a judgement that is yet not in force.

Paragraph one of article 171 of the Law n0 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 relating to civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure provides that the time limit within which to apply for review is two (2) months starting from the date of the discovery of the fact giving rise to the review. Paragraph 2 of the very article provides that the above time limit does not apply to persons declared incapable to sue in court during the period of their incapacity

Article 278 of the above mentioned law provides that when a party delays in complying with time limits of appeal procedures due to exceptional reasons that are beyond his/her control, the time limit for filing the appeal is extended until such reasons cease to exist.

The Court finds the judicial incapacity spoken about in paragraph 2 of article 171 of the Law n0 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 as an incapacity that subsequently comes to befall a person who had already pleaded the case that seeks for a review. It is obvious that had the incapacity came around earlier, a person would not have been able to litigate the initial pleadings without the help of a guardian, and if that was the case, the latter would be better positioned to continue the litigation till all the appeal remedies are exhausted.

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and article 278 that relates to the appeal remedies since the incapacity to initiate a claim can be one of the exceptional reasons that can be beyond of the person’s control.

No article of the Law relating to civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure defines persons with incapacity of suing but various articles of the Law n0 32/2016 of 28/08/2016 governing persons and family define persons with incapacity to exercise their civil rights, and the capacity of suing inclusive. Article 1133 of the above mentioned law recognises civil majority at 18 years of age, and it is by that age, a person is fully qualified for all acts involving civil life in relation to other people. This means that below the above age, a person has no civil capacity, unless when he/she is emancipated as article 1164 of the very Law so provides.

In the same line of argument, article 150 of the Law n0 32/2016 of 28/08/2016 provides that the competent court declares legally incapacitated an adult with mental disability and appoint a guardian for that adult when the latter lives in a habitual state of mental deficiency even if such deficiency shows lucid intervals. The guardianship highlighted in article 199 is meant to help a minor or an adult with mental disability to enjoy rights generally recognized for every person and ensure administration of his/her property, if any.

3 The age of majority is eighteen (18) years, unless provided otherwise by this Law or other law. A person having attained that age, is fully qualified for all acts involving civil life 4 An emancipated minor is capable of all acts of civil life unless otherwise provided for by the law.

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Looking at the provisions of the Law n0 32/2016 of 28/08/2016, persons with capacity of suing are minors who have not yet attained the majority age, and who have not been emancipated and adults with mental disabilities.

During the hearing of 24/05/2022, Munyaburanga Jean Damascène admitted before the court that he suffers no mental illness (and this contradicts the content of his submissions), and this therefore excludes him from persons with no capacity to sue described under paragraph one of article 171 of the above mentioned Law n0 22/2018 of 29/04/2018, in limits of the details provided by the Law n0 32/2016 of 28/08/2016 that governs persons and family.

He says that he had a sickness of which he presented three medical certificates issued some medic, and adds that this very sickness prevented for initiate the claim. The issue is now to ascertain whether the invoked sickness can be considered as a serious unpredictable event that could prevent him from initiating a lawsuit so to rhyme with the provisions of article 278 of the above highlighted Law n0 22/2018 of 29/04/2018.

The medical certificate of 03/11/2021 issued from Nyakahanga D.D Hospital of Karagwe in Tanzania by a certain Medical officer shaws that Munyaburanga Jean Damascène suffered from a mental illness from 2014, and he from since has been put on regular medications by hospitals. It also reads in times of his crisis, he experienced speech and hearing difficulties but now he has therefrom recovered5. Munyaburanga Jean

5 A client that had mental problems from the year 2014 on regular medication from hospitals up to date and now is improving, once on attack had difficult MUNYABURANGA v ECOBANK Plc (the former BCDI)

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Damascène disclosed before the Court that the sickness he had was diabetes, and it is this sickness that deprived him of his reasoning capacity and therefore prevented him from initiating the lawsuit.

Another document is a certificate of 22/03/2022 issued by Dr. Gasigwa, a medic at Kacyiru Hospital, which testifies that Munyaburanga Jean Damascène is under medication from 14/05/2015 in the said Hospital due to the illness of diabetes. There is also another certificate issued by Dr. Kagame Abel, serving at CHUK, the certificate indicates that Munyaburanga Jean Damascène is under treatment for an incurable disease from 2000, it also reads he experiences periods of disease related disequilibrium. Munyaburanga Jean Damascène together with his legal counsel advance the aforementioned disequilibrium is a health incapacity that is due to the sickness of diabetes.

Looking at the details of these medical certificates and coming back to the submissions by Munyaburanga Jean Damascène, it is this very sickness of diabetes that he has from 2000 that prevented him from filing his application in the due time-limits.

The sickness of diabetes is not a sickness that would place a person under the health incapacity that is highlighted under paragraph 2 of article 171 of the above mentioned law n0 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 since such a disease does not cause a mental illness, just as Munyaburanga Jean Damascène himself admitted that he has never had any mental disability.

in hearing and speaking with difficulties, now slight improved. Need special consideration

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And, for an illness of diabetes to be considered as a serious unpredictable event that falls in the limits of article 278 of the above mentioned Law n0 22/2018 of 29/04/2018, to the extent of justifying the extension of appeal delays-limits, it has to be putting a person into particular health conditions that deprive him/her of their capacity of thoughts, speech, hearing and writing or make them fall so unconscious that they may not even manage to delegate an attorney for their cause; and this would rhyme well with what the laws of New South Wales call incommunicate person6

The Court found that the certificates presented by Munyaburanga Jean Damascène do not read of him to have been lived in the above described unconscious health conditions. The Certificate issued by Dr Gasangwa reads that the claimant suffers from diabetes since 2014 yet the verdict that he brings forth for

6 Section 3 of the CPA defines a person under a legal incapacity as: any person who is under a legal incapacity in relation to the conduct of legal proceedings (other than an incapacity arising under section 4 of the Felons (Civil Proceedings) Act 1981 and, in particular, includes: (a) a child under the age of 18 years, and (b) an involuntary patient or forensic patient within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 2007, and (c) a person under guardianship within the meaning of the Guardianship Act 1987, and (d) a protected person within the meaning of the NSW Trustee and Guardian Act 2009, and (e) an incommunicate person, being a person who has such a physical or mental disability that he or she is unable to receive communications, or express his or her will, with respect to his or her property or affairs; Civil Trials Bench Book — Procedure generally, last updated: CTBB 47, MAR 22, Judicial Commission of New South Wales, https://www.judcom.nsw.gov.au, accessed June 6, 2022

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an evidence was decided in 2014, this certificate therefore serves him no use. The certificate issued by Dr. Kagame Abel indicates that he suffers from an incurable disease (a disease the claimant disclosed before the Court to be diabetes) and that he has it from 2000, adding that it causes him intermittent disequilibrium

From 2000, Munyaburanga Jean Damascène has been litigating in various cases that included case RC 35,782/01 of 16/01/2002, case RCOMA 0018/05/KIG of 28/09/2007, case

RCOMAA 0006/07/CS of 19/06/2009, case RP 0772/10/TGI/NYGE of 13/01/2012 and case RPA 0196/12/HC/KIG of 07/02/2014; this mean that having managed to battle all the above cases he could therefore not fail to file his application for the intended case review. Concerning the sickness related moments of disequilibrium, though he did not thereby give a thorough explanation, he did not report it to be a permanent health crisis that struck him from 2014, the year of his verdict- evidence till the time he lodged the related application.

The certificate by a Medical officer issued from Nyakahanga D.D. Hospital in Karagwe does not indicate the name of the issuer, and this made it impossible for the Court to establish the competence of the issuer. In addition to that, it indicates that he had mental problems that at times dysfunction his speech and hearing ability, and this is different from what Munyaburanga Jean Damascène has submitted before the Court as he disclosed that he has never suffered from any mental illness. He instead submitted that the sickness that is reported on the medical certificates it is an illness of diabetes of which he even took treatment from Rwanda. As it is above explained, this sickness was not to prevent him from initiating his claim, or

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mandate a lawyer to do it on his behalf just as he had been doing it for all other cases he litigated before yet sick.

Considering all the above provided elucidations, the Court moves not to admit neither to examine the claim by Munyaneza Jean Damascène that sought for a review of case n0 RCOMMA 0006/07/CS of 19/06/2009 by the Supreme Court since he did not abide by the legally prescribed appeal delays- limits 2. Determination of related eventual damages.

Munyaburanga Jean Damascène together with Counsel Murutasibe Joseph, his legal advisor asked for 10,000,000 Frw for damages due to deprivation of the right on his property for so many years since he was deprived of his property he got a psychological trauma that brought him various sickness that included a mental problem. He also requested for 5,000,000 Frw for the Counsel fee and 1,000,000 for the incurred court’s procedural expenses.

Counsel Nsengiyumva Francois together with Counsel Mukakabanda Athanasie representing ECOBANK Plc argue that the damages requested by Munyaburanga Jean Damascène have no justification since the case resulted from his failure to repay the debt as per the agreement. They instead lamented that he dragged ECOBANK Plc into unnecessary lawsuits that made ECOBANK Plc to hire a lawyer, and they requested the Court to order him pay 1,500,000 for the Counsel fee and 300,000 Frw for the case related costs.

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DETERMINATION OF THE COURT

The Court finds that Munyaburanga Jean Damascène deserves no damages whether for Counsel nor for case related expenses since he has lost the case.

The Court finds that ECOBANK Plc deserves damages for the Counsel fee and case related expenses, since they had to hire a lawyer and make a follow up on this case. The Court finds however that 1,500,000 Frw requested for is too much and they cannot account for it. They therefore do not deserve it all, and the Court in its own discretion awarded them 500,000 Frw for the Counsel fee and corroborated the 300,000 Frw for the incurred case related costs as the Court found it appropriate. III. DECISION OF THE COURT

Holds not to admit the application by Munyaburanga Jean Damascène seeking for a review of case RCOMAA 0006/07/CS of 19/06/2009 by the Supreme Court since the application did not abide by the legally acceptable appeal delays-limits;

Orders Munyaburanga Jean Damascène to give ECOBANK Plc 500,000 Frw for the Counsel fee and 300, 000 Frw for the incurred case related expenses.

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ERJB v. UWAMARIYA [Rwanda COMMERCIAL COURT – RCOM 00269/2021/TC (Rwigema, P.J.,) December 14, 2021] Commercial procedure – Jurisdiction of courts – Execution of arbitral awards – A claim requesting to compel an administrative authority to execute an arbitral award is in the jurisdiction of the Commercial Court. Facts: Company E.R.J.B Ltd entered into a contract for the construction of classrooms with the Ministry of Education, which stipulated that disputes would be settled amicably, in case of the failure to do s, the disputes shall be referred to arbitration. E.R.J.B Ltd has submitted a case to the Arbitration against the Ministry of Education arguing that it has failed to fulfil its obligation to pay for the work it has done, the arbitrators ordered the Ministry the outstanding balance with interests. E.R.J.B Ltd sued the Minister on the ground that the ministry refused to execute the award, therefore it prays that the court summons the Minister and also requested for the forced intervention of the Permanent Secretary because he may object the payment of the money ordered in the award. The Minister raised the objection related to the lack of jurisdiction, submitting that the Commercial Court has no competence to summon an administrative authority regarding issues which begun in arbitration, because they are in the jurisdiction of the Commercial High Court. MUNYABURANGA v ECOBANK Plc (the former BCDI)

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Held: A claim requesting to compel an administrative authority to execute an arbitral award is in the jurisdiction of the Commercial Court. Objections overruled. Statutes and statutory referred to: Law No 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 relating to the civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure, articles 241 and 242, Law N° 005/2008 of 14/02/2008 on arbitration and conciliation in commercial matters, article 44. No cases referred to. Judgment I. BACKGROUND OF THE CASE

E.R.J.B Ltd entered into an agreement with the Government of Rwanda (Ministry of Education) for the construction of classrooms and bathrooms at a cost of 418,397,293 Frw, and the agreement stipulated that the disputes arising from it shall be settled amicable, in case of failure to do so, the disputes shall be referred to arbitration.

E.R.J.B Ltd submitted a case to the Arbitration, alleging that the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) failed to fulfill its obligations to pay for the activities perfomed. The Arbitration ordered the Ministry to pay E.R.J.B Ltd 41,496,440 Frw of the

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outstanding debt, 37,144,831 Frw of interest on that debt, 3,000,000 Frw for procedural and counsel’s fee and 5,881USD of Arbitrator's cost.

The Arbitration also ordered the Government of Rwanda (Ministry of Education) to pay the amount mentioned above within thirty (30) days from the signing of the award, in case of the failure, the interest of 8.131%Frw per year shall be charged.

E.R.J.B Ltd adds that the arbitral award mentioned above has not been enforced by the Rwandan Government, therefore it sues before the court Uwamariya Valentine as the Minister of Education to be ordered to enforce such award, and also requesting that Karake Charles should be forced to intervene in this case so that as the Permanent Secretary in such Ministry be ordered to enforce such award.

Counsel Habumuremyi Prosper representing Uwamariya Valentine raised the objection related to the lack of the court’s jurisdiction, requesting for inadmissibility of a claim. Regarding the intervention of the Permanent Secretrary in MINEDUC, he states that it is not necessary for him to intervene because he cannot interfere with the enforcement of the decision of the court.

In this case, the Court shall determine :  Whether the Court lacks jurisdiction to hear this claim ;  Whether Karake Charles should be forced to intervene in this case.

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II. ANALYISIS OF LEGAL ISSUES 1. Whether the Court lacks jurisdiction to hear the claim

Counsel Habumuremyi Prosper representing Mujawamariya Valentine argues that article 184 of the law relating to civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure, which was based on in filling a claim, only deals with administrative cases. He further sustains that the Commercial Court has no jurisdiction to hear this case, because based on that article, the Court with the jurisdiction to summon an administrative authority for explanation is the one which made the award, therefore, since the contested award was made by Arbitration, the Commercial Court does not have the jurisdiction to summon Uwamariya for explanation, yet it is not the one who made the award that ERJB Ltd claims to be enforced, therefore he finds that the claim should be sent to Arbitration.

Counsel Yankurije Dative representing E.R.J.B Ltd submits that, based on article 1 of the law mentioned above, the law governs the proceedings of other cases while there are no other specific laws governing their proceedings, that is why the claim of E.R.J.B Ltd is based on article 184 of that law, therefore the Commercial Court has jurisdiction to hear this claim as there is no issue of arbitration in this judgment.

Counsel Habumuremyi further sustains that Mujawamariya requests that the issues related to Arbitration should be settled by the Commercial High Court, based on article 82 of the aforementioned law; and Counsel Bayingana Janvier representing E.R.J.B Ltd argues that the article would be read

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together with the provisions of article 47 of the Law on Arbitration.

DETERMINATION OF THE COURT

Article 184 of Law n0 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 relating to civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure as amended to date states that "an administrative authority that fails to execute a court judgement may be summoned to the court that issued the decision to justify reasons of the non- compliance upon request by an interested party.”

However, the Court finds that the aforementioned article is in the title of the law regarding the proceedings in administrative cases; that title consists of two categories, namely: a) How administrative cases are filed and tried; b) Sanction forcing an administrative authority to execute a court decision; in this second section, the legislator, in article 184 mentioned above, indicated that an administrative authority who refused to comply with the court’s decision can be summoned by the court that made such decision for explanation, this shows that the jurisdiction to summon the administrative authority is held by the court that decided the case, especially since it is the one that can hear the dispute on the execution of the decision it ordered than another court that has not heard the case, so it is clear that if the case was decided by the Commercial Court, there is no restriction on the jurisdiction to summon an administrative authority wo refused to execute its decisions; this was upheld by the Commerce High Court in the case RCOM 00014/2019/HCC decided on 10/04/2019, where it ordered to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Rwanda Philip COTTON to do everything possible to ensure that the University pays CELA Company Ltd MUNYABURANGA v ECOBANK Plc (the former BCDI)

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54,915,000 Frw by 10/06/2019, he will be charged with 250,000 Frw every day of the penalty forcing him to execute the case lost by the university against the company1.

With regard to the context of this case where a claim was filed before the Court against the officials of the Ministry of Education to explain their failure to enforce the arbitration award of 15/05/2020, the Court finds that the above-mentioned law does not provide anything to the official who refused to comply with the Arbitration award, that he may be summoned to the court to explain the reasons of the non- compliance.

It finds that the arbitration is concluded by the pronouncement of the decision in substance or the order taken by the Arbitral Tribunal, at the termination of the arbitral proceedings as provided under the article 44 of Law n0 005/ 2008 of 14/02/2008 Law on arbitration and conciliation in commercial matters, this law does not provide for anything about the continuation of the arbitral proceedings relating to the enforcement of its awards, the administrative authority is charged to provide for explanation of non- compliance.

It also finds that there is no arbitration agreement between ERJB Ltd and Uwamariya Valentine as stipulated in article 9 of the above-mentioned Law relating to Arbitration, so that it could deprive the court of the jurisdiction to hear this case as stipulated in article 10 of that law.

The Court finds that since the subject matter "Requesting the Court to order the an administrative authority to enforce the

1 Judgment RCOM 00014/2019/HCC decided by the Commercial High Court on 10/04/2019, CELA Company Ltd v. Philip Cotton paragraph 8 & 27.

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arbitration award of 15/05/2020" was not within the jurisdiction of the arbitration, in case there is no other provision of law about that issue, no court should have jurisdiction to hear this case other than the Commercial Court because it is the one that has the jurisdiction to hear commercial issues in case the parties have not agreed that the disputes shall be settled by Arbitration and the award allegedly not enforced by the administrative authorities of the Ministry of Education is about the public procurement, which falls in the jurisdiction of this Court2, therefore it is the one that should summon an administrative authority in question for explanation of the reasons of non-compliance with the decision relating to those tenders because no other Court is competent accordingly and no other court can better understand the reasons why the accused administrative authority did not comply with the order than the competent court that hears cases like those ones in case they are not submitted to Arbitration.

The above-mentioned statements are also upheld by the fact that the cases decided by the arbitral tribunal (arbitral awards) are affixed of enforcement formula by the Court registrar, whereby they can be forcibly executed after being checked and approved by the court registrar as provided under articles 241 and 242 of Law n0 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 relating to civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure as amended to date, thus, due to the fact an arbitral award of 13/05/2020 was affixed of the enforcement formula by Commercial Court registrar on 29/6/20203, for voluntary or compulsory enforcement, nothing can prevent the Court that

2 Article 81 of the Law n°30/2018 of 02/06/2018 determining the jurisdiction of courts, paragraph 1, subparagraph 16°. 3 Arbitral award against E.R.J.B Ltd and State of Rwanda (MINEDUC), made on 13/05/2020, page 19. MUNYABURANGA v ECOBANK Plc (the former BCDI)

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affixed the enforcement formula from summoning the administrative authority who refused to comply with the award to explain the reasons of non-compliance, upon the request of the interested party; therefore the Commercial Court has the jurisdiction over the claim brought by ERJB Ltd relating to the enforcement of the Arbitration Award.

Paragraph 3 of article 54 of the International Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes Between States and Nationals of Other States (ICSID Convention4) signed by Rwanda on April 21, 1978 and approved by Rwanda on November 14, 19795, reads that " the execution of arbitral awards shall be governed by ordinary laws governing judgments in the country in which they are executed."6 The Court finds that although in this case the arbitral award is about the State of Rwanda and ERJB Ltd as a Rwandan company, there is no obstacle that the execution of that award is governed by the laws concerning judgment execution in Rwanda (laws concerning the execution of judgments in the State in which territories such execution is sought).

It finds that the laws governing judgment execution in the country do not provide for the seizure of the property of the State of Rwanda in case it lost the case, but article 183 of Law n0 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 relating to civil, commercial, labour and

4 Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States (also known as ICSID Convention). 5 Internet website https://icsid.worldbank.org/sites/default/files/ICSID-3.pdf, visited on 11/12/2021 6 Article 54 (3) of the ICSID Convention “Execution of the award shall be governed by the laws concerning the execution of judgments in force in the State in whose territories such execution is sought.”

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administrative procedure as amended to date, paragraph 3 provides that " When a judicial decision is final and binding against the Government, the Kigali City, a District or a Government institution or organ for the payment of a sum of money fixed by the decision, the amount must be paid within a period of six (6) months from the time of notification of the decision", if not paid, an administrative authority that fails to execute a court judgement may be summoned to the court that issued the decision to justify reasons of the non- compliance, if the reasons are without merit, the court imposes a sanction for non compliance to the administrative authority as long as the judgement remains unexecuted as stipulated in the article 184 of that law.

It finds that there are no specific laws governing the execution of arbitral awards when they are not implemented by the Rwandan State, the execution should be governed by the ordinary laws governing judgment execution as stipulated in the international convention mentioned above, thus, due to the fact that an administrative authority of the State is summoned to explain the reasons of non-compliance with the decisions in the ordinary judgment that the State lost, and what prevented him from being summoned to the Court at the same level with the Arbitration organ that made the award (which arbitrates at the first level the cases related to public procurement) to explain the reasons of the non-compliance with that decision, the Commercial Court has the jurisdiction to summon an official of Ministry of Education to explain the reasons that prevented the State of Rwanda (MINEDUC) from complying with the arbitral award in case against E.R.J.B Ltd; therefore, the objection of the lack of court’s jurisdiction presented by Uwamariya Valentine is unfounded. MUNYABURANGA v ECOBANK Plc (the former BCDI)

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2. Whether Karake Charles should be forced to intervene in this case.

Counsel Bayingana requests the Court that Karake Charles as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education shall be forced to intervene because as the chief budget officer he can interfere with the payment to E.R.J.B. of the amount of money that the State of Rwanda was ordered to pay in Arbitration.

Counsel Habumuremyi states that he finds that the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry has no power to interfere with the judgment execution, so there is no need for his forced intervention in the case.

DETERMINATION OF THE COURT

Paragraph 1 of article 115 of the above-mentioned law relating to procedure, reads that "Forced intervention in a case is requested by a party who whishes to call upon a person who is not party to the case to intervene and take part in the case so that he/she does not lodge third party opposition.”

Basing on the aforementioned article, the Court finds that the forced intervention is done to the party who wants the party forced to intervene may be held responsible for payment, which is only possible if the claimant intends to let the party forced to intervene to know the ruling of the case in order to prevent him from the third party opposition; this was also upheld by the Court

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of Appeal in the judgment RCOMA 00018/2018/CA- RCOMAA00024/2018/CA decided on 16/11/2018.7

It finds that in this case, the issues that the Court is required to consider is "to order to the Minister of Education and the Permenant Secretary in the Ministry of Education in Rwanda to enforce the award made by the arbitral tribunal" and "To determine whether the Minister of Education and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education should be ordered to pay compensation in this case." The Court finds that the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education should not be held responsible without being given the opportunity for explanation, therefore, basing on Article 115, he must be forced to intervene in case for pleading so that he will not interfere with the its execution especially since he is also in charge of the budget in that Ministry. III. DECISION OF THE CASE

Holds that the objection raised by Uwamariya Valentine in the case RCOM 00269/2021/TC are unfounded.

Holds that the Commercial Court has the jurisdiction to hear the claim brought by ERJB Ltd;

Holds that Karake Charles, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, shall be forced to intervene in this instant case.

7 Judgment RCOMAA 00018/2018/CA-RCOMAA00024/2018/CA decided by the Court of Appeal on 16/11/2018, against Murekatete Laetitia, Kajeguhakwa Valens, SGP Ltd, SP Ltd and GT Bank, paragraph 41.

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Holds that the hearing will be resumed on December 28, 2021 at 08:30 a.m.

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CASES IN MERIT

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CIVIL CASES

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BAYINGANA ET AL v NDABAMENYE [Rwanda SUPREME COURT - RS/INJUST/RC 00012/2019/SC (Mukamulisa P.J, Nyirinkwaya, Hitiyaremye, Karimunda and Muhumuza, J.) July 22, 2022] Civil procedure – Contract – Representation contract – Advocate – Contract of representation in court – Even if an Advocate is presumed to have a power of attorney to represent his or her client, in case the power of attorney he or she was entitled to is doubted, he or she has to prove the entitled mandate for good conduct of the trial. Civil procedure – Contract – Contract of representation of the litigant – Consequences of representing the litigant who did not give you the power of attorney – Those who represent others in courts do it under the power of attorney given to them – When an advocate has pleaded a case without being given the power of attorney, all his or her acts are declared null and void, and consequently, all things regain their status quo as before the hearing of those cases. Facts: Bayingana bought a plot of land from Ndabamenye through public auction, and the plot was later registered on him and his wife called Bazigaga, but after, Ndabamenye filed a claim before the Intermediate Court of Nyarugenge requesting the latter to hold that the disputed plot of land and all assets on it belong to him and requested also to invalidate and deregister the title deed registered to Bayingana and Bazigaga. The Court found the claim baseless because the respondents got that plot in accordance with the law. Ndabamenye appealed against the rulings to the High Court stating that the Intermediate Court did not examine the 65

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objection relating to the fact that the issue in question was litigated in another case and that he was deprived of the right to confrontation. The High Court held that the disputed plot of land belongs to Ndabamenye, thus, the plot nº 17 with UPI: 1/01/09/03/1077 belongs to him. During the hearing, the Court held that it will conduct investigation by going to the location of the subject matter, such investigation was conducted and Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix requested that the person called Zigirababiri Protais be interviewed as witness. In his interview, such witness informed the Court that Ndabamenye Eraste passed away in February 2020 in South Africa. After being informed of the probable death of Ndabamenye while the Counsel who pretends to represent him did not inform the Court, the latter, after examining the documents in the case file and found that therein there are confusing information especially those relating to the identification of Ndabamenye, found that there is a doubt as to the power of attorney given to Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix claiming to represent him, and this as an issue of public order which must firstly be examined and decided on. The Court requested Counsel Rudakemwa to produce evidence of the power of attorney he was given; and to find and submit, together with the family of Ndabamenye, the death certificate for Ndabamenye. The time-limit of bringing such certificate expired with no result and this caused the Court to firstly examine whether the Legal Counsel was really given the power of attorney to represent Ndabamenye. Counsel Rudakemwa avers that he has such power to represent Ndabamenye from the previous cases and that he is paid thereof. He added that he lastly talked to him in early 2019.

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The applicant for case review on ground of injustice finds Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix’s behaviour suspicious and that it is even hard to believe that what he tells to the Court as to the death of his client is true, that behaviour however put much weight on the issue presented in the High Court as to the fact that he had no power of attorney to represent Ndabamenye Eraste because in the previous hearings of the lower courts, it was evident that he was not fully informed about his client and the subject matter. Held: 1. Even if an Advocate is presumed to have a power of attorney to represent his or her client, in case the power of attorney he or she was entitled to is doubted, he or she has to prove the entitled mandate for good conduct of the trial.as 2. When an Advocate has pleaded a case without being given the power of attorney, all his or her acts are declared null and void, and consequently, all things regain their status quo as before the hearing of those cases. RC 00276/2016/TGI/NYGE &RCA 00367/2016/HC/KIG are quashed. Statutes and statutory instruments referred to: Law nº 32/2016 of 28/08/2016 governing persons and family, article 15; Law nº 83/2013 of 11/09/2013 establishing the Bar Association in Rwanda and determining its organization and functioning, article 2 and 47; Law nº 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 relating to civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure, article 9 and 121. BAYINGANA ET AL v NDABAMENYE

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Cases referred to: Uwitonze et al v Rwigema, RCAA0028/11/CS rendered by the Supreme Court on 11/05/2012, Rwanda Law Report, book 3, nº 14, July, 2012, P.58-60; Nyamuhungu v Rusenyi Coffee Growers, RS/REV/RCOMA003/12/CS rendered by the Supreme Court on 06/09/2013; Prosecution v RWIGASS CIGARETTE COMPANY SARL et al, RPAA 0056/06/CS - RPAA0155/06/CS rendered by the Supreme Court on 30/05/2008. Authors cited: Serge Guinchard, Droit et Pratique de la procédure civile, 8 éd, Paris, Dalloz,2014/2015, p.544; Natalie Fricero and Pierre Julien, Procédure civile, 5e édition LGDJ, Extenso éditions, Paris,2014, page 54-55; H. Solus–R. Perrot, Droit Judiciaire Privé, t.3: Procédure de première instance, Sirey, Revue internationale de droit compare,1991, P.45; D. Cholet,” Représentation et assistance en justice”, Rép.pr.civ,2012(actualisation Juin 2016}; D. Cholet, “Représentation et assistance en justice “, art.cit. Spéc. nº 72; Antoine Bolzele, Règles du mandat ad litem: inapplication au tiers qui mandate un avocat, https://www.dalloz- actualite.fr/flas/regles-du-mandat-ad-litem-inapplication- au-tiers-qui-mandate-un-avocat,10 January 2019, consultee le 07 juin 2022.

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Judgment I.

BACKGROUND OF THE CASE

On 13/07/1996, Bayingana Ntango Théodomir bought from Ndabamenye Eraste, through public auction, the plot of land and the houses built on it, located in Kiyovu Cell, Nyarugenge Sector, at a price of 12,600,000 Frw basing on decision nº 285/96 of 04/04/1996 selling in a public auction the property of Ndabamenye Eraste in order to settle the debt he owed to the Bank formerly called BACAR S.A.

Ndabamenye Eraste seized the Intermediate Court of Nyarugenge requesting the latter to hold that the plot nº 1077 and all assets on it belong to him, requesting also to invalidate and deregister the title deed given to Bayingana Ntango Théodomir and Bazigaga Adèle.

In the judgment RC 00276/2016/TGI/NYGE rendered on 27/07/2016, the Intermediate Court of Nyarugenge held that the claim filed by Ndabamenye Eraste is baseless, that the disputed plot belongs to Bayingana Ntango Théodomir and his wife Bazigaga Adèle because they owned it in accordance with the law and that there is no reason for invalidating their property title deed.

Ndabamenye Eraste appealed against that judgment to the High Court stating that the Intermediate Court of Nyarugenge did not examine an objection relating to the fact that the issue in question was litigated in other case and that he was deprived of the right to confrontation. BAYINGANA ET AL v NDABAMENYE

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In the judgment RCA 00367/2016/HC/KIG rendered on 12/01/2018, the High Court held that the appeal by Ndabamenye Eraste has merit, that the plot which formerly had nº 17 with now UPI: 1/01/09/03/1077 belongs to Ndanbamenye Eraste.

Bayingana Ntango Théodomir wrote to the President of the Court of Appeal requesting the latter to examine the injustice he suffered in that case, hence review it in case it is approved by the President of the Supreme Court. In the decision nº 212/CJ/SC of 05/12/2019, the President of the Supreme Court approved the review of the judgment RCA 000367/2016/HC/KIG, and the application was registered on RS/INJUST/RC 00012/2019/SC.

The case was heard in public on 12/10/2020, Bayingana Ntango Théodomir being represented by Counsel Mbarushimana Aimé, Bayingana Ntango Christine represented by Counsel Rukarishya Philemon whereas Ndabamenye Eraste was represented by Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix. The Court first examined a statement presented by Bayingana Ntango Théodomir indicating that he had a case with his deceased wife called Bazigaga Adèle. After finding out that the case file reveals that they were legally married and that they co-owned the property in litigation, the Court found, on the side of the claimant, that the case must be followed up only by Bayingana Ntango Théodomir.

The Court examined the objection raised by Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix representing Ndabamenye Eraste who stated that Bayingana Ntango Théodomir did not abide by the deadline for the application for the case review on ground of injustice, and the Court found it ungrounded after finding that Bayingana Ntango Théodomir filed his application prior to 30

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days provided under article 56, paragraph one of Law nº 30/2018 of 02/06/2018 determining the jurisdiction of courts.

With regard to the fact that Bayingana Ntango Christine requested to be excluded from the instant case because she has no interest in it, the Court found no reason to exclude her from it since article 63, paragraph one of Law nº 30/2018 of 02/06/2018 determining the jurisdiction of courts provides that when the Supreme Court approves an application for review of a judgment on grounds of being vitiated by injustice, the case is heard anew and in the presence of all parties.

In the hearing of 12/10/2020, the Court declared that it will visit the location of the subject matter to carry out investigation, and on 29/12/2020, the investigation was conducted, and Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix requested the Court to interview Zigirababiri Protais as witness. In his interview, that witness informed the Court about the death of Ndabamenye Eraste in South Africa in February 2020.

After being informed of the probable death of Ndabamenye Erastewhile the Counsel who claims to represent him did not inform the Court, after examining also the documents in the case file and realizing that there is confusing information, especially with regard to the identification of Ndabamenye Eraste, the Court found the doubt as to the mandate he probably gave to Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix who claims to represent him, it found it as an issue of public order which must be first examined.

The instant case was reheard on 06/01/2021, the litigants being represented as before, each party replied on the information in hand about the probable death of Ndabamenye Eraste and to BAYINGANA ET AL v NDABAMENYE

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know whether he mandated Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix to represent him.

After those debates, the Court, basing on the issues that arose from the case as above mentioned, ordered Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix to present the evidence of the probable power of attorney he was given not later than 20/01/2021, he was also ordered, with the aid of the family members of Ndabamenye Eraste, to look, not later than 08/03/2021, for his death certificate and a document issued by a competent authority that shows the successors of Ndabamenye Eraste who must take over with the case.

The case was called afresh on 19/10/2021 with all parties represented as before. After finding that the order of the Court was not followed, the Court held that it must first examine the issue relating to determine whether there is a mandate given to Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix to the representation of Ndabamenye Eraste, informing the litigants that the decision on that issue will be made on 29/10/2021.

In the course of examination of the case, on 27/10/2021, the Court found documents of Mushimiyimana Pauline, Nyirabagenzi Pelagie and Mukasine Marie Louise which Counsel Jean Felix Rudakemwa put in the casefile stating that they are heirs of Ndabamenye Eraste, and that they gave him a power of attorney to represent them in the case. This caused the Court to render the interlocutory judgment of 29/10/2021, holding to reopen the case, and the hearing to be resumed on 11/01/2022.

On the same date, Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix inserted in the casefile a document issued in Swaziland (Eswatini) which shows that Ndabamenye Eraste passed away on

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04/02/2020 in Mbabane. This document reads that it was issued upon application by Nyirabagenzi Pelagie on 05/02/2020.

After finding that the document in question was issued abroad and that it was not certified through Rwandan Embassy, the Court, basing on article 15 of Law nº 32/2016 of 28/08/2016 governing persons and family as revised as today1 ordered Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix to submit to it not later than 10/03/2022, the death certificate issued by the competent authority showing that Ndabamenye Eraste has died. Such document was never submitted to the Court.

The case was reheard on 16/05/2022, Bayingana Ntango Théodomir being represented by Counsel Ndahiro Isaac, Bayingana Ntango Christine represented by Counsel Rukarishya Philémon, Ndabamenye Eraste was not represented, but Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix who claims to represent him has sent Counsel Habiyambere Aphrodis to request on his behalf the adjournment of the case on ground that he has had other case in the Primary Court of Kicukiro.

On that date, again the representatives of Bayingana Ntango Théodomir and Bayingana Ntango Christine submitted to the Court a document issued by the Government of Eswatini (Ministry of Home Affairs) which mentions different things including the death certificate of Ndabamenye Eraste already submitted to the Court, which states that “the said certificate is

1 It provides that the proof of death is established by a death record issued by the competent authority except where the law provides for any other form of proof.

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not authentic. The Court notified the litigants that it will examine that document later if the case is resumed.

With regard to the request of Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix to adjourn the case , the Court found it baseless on ground that he was aware of the date to which the hearing was rescheduled, it reminded also that in the instant case there were issues which delayed the hearing, the first one being to know whether Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix was given the power of attorney to represent Ndabamenye Eraste, and an issue of not submitting to the Court a legally issued death certificate proving that Ndabamenye Eraste has died. It decided to first examine the first issue whose outcome will determine whether the hearing of the case will be resumed. II. ANALYSIS OF LEGAL ISSUES IN

THE CASE 1. Whether Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix was mandated to represent Ndabamenye Eraste

Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix avers that he was mandated by Ndabamenye Eraste to represent him from the previous cases and that there is no issue with payment. He states that he lastly talked to his client in early 2019, that he would give him the report after the case is over. He also states that he talks about this case with the siblings of Ndabamenye Eraste who informed him of the death of Ndabamenye Eraste in February 2020, but he is not yet given his death certificate due to the Covid- 19 pandemic in different countries occasioning lockdown measures, thus preventing them from looking for it.

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He added that in case there is no evidence proving that Ndabamenye Eraste has died, he still has the right to represent him in the case. After submitting the death certificate of Ndabamenye Eraste to the Court, he was asked if he still represents him, and responded that the Court itself will decide on it.

The Court asked him if he has a proof that he usually communicated with his client, such as through writing and messages or through other means, and he responded that it was only on the telephone.

Counsel Mbarushimana Aimé assisting Bayingana Ntango Théodomir and Counsel Rukarishya Philemon assisting Bayingana Ntango Christine state that it is so sad for Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix to know the death of Ndabamenye Eraste whom he pretends to represent and opted to remain silent until it was known by the Court itself through investigation. They state that the information in question which was not given before occasioned a legal issue in the instant case because it cannot continue when it is said that the litigant has demised. They added that by the time Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix got that information, he had to reveal it and provide the death certificate of his client as Counsel Mbarushimana Aimé did upon the demise of the wife of Bayingana Ntango Théodomir.

They find also the behaviour of Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix to be worrying, that it is even difficult to believe that his statements before the Court with regard to the death of his client, to be true, that behaviour is instead supporting the issue they highlighted in the High Court that he was not given the mandate of representing Ndabamenye Eraste since it was evident, in the previous hearings in the lower courts that he was not fully BAYINGANA ET AL v NDABAMENYE

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informed about his client and about the subject matter. They state however, that the High Court did not consider their worries, now that issue in question continues to persist before the instant Court, it should be taken account of. They requested the Court to hold that Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix was not given the mandate, thus, what he did without being mandated to be null and void.

DETERMINATION OF THE COURT

Article 2, paragraph one, subparagraph 1, a. of Law nº 83/2013 of 11/09/2013 establishing the Bar Association in Rwanda and determining its organization and functioning, reads that an Advocate is a person in the legal profession charged with assisting and representing litigants before administrative entities, courts, and other decision-making organs, whereas article 47 of that law reads that only advocates shall be entitled to plead before courts, and that an advocate pleads as authorized representative without justifying any other power of attorney, unless the law requests a special mandate.

The legal expert D. Cholet emphasizes also that an advocate is not obliged to justify that he was mandated to represent a litigant before the courts, because there is a principle that he or she is presumed to have the power of attorney when he or she comes to court wearing a dress of advocate. He states also that the principle in question has exception because it is not always abided by when there is evidence as to suspecting that an advocate has no mandate (…l’avocat n’a pas à prouver qu’il a reçu mandat du plaideur pour le représenter et l’assister en justice, l’existence de ce mandat est présumée. Cette dispense est traditionnelle et provient du fait que les avocats sont crus «

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sur leur robe ». Il s’agit néanmoins d’une présomption simple qui peut être combattue par la preuve contraire).2

With regard to the representation, other legal expert Antoine Bolzele puts that it is not a must for an advocate to justify that he/she was given a power of attorney by his or her clients because there is always a presumption that he or she was mandated. He says that the issue related to the mandate is usually raised by the person who has given the mandate, but the presumption that an advocate has the mandate may be questioned by the other party in the case basing on different grounds such as death certificate or identification which is different from the identification of the litigants whom he or she represents. (Grâce au mandat ad litem, il (l’avocat) n’aura pas à demander à toutes les personnes qu’il représente de lui remettre un mandat, il bénéficie d’une présomption simple qui peut être renversée …).3

2 D. Cholet, « Représentation et assistance en justice », Rép.pr.civ, 2012 (actualisation juin 2016). 3 Antoine Bolzele, Règles du mandat ad litem: inapplication au tiers qui mandate un avocat, https://www.dalloz- actualite.fr/flash/regles-du-mandat- ad-litem-inapplication-au-tiers-qui-mandate-un-avocat#. YsVy2HZBzIU, 10 janvier 2019, consultée le 07 Juin 2022. Affaire Civ. 1re, 12 déc. 2018, FS- P+B, n° 17-19.387 rendue par la cour de cassation, première chambre civile entre l’Association française d’épargne et de retraite (l’AFER), constituée par Gérard C... et André D. contre Mme Catherine C... et M. Pascal C..., et contre Mme Claude E..., veuve D.: ‘’ En général, l’intérêt de soulever l’absence de mandat provient du mandant, quand celui-ci entend contester les actes réalisés par son mandataire. Ici l’attaque vient de l’adversaire à l’instance qui estimait par une série d’indices tirés de décès et de mauvaises adresses que la procédure était engagée à l’insu d’un certain nombre de plaideurs ou de leurs héritiers, BAYINGANA ET AL v NDABAMENYE

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Other legal scholars like T H. Solus and R. Perrot sustain that the presumption granted to auxiliaries of justice makes it possible to reduce the hypotheses of irregularity of representation within the framework of the mandate ad litem. Indeed, in the context of legal representation, although the possible representatives are designated by law, the representation is only conventional, the mandate ad litem is always contractual (La présomption accordée aux auxiliaires de justice permet de réduire les hypothèses d’irrégularité de la représentation dans le cadre du mandat ad litem. En effet, dans le cadre de la représentation en justice bien que les possibles représentants soient désignés par la loi, la représentation n’est que conventionnelle, le mandat ad litem est toujours contractuel).4

Linking the provisions of the aforementioned law with the explanations of legal scholars highlights the following important points: i. There is a simple presumption (Présomption simple) that in the Court, an advocate is presumed to have a power of attorney without justifying it; ii. That principle may be reversed (renversée) if the mandate is doubtful, iii. If this is the case, advocates are obliged to justify that they have the mandate of representation before the Court.

4 H. SOLUS – R. Perrot, Droit judiciaire privé, t.3: Procédure de première instance, Sirey, Revue internationale de droit comparé,1991, P.45.

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Those important points were referred to in the case of Uwitonze Nasira et al against Rwigema Jeanne Chantal, where the Supreme Court explained that even if an advocate is not ordinarily obliged to justify his or her mandate, if need be, the Court may ask him or her for that in a bid of the good administration of the case. The same Court also stated that even if an advocate has the power to plead before the courts without being asked to justify his/her mandate, it does not mean that he or she may represent a person without being mandated, and even if he or she is not obliged to justify it, this does not mean that he or she cannot justify it when asked to do it, and show its scope, be it in the courts or out of the courts , because practicing the profession of advocates grants only a simple presumption (Présomption simple).5

The foregoing was again upheld by the Supreme Court in another case of Nyamuhungu Natukunda Jane and Rusenyi Coffee Growers, where it stated that even if there is nowhere in the laws that the court is obliged to ask for the justification of the mandate of an advocate only on condition that he/she wears a dress of advocates, practicing the profession of advocates grants only simple presumption, but if need be, he or she should justify it.6

Again in the judgement of Prosecution, RWIGASS CIGARETTE COMPANY SARL and Pierre Marie Noah, the

5 See RCAA0028/11/CS Nasira Uwitonze, Rwagasana Jean Paul, ECOBANK RWANDA/Rwigema Jeanne Chantal rendered on 11/05/2012, Rwanda Law Reports, Book 3, Nº 14, July,2012, P.58-60. 6 See the judgement RS/REV/RCOMA003/12/CS Nyamuhungu Natukunda Jane, Cooperative CACAM and BCR, Rusenyi Coffee Growers and BIGIRIMANA Robert decided on 06/09/2013, par.23 BAYINGANA ET AL v NDABAMENYE

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Supreme Court held that an advocate is not allowed to represent the litigant because it is clear that they no longer have any contact, they never communicate, because in that case, the advocate stated that he/she does not know his or her client address, and he or she does not even present the mandate for representation of his client before the Supreme Court, which implies that he or she was no longer presumed to have the mandate of representation.7

All above given explanations are in conformity with the decision in the instant case which this Court has taken right away on the bench in the hearing of 6/01/2021, where it explained that even an advocate is usually presumed to have the mandate of representing his or client, if his or her probable mandate is doubted, he or she is obliged to justify it for the good administration of the case. It is against this background that Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix was asked to justify it. Stating that he has no issue with his client because she/he pays him well, it is not enough for the Court to confirm that he has the mandate, because, as it was explained, if need be, an advocate is obliged to justify the power of attorney from his or her client.

The Court finds that, regarding the instant case, as it was mentioned, there were different things that occurred in it which occasioned the doubt about the power of attorney which Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix was probably given by Ndabamenye Eraste to represent him as it is explained in the following paragraphs.

Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix admits that in February 2020 he had information that the death of Ndabamenye Eraste

7 See the judgement RPAA 0056/06/CS-RPAA 0155/06/CS of 30/05/2008

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probably occurred in the same period, but he did not reveal it to the Court nor inform other litigants, it went on from that date until the schedule of the pre-trial meeting on 30/07/2020, it was postponed to 08/09/2020, he kept secret that information until the pre-trial conferences were over. Additionally, the hearing started without informing the Court of the probable death of one of the litigants who was called to appear. The first hearing was on 12/10/2020, Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix appeared as a representing Ndabamenye Eraste, but he did not inform the Court that the person whom he represents has probably died, however he was surely aware of the resulting severe consequences on the proceedings considering the provisions of article 121 of Law nº 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 relating to civil, commercial, labor and administrative procedure.8

As it was again reminded, the Court was unexpectedly informed of that when it went to the location of the subject matter for investigation purpose, in Nyarugenge District, by one of the witnesses given by Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix named Zigirababiri Protais.

The Court reminds that it had ordered Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix to submit to the Court the power of attorney he was given not later than 20/01/2021, but as it was

8 If the judicial proceedings are not yet closed and the court finds that an objection regarding the change of civil status, termination of employment or the death of one of the parties, the surviving party informs the court of those having capacity to take over the case and these are summoned according to the summoning procedure. If the summoned persons referred to in Paragraph One of this Article do not appear to take over the case within the time-limit allowed, the case is tried in default in accordance with laws applicable to parties having refused to appear before court.

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already stated, until now, he did not bring any evidence in relation to that power of attorney, such as showing its nature and scope, or any other evidence showing his collaboration with Ndabamenye Eraste.

Besides the fact that there is no message which counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix revealed to the Court even though he was asked to do so, the fact that he states that he lastly talked to Ndabamenye Eraste in early 2019, indicates that he had no information about him for the whole year and in addition to this, he stated that he had no clue about his client whereabouts. After stating all these, it is hard to believe that there was a collaboration between them. The fact that Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix has known that Ndabamenye Eraste has died in February 2020 but nevertheless he continued to appear before the Court as his representative, this supports the fact that what he did in the instant Court, he did it without being mandated by Ndabamenye Eraste, therefore, he was not competent to do so. What remains is to examine whether in the previous cases he was mandated by whom he has represented.

The Court has examined the indictment on the first instance, and found, as it appears in IECMS in originating cases, that the claim started in the Intermediate Court of Nyarugenge on 05/02/2016, the claimant being Ndabamenye Eraste, son of Ndimurwango Michel and Nyirashamuka, Esther, ID:119808001009806, email: ndabamenyeraste@gmail.com, Tel+250788559057.

The above identity card number indicates that Ndabamenye Eraste was born in 1980, however other documents which Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix put in the casefile indicate that he was born in 1937.

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When the Court tried to relate the information in IECMS and that of NIDA (National Identification Agency)9 the system showed that the ID number presumed to be of Ndabamenye Eraste does not exist (invalid). It is evident that Ndabamenye Eraste of whom it is said to have filed the claim, is different from the one Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix states he represents because there is a difference of 43 years between them.

Additionally, the appeal submissions indicate that the appellant was Ndabamenye Eraste, having ID: 1196780003189009, which shows that he was born in 1967. Notwithstanding the difference between this birth year from the one presented in the Intermediate Court, the verification in IECMS which had the purpose of relating the information from the system to that from NIDA, it was evident that the ID number purported to be of Ndabamenye Eraste is instead registered on Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix.

What is clear is that the identification of Ndabamenye Eraste given by Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix contains false information as it has been shown and the information in question is contradictory.

The foregoing explanations lead the Court to decide that there is no evidence proving that it is Ndabamenye Eraste who mandated Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix to represent him in the previous cases.

Basing on all the foregoing, the Court finds, from the outset of this case up to the instant Court, that Counsel

9 Courts are authorized in order to be able to verify if the identifications given by the parties are true. BAYINGANA ET AL v NDABAMENYE

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Rudakemwa Jean Felix has represented Ndabamenye Eraste but without being mandated, he was not competent to do what he did. The following issue is about determining the resulting consequences.

2. To determine what happens when it is proven that an advocate represented the person before the court without being mandated

The laws of Rwanda are silent about the consequences resulting from the acts of an advocate who was not given the mandate, including the cases which he pleaded without being mandated by the person he or she represented.

Even if it is the case, basing on article 9 of Law nº 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 relating to civil, commercial, labour, and administrative procedure10 in resolving the issue, other methods can be used, including the opinions of legal scholars. In the same vein, Serge Guinchard, a legal scholar, states that whenever there is a representation before the court by the person who is not competent to do so, the resulting consequences is to invalidate the indictment and all subsequent acts which were done in the merit of the case (En cas de représentation par une personne non habilitée, la sanction est une nullité de fond qui atteint l'acte introductif d'instance et toute la procédure subséquente)11.

10 That article says that a judge adjudicates a case basing on relevant rules of Law. In the absence of such rules, the judge adjudicates according to the rules he or would establish if he or she had to act as a legislator, relying on precedents, customs, general principles of law and doctrine. 11 Serge Guinchard, Droit et pratique de la procédure civile, 8 éd., Paris, Dalloz, 2014/2015, p.

544.

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What is said by that a legal scholar is reiterated by others like Natalie Fricero and Pierre Julien, where they explain that those who represent others before the court do it in the scope of their mandate, when there is no mandate, all acts which were done thereof are invalidated. (Les auxiliaires de justice représentent et assistent les parties dans le cadre d’un mandat ad litem obligatoire ou facultatif …. Le défaut de pouvoir du représentant, est sanctionné par une nullité pour irrégularité de fond).12

D. Cholet also emphasizes that if an advocate has pleaded without the mandate, all he or she has done are invalidated (La conséquence sera alors la nullité de tous les actes de la procédure effectués par un mandataire qui n’était pas habilité…).13

Regarding the instant case, the Court, basing on the foregoing explanations, finds that in case it was shown that Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix represented Ndabamenye Eraste from the Intermediate Court of Nyarugenge up to this level without being mandated, he was not given the power of attorney by Ndabamenye Eraste of representing him in litigation, therefore, he was not competent to do what he did. III. DECISION OF THE COURT

Holds that there is no mandate given to Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix by Ndabamenye Eraste to represent him in the cases, thus he was not competent to do what he did;

12 Natalie Fricero and Pierre Julien, Procédure civile, 5ème édition, édition LGDJ, Extenso éditions, Paris, 2014, page 54-55 13 D. Cholet, « Représentation et assistance en justice », art.cit. Spéc. n° 72 BAYINGANA ET AL v NDABAMENYE

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Orders that the judgment RC 00276/2016/TGI/NYGE rendered by the Intermediate Court of Nyarugenge on 27/07/2016 and judgment RCA 00367/2016/HC/KIG rendered by the High Court on 12/01/2018 in which Counsel Rudakemwa Jean Felix represented Ndabamenye Eraste are quashed, things regain their status quo as before the hearing of those cases.

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UWIMANA v KAGITARE [Rwanda SUPREME COURT – RS/INJUST/RC 00002/2018/SC (Mukamulisa, P.J., Nyirinkwaya, Cyanzayire, Rukundakuvuga and Hitiyaremye, J.) February 21, 2020] Family law – Divorce – Sharing of the matrimonial property – A divorce ruling terminates the community property regime and the spouses share their assets equally or in any other consented way – In case of the existence of common assets unrevealed at the time of divorce nothing prevents the interested person to sue at the time of their discovery in order to also subject them to sharing. Facts: The case was initiated for the first time in the Primary Court of Kirehe where Uwimana sued Kagitare for 3.6 ha of area of forest, alleging that the said land belongs to her and her husband Mwumvaneza with whom they got legally married before getting divorced by the court ruling rendered in America where they went to live. At the time of divorce, such property was not included into the assets they had to share but the Court held that would there be discovered another asset, they can sue for its sharing, the process undertaken by Uwimana since the said property got misappropriated by Kagitare who was the spouse to the older brother of Mwumvaneza. In the course of trial, Kagitare raised an objection alleging that Uwimana lacks the standing to sue for the property belonging to Mwumvaneza because they divorced. The Court held that the divorce ruling he produced was not approved for enforcement in Rwanda therefore that it should not be relied on to decide that the claim of Uwimana is founded and that the forest she sued for belongs to her and Mwumvaneza. 87

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Kagitare lodged appeal to the Intermediate Court of Ngoma indicating that the Court wrongly rejected the objection he raised that Uwimana lacks standing to sue. The Intermediate Court dismissed her appeal and maintained the ruling of the Primary Court. Later on, Kagitare initiated a claim for the enforcement of the judgment delivered by the Court in America, and the High Court found the ruling valid and could be enforced in Rwanda. Kagitare has later applied for review of the ruling of the Intermediate Court where she relied on such enforcement ruling by the High Court, and the Intermediate Court quashed the ruling of the Primary Court against which review was applied on the ground that Uwimana divorced from Mwumvaneza, therefore she was not qualified to sue for the property of Mwumvaneza. Uwimana was not satisfied with the ruling and wrote to the Chief Ombudsman requesting the review of the case due to injustice. The Chief Ombudsman wrote to the President of the Supreme Court indicating the injustice occasioned by the judgment against which she applied for review due to injustice. The Supreme Court heard the case and examined whether Uwimana has the standing to claim for the property she co-owned with Mwumvaneza for the purpose of sharing it following the divorce ruling. The Counsel for Uwimana stated that the reason they have applied for review due to injustice is that the

Court held that she has no standing to claim the property belonging to Mwumvaneza following their divorce while her claim has the objective of including the disputed forest into the common property because in the course of the divorce trial, Mwumvaneza denied to have any property in common with her in Rwanda, and she adds that the fact that there has been a divorce trial does not deprive her of the right to property she had in common with

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Mwumvaneza, especially that her claim does not intend to turn the forest into her own, rather she requests that it must be included into the common property that should be subject to sharing. Kagitare states that it has not been held in the divorce trial that whenever concealed assets would be discovered, they shall be shared, because they shared what they owned through such court decision. Held : 1. A divorce ruling terminates the community of property regime and the spouses share their assets equally or in any other consented way. In case of the existence of common assets unrevealed at the time of divorce, nothing is likely to bar the interested person to sue at the time of their discovery for the purpose of sharing them. Thus, Uwimana has the right to sue for the forest that was not declared to be part of the property they ought to share in the course of divorce in order to include it into the property subject to sharing.

2. Considering that there are reliable elements of evidence proving that the forest in dispute belongs to Mwumvaneza and which he shares with Uwimana, it should be included into the common property in order to share it. Application for review due to injustice has merit.

The ruling of the judgment under review is quashed. Statutes and statutory instruments:

Law nº32/2016 of 28/08/2016 governing persons and family as amended and complemented to date, article 6 (1&2); UWIMANA v KAGITARE

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Law nº27/2016 of 08/07/2016 governing matrimonial regimes, donations and successions, article 8; Law no 15/2004 of 12/6/2004 relating to evidence and its production, article 65. No case referred to. Judgment I.

BRIEF BACKGROUND OF THE

CASE

Uwimana Marine got legally married to Mwumvaneza Justin under community of property regime in 1990 in former Rusumo Commune. After 1994, they went to live in United States of America where they later engaged into the divorce case number 2009-54209, rendered by District Court of Harris County, Texas, on 11/06/2010 that apportioned them their common assets.

Due to the fact that Uwimana Marine was claiming that there is another property located in Rwanda that was not shared, she came to see it and it is constituted by the forest covering the area of 3,6 ha in Musaza Sector, Kirehe District. She realised that Kagitare Dancille, the spouse to Mutabazi, the older brother of Mwumvaneza Justin, exploited such property. For that reason, she filed a claim to the Primary Court of Kirehe, requesting to hold that such property belongs to her and Mwumvaneza Mparirwa Justin, and Kagitare Dancille was forced to intervene.

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Kagitare Dancille raised an objection stating that Uwimana Marine has no standing to sue for the property pretending to be the spouse to Mwumvaneza Justin while they have already been divorced in the country where they live, but the objection was rejected based on the fact that the divorce trial has not been approved for enforcement before Rwandan Courts. On 31/01/2011, the Primary Court of Kirehe tried the case RC 0576/10/TB/KRH and declared the claim of Uwimana Marine with merit, therefore that the forest covering the land area of 3.6 ha located in Musaza Sector belongs to Mwumvaneza Mparirwa Justin and Uwimana Marine.

Kagitare Dancille lodged an appeal to the Intermediate Court of Ngoma where she stated that the Primary Court disregarded the objection she raised that Uwimana Marine lacks standing to claim for the property pretending to be the spouse to Mwumvaneza while they have already divorced. On 20/10/2011, the Intermediate Court of Ngoma tried the case RCA 0048/11/TGI/NGOMA and declared the appeal lodged by Kagitare Dancille unfounded, and upheld the ruling of the judgment RC 0576/10/TB/KRH.

The Intermediate Court of Ngoma relied its decision on the fact that Kagitare Dancille failed to produce any element of evidence that Uwimana Marine divorced from Mwumvaneza Justin since the divorce decision rendered in the United States of America did not undergo enforcement procedure before the High Court to be executed in Rwanda.

Kagitare Dancille initiated a claim to the High Court, Chamber of Rwamagana where she requested the judgment Nº 2009-54209 rendered by the District Court on 11/06/2010 be enforced in Rwanda. The High Court, Chamber of Rwamagana ix UWIMANA v KAGITARE

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tried the case on 18/07/2013 and found the judgment Nº 2009- 54209 valid and enforceable in Rwanda. Kagitare Dancille produced it as a new element of evidence and applied for review of the judgment RCA 0048/11/TGI/NGOMA rendered on 20/10/2011.

On 27/02/2014, the Intermediate Court of Ngoma tried the case RCA 0334/13/TGI/NGOMA and found the application for review by Kagitare Dancille with merit. Thus, it quashed the judgment RCA0048/11/TGI/NGOMA delivered by the Intermediate Court of Ngoma on 20/10/2011 and the judgment RC 0576/10/TB/KRH delivered by the Primary Court of Kirehe on 31/01/2011. The Intermediate Court of Ngoma relied on the fact that Uwimana Marine pleaded such cases without legal standing since she was no longer the spouse of Mwumvaneza Justin.

On 31/05/2016, Uwimana Marine submitted the request to the Office of the Ombudsman alleging that she suffered injustice, and after analysis of her case, it wrote to the President of the Supreme Court requesting the review of the case RCA 0334/13/TGI/NGOMA due to injustice.

In the decision of 07/02/2018, the President of the Supreme Court decided that the application for review due to injustice against the judgment RCA0334/13/TGI/NGOMA be recorded in the docket for retrial. The application was recorded on RS/INJUST/RC 00002/2018/SC.

Counsel Intwazayamugabo Armand for Kagitare Dancille raised an objection for inadmissibility of the application stating that Uwimana Marine lacks standing to sue based on the following grounds :

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a. the fact that her identification is doubtful because she sometimes adds Mukamana to her names, and that she altered the names of Mwumvaneza Justin to Mparirwa while according to his passport as well as marriage certificate, it is indicated Mwumvaneza Justin ; b. the fact that she does not indicate the ownership link that she maintains with regard to the claimed forest and that which she maintains with Mwumvaneza Justin, which would be the basis of her interest and standing to sue ; c. the fact that Munyana Amina who initiated all these cases states that she relied on the message she was sent by Uwimana Marine on 27/10/2010 ; which besides, was sent after the divorce judgment became final and she must have managed the property of Uwimana Marine and her husband with the area of 8,8956 are, but despite that, she claimed for 3,6 ha ; d. The fact that the litigant that Counsel Niyibizi Diogene represents is doubtful, because the summon he produced which he alleges to have been notified of was not filled and he did not sign it as having the power of attorney whereas the court bailiff signed it on 05/02/2018 before the initiation of such claim because it was filed on 08/02/2018.

Counsel Niyibizi Diogène for Uwimana Marine retorted on such objection that : a. the identification of his client is clear in the system and that the relationship she has with regard to the subject matter has to do with her husband Mwumvaneza Justin, also known as Mparirwa in Rwanda as indicated in the UWIMANA v KAGITARE

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document of 11/08/2010, where a witness declared that the land was awarded to Mparirwa, which Kagitare admitted and endorsed. b. the court decision delivered in America that is the origin of all these cases, that pronounced divorce between Uwimana and Mwumvaneza Justin, held that whenever there will be discovered any other asset concealed by one of the parties, the interested party would sue for that. c. the objection raised for the first time at the Supreme Court should not be admitted.

The hearing of the case was scheduled on 09/10/2019 and held in public whereby Kagitare Dancille appeared and represented by Counsel Intwazayamugabo Armand while Uwimana Marine was represented by Counsel Niyibizi Diogene. Before the hearing on the merits of the case, Counsel Intwazayamugabo Armand informed the Court that he abandons the statements about the objection based on the identification of the applicant because after being aware of the identification documents submitted by Uwimana Marine, he deemed that he has no reason to maintain such objection. He however states that he maintains the objection relating to the fact that Uwimana Marine lacks standing to sue, and the Court notified the parties that such objection should not be admitted because the cases under review for injustice are final, therefore that such objections would not be reexamined unless the injustice emerged from the same objection.

The hearing on the merits was resumed and closed where the parties were notified the date of the pronouncement to be 25/10/2019. In the course of deliberation, the Court deemed that before the trial, there are some proceedings to be carried out to

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help the Court to determine the owner of the disputed forest, those include conducting site investigation for interrogating witnesses and National Land Authority staff.

The site investigation was carried out on 15/01/2020, and the hearing was resumed on 04/02/2020 in the presence of all parties as well as Mukunzi Emmanuel, a staff in National Land Authority. Parties were notified of the date of the pronouncement of the judgment to be 21/02/2020.

The main issues that parties debated on and which were examined in this case consist of whether following the divorce verdict, Uwimana Marine is qualified to claim for the property she alleges to co-own with Mwumvaneza Justin but which was not mentioned in such divorce judgment for the purpose of its sharing. They also debated on the issue about the determination of the owner of the forest in dispute where Kagitare Dancille alleges to belong to her, the allegations supported by Mwumvaneza Justin, while Uwimana Marine states that it was planted by Mwumvaneza Justin, with whom they co-own it. II.

LEGAL ISSUES AND THEIR

ANALYSIS 1. Whether Uwimana Marine is qualified to claim for the property she co-owned with Mwumvaneza Justin for the purpose of its sharing subsequent to divorce judgment

Counsel Niyibizi Diogene for Uwimana Marine states that the reason that led her to apply for review due to injustice consists of the fact that the Court decided that she lacked the UWIMANA v KAGITARE

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standing to claim for the property of Mwumvaneza Mparirwa Justin on the ground that they got divorced while her claim consisted of holding that they co-owns the land with 3.6 ha of area covered with the forest, the claim she initiated because in the course of divorce case, Mwumvaneza Mparirwa Justin denied that they did not have any property in common in Rwanda.

He states that the fact that there has been a divorce case does not deprive her of the right to the property she had in common with Mwumvaneza Mparirwa Justin before their divorce because she has the right to share with her former husband the property that would be discovered to have been part of common property as it was provided by article 24 of the Law no 22/99 of 12/11/1999 to supplement book one of the civil code and to institute part five regarding matrimonial regimes, liberalities and successions (that was into force at the time of the trial of the case review).

He adds that Uwimana Marine does not claim the forest to belong to her because she requests it to be part of the common property that she has to share with Mwumvaneza Justin; thus, the divorce trial should not deprive her of the right to claim for the property she co-owned with him since the sharing of the asset intervenes after divorce.

Counsel Intwazayamugabo Armand states that the divorce case has never held that once it is discovered the concealed asset, they will be shared because such judgment shared between them the property they owned.

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DETERMINATION OF THE COURT

Article 6, paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Law nº32/2016 of 28/08/2016 governing persons and family as amended and complemented to date, reads that: “The status and capacity of Rwandans, both living in and outside Rwanda are governed by Rwandan laws. However, a Rwandan national with dual nationality domiciled abroad may be governed by the law of his/her choice, either that of Rwanda or that of another country of which he/she is a citizen.”

Based on such provision, a Rwandan with another nationality may be governed by the law of her/his country of residence or by Rwandan law depending on his/her choice.

Uwimana Marine is a Rwandan with American nationality too; thus, she may be governed by American law or Rwandan law. She initiated a claim before Rwandan Courts based on Rwandan legislation requesting the court to hold that there exists the property she co-owned with Mwumvaneza Justin that was not included into the assets they shared in the course of divorce, in order to share it too.

Article 8 of the Law nº27/2016 of 08/07/2016 governing matrimonial regimes, donations and successions provides that “Where dissolution of community of property regime occurs following divorce or change in the type of matrimonial regime, those whose marriage was under the community of property regime, share equally or according to any other agreed-upon method the assets and liabilities ….”.

Such article implies that the divorce case of married persons dissolves the community of property regime, and they UWIMANA v KAGITARE

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share equally or according to any other agreed-upon method the assets. It is divorce verdict that determines the method of common assets sharing by the ex-spouses, but in case there are assets not revealed at the time of that trial, nothing prevents that whenever they are discovered, the interested person would seize the court for their sharing. If it is not the case, such property would be owned exclusively by one of the ex-spouses, which is contrary to article 8 of the no 27/2016 of 08/07/2016 stated above.

The judgment 2009- 54209 rendered on 11/06/ 2010 by District Court of Harris County in Texas, in the United States, pronounced the divorce between Uwimana Marine and Mwumvaneza Justin and determined the method of sharing of the common properties. However, in case of the existence of other undeclared property at the time of trial but discovered afterward, nothing is likely to prevent the interested person to claim for their sharing as explained above.

Based on the foregoing and the provisions of the law stated above, the Court is of the view that Uwimana Marine has the standing to claim for the property she once co-owned with Mwumvaneza for the purpose of sharing it after the divorce trial.

2. Determination of the owner of the forest in dispute

Counsel Niyibizi Diogene for Uwimana Marine states that there are the following reliable elements of evidence proving that the property made of the forest in dispute belongs to Mwumvaneza Mparirwa Justin and Uwimana Marine: a. The land title indicates that the forest registered on UPI 5/05/08/05/2529 belongs to them;

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b. Payment slips of land registration fees and the provisional land registration certificate in relation to another part of land registered on number 1200. Such certificate indicates that the names of the owners of the land is Mparirwa Justin and Uwimana Marine where the title is not yet available due to disputes ; c. The meeting statements of 17/12/2010 where Kagitare Dancille declared that the land belongs to Mparirwa Justin.

He declares that the area of the and in dispute is 3.6 ha and has never been subject to land sharing. He explains that be it before the Primary Court of Kirehe or before the Intermediate Court of Ngoma, Kagitare Dancille was stating that such land belonged to her until the pretrial conference was done, and it is the first time she states that the land of Mwumvaneza Justin was subject to land sharing wit Bendantunguka Augustin.

He adds that the document regarded as the witness declaration by Bendantunguka Augustin should not be given merit since it is not a land sharing statement and the latter has never made any opposition to the registration of such land in the names of Mwumvaneza Mparirwa Justin.

Regarding the fact that the land was registered in the names of Kagitare Dancille where her name was later altered and replaced by Mwumvaneza Justin and Uwimana Marine, he explains that Kagitare Dancille initially registered the land in her names but that later on, the population revealed that it does not belong to her as it rather belongs to Mwumvaneza Mparirwa UWIMANA v KAGITARE

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Justin, the reason why the National Land Authority deleted her names and mentioned the names of Mparirwa Justin.

He adds that when the the land title was issued, Uwimana Marine and Mwumvaneza Mparirwa Justin were absent, the reason why it was signed in the form of on behalf of, despite that she does not know the person who signed in place of Mparirwa Justin. Regarding the land registration fee amounting to 1200, he states that it was paid by Kagitare Dancille, who however had been reimbursed.

Counsel Niyibizi Diogene concludes by stating that for determining the owner of the forest in dispute, the Court would rely on articles 651 and article 712 of the Law nº 15/2004 of 12/06/2004 relating to evidence and its production, on the outcome of the investigation as well as witness declaration by Mukunzi Emmanuel.

Counsel Intwazayamugabo Armand states the the forest in dispute belongs to Kagitare Dancille based on the following reasons : a. The forest that belonged to Mwumvaneza Justin was awarded to Bendantunguka Augustin in the

1 The court assesses with discretion the relevance, pertinence and admissibility or rejection of testimonial evidence. It is not bound by the number of witnesses. It shall mainly consider their knowledge of facts and the objectivity and sincerity of their declarations. 2 All witnesses with reliable information for the resolution of litigation are heard and neither the court is allowed to prevent expedient witness from giving testimony nor shall the parties disqualify him. However, parties may have the right to state all their observations on grounds of partiality vis-à-vis witnesses.

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course of sharing as it is evident in the testimony he submitted, and it has nothing to do with that of Kagitare Dancille ; b. The provisional land registration certificate is registered on Kagitare Dancille but her name was crossed out by pen and replaced by Mwumvaneza Justin fraudulently ; c. Mwumvaneza Justin whom they allege to have made land registration was in America at the time of the registration, and he himself admit that the property he owned undergone land sharing ; therefore, he does not have any property in Rwanda; d. The land title was fraudulently signed on behalf “PO”; therefore, it was counterfeited. e. She does not admit the meeting in which it is alleged that Kagitare Dancille declared that the forest is not hers because she never signed on the meeting statement; thus, she should not be held liable for the declarations made thereof; f. The statements according to which Kagitare Dancille was reimbursed 1200 Frw are untrue, because whenever the issue of changing the person mentioned on the title arose, a report was made, consequently, the fact that such report is inexistent consists of the evidence that Kagitare Dancille name was crossed out of the title fraudulently. UWIMANA v KAGITARE

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Mukunzi Emmanuel who was summoned by the Court for the purpose of witness hearing about the emphyteutic lease Nº 2529/KIR/MUS of 01/09/2011, declared to the Court that he is the person who really signed the title on the basis of the information collected in the course of land registration process. Regarding the person who signed in the form of on behalf “PO”, he declares that titles to be delivered were so many and that after they were signed, they were transferred to the administration of the Cell for their distribution, and for this reason, he could not know the person who signed for its reception.

DETERMINATION OF THE COURT

Uwimana Marine confirms that the forest in dispute belongs to Mwumvaneza Justin, which they co-own because they were legally married under the community of property regime. The main elements of evidence she relies on consist of: a. The dispute resolution report between the agents representing the family of Mparirwa3 and Mrs Kagitare Dancille; b. Payment slip for the acknowledgement of the payment of land registration fees; c. Provisional land registration certificate; d. Emphyteutic lease No 2529/KIR/MUS of 01/09/2011.

3 During the site investigation carried out by the Court, the people who know the litigants asserted that Mparirwa is the same person as Mwumvaneza Justin. They stated that the most known name in the area is Mparirwa since he added the name of Mwumvaneza for reasons of studies.

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In the course of the examination of the relevance of the submitted elements of evidence, the Court noticed the following: a. The dispute resolution report between the agents representing the family of Mparirwa and Mrs Kagitare Dancille signed by Nkubito Denis who was the Executive Secretary of Nganda Cell, indicates that the interrogated witnessed namely Ngendahimana Védaste and Musonera Casimir confirmed that the forest in dispute belongs to Mparirwa. It indicates also that Kagitare Dancille stated that she admits that the land in dispute belongs to Mparirwa but that they afforested it together. However, her signature is not affixed to such report. b. The payment slip for land registration indicates that the names of Kagitare Dancille were crossed out to mention the names of Mparirwa Justin; c. The lessee mentioned on the emphyteutic lease number 2529/KIR/MUS of 01/09/2011 is Mparirwa Justin and Uwimana Marine and is of 1,514 sqm area while the land in dispute has the area of 3,6 ha.

Due to the contestations raised with regard to the documents produced as evidence where the defendant refutes that they never existed where she produces the document established by Bendantunguka Augustin to assert that he was awarded the forest that once belonged to Mwumvaneza Justin in the course of land sharing, the Court deemed that it is relevant to conduct the site investigation in order to know the truth about the statements of the parties. In the course of such investigation, neighbors to the site of the subject matter were interrogated, as well as the staff UWIMANA v KAGITARE

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that was in charge of land registration who signed the provisional land certificate and the payment slip of the land registration fees.

The witnesses who declared the forest to belong to Mwumvaneza Justin are the following : a. The witness named Ngendahimana Védaste (the former Chairman at the time of afforestation who even awarded such land), declared to the Court that Mutabazi (the husband to Kagitare Dancille and a sibling to Mwumvaneza Justin) requested the land for afforestation from him of which he attributed to him. Later on Mutabazi requested the land on behalf of his little brother Mparirwa. He stated that the forest is subdivided into two parts, which means that part belonging to Mutabazi and the part for Mparirwa but that he does not know the demarcation between the two. When reminded of the testimony he has given before that is in the dispute resolution report for the agents for Mparirwa and Mrs Kagitare Dancille where he declared that he attributed the land to Mparirwa, but that as he was a student, his activities were managed by his older brother Mutabazi ; he replied that he was requested the land by Mutabazi on behalf of Mparirwa but that he never made follow up to know whether they afforested it together ; b. Murambira Eliyazar (who owns the forest nearby the disputed forest) declared that Mutabazi who was the Chairperson of the Sector Council requested Ngendahimana Védaste to apportion the land for afforestation to his little brother Mparirwa

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who was a student, and later on, Mutabazi hired Ntamakiriro to afforest it. c. Musonera Casimir (with land near the disputed land) also declared to the Court that the land in dispute belongs to Mparirwa and that he bought another plot of land from Kagimbura Gaspard in order to extend his land. d. Twagiramungu Fréderic declared that he is the person who transported by his car the eucalyptus seedlings on behalf of Mparirwa whereby he used to give them to Ntamakiriro, who was in charge of afforestation, before asking for the payment from Mparirwa in Nyakinama where he studied. e. The Court also interrogated the employees that took part in the land registration committee who signed on certificates stated above, namely Nyampundu Stéphanie and Niyonsenga Fabien. Nyampundu Stéphanie declared to the Court that: i. She still remembers the issue of Mparirwa clearly; i. Kagitare Dancille was together with the land surveyors and after they made the survey, they mentioned her name on the payment slip as the land owner, and after she reached the office of the Cell where they were mentioning the names in the book and establishing the provisional land registration title, she paid other fees in order to get such title, and another payment slip was drawn in her names; UWIMANA v KAGITARE

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ii. While they were about to issue her the provisional land registration certificate, people shouted and stated that the land she is registering in her names does not belong to her, and for this reason, a lawyer called Cyantengwa Julienne requested her to name the witnesses who could prove if the land belongs to her, and all such witnesses affirmed that the land belongs to Mparirwa Justin; iii. Due to the fact that Kagitare Dancille was given 2 payment slips, Cyantengwa Julienne, the lawyer, instructed her to hand them back. Since the fee was already paid, she advised them to avoid filling other payment slips; rather, Kagitare Dancille should be paid back her money and her names crossed out, for mentioning the names of the owner of the land who is Mparirwa. iv. Again, due to the fact that the provisional land registration certificate was not yet established, it was correctly established on the basis of the information at hand. v. The reason for the existence of 2 payment slips is based on the fact that one of them was destined to the surveyors, who normally established it at the site of the registered land, while another one was destined to the committee in charge of recording of information and provisional land title.

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Niyonsenga Fabien who is also recorded on one of the payment slip, stated that the accounts by Nyampundu Stéphanie corroborate what happened without any lie.

The Court subpoenaed Mukunzi Emmanuel, the Deputy Registrar of Land title to request information from him in order to know whether he really is the person who signed on the emphyteutic lease title number 2529/KIR/MUS of 01/09/2011 in which Mparirwa Justin and Uwimana Marine are mentioned as the lessees. He asserted to be the person who signed it on the basis of the information collected by the committees that were in charge of land registration. The assertion brings the answer to the issue raised by the defendant alleging that such title has never been established.

Witnesses who declared that the forest belong to Mutabazi : a. Habiyakare Jean declared that the forest land belongs to Mutabazi, who afforested it, and that Mparirwa has nothing to do with it. He stated that Mparirwa’s forest was acquired from Mugambira and was close to that of Mutabazi. They were small trees and were eaten by ants. b. Kagimbura Gaspard declared that he planted trees in the disputed land, and was paid by Mutabazi, and therefore he asserts that the forest belongs to Mutabazi. He state in addition that there is plot of land he sold to Mparirwa which is close to the disputed land, who also afforested it and of which he annexed to that of Mutabazi to the extent that no demarcation exists in between. He adds that whenever Mparirwa came in holidays, he used to UWIMANA v KAGITARE

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see him taking a walk in such forest with his older brother Mutabazi ; c. Nyirahumure Frida stated that the disputed forest was planted by Mutabazi. However, her declarations should not be considered by the Court because she is a sister to Mwumvaneza Justin and Mutabazi.

Bendantunguka Augustin stated that he lives there since 1996, and was alloted, through land sharing, a part of land from Mparirwa’s land with the size of 50 m out of 150 located over the disputed land. He stated that before the land sharing, there were eucalyptus trees, which were eaten by ants later Bendantunguka Augustin has before submitted the written declarations to the Court stating that he was alloted the plot through sharing of the land that once belonged to Mwumvaneza Justin. It was realised during the investigation that the land that Bendantunguka Augustin alleges to have been alloted through sharing is different from that of disputed afforested land, and thus, his witness declarations would not be of any help to the Court.

Regarding on the absence of the signature by Kagitare Dancille on the dispute resolution report of the issue stated above, Murambira Eliyazar, Twagiramungu Fréderic, Kagimbura Gaspard and Twagirimana Rachid told the Court that Kagitare Dancille participated in the meeting held on 12/07/2010 but that she denied to sign the report after hearing that the witnesses she invited uttered statements different from her expectations.

The fact that the emphyteutic lease number 2529/KIR/MUS of 01/09/2011, indicates the land with 1,514 sqm area while the land in dispute is of 3,6 ha; it was obvious to the

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Court during the investigation that the entire forest used to be of 3,6 ha, on which the road has passed by and divided it into two unequal parts. One of the parts is of 1,514 sqm, of which the title deed was established and submitted to the Court by the parties, while regarding the other part, which is the biggest, no title deed was established due to the dispute that arose over it.

Based on article 65 of the Law no 15/2004 of 19/07/2004 relating to evidence and its production providing that the Court assesses with discretion the relevance, pertinence and admissibility or rejection of testimonial evidence, based also on the assessment of all witness declarations made, where most of them concur that the disputed forest belong to Mparirwa, and based on the findings from the site during the investigation, the Court finds that the disputed forest with 3.6 ha of area belongs undoubtedly to Mwumvaneza Justin alias Mparirwa and Uwimana Marine.

Accordingly, the Court finds that, following the provided grounds, the disputed forest of 3,6 ha of area located in Nganda Cell, Musaza Sector, Kirehe District belongs to Mwumvaneza Justin who co-owns it with Uwimana Marine since it is not included in the assets that the divorce judgment 2009-54209 of 11/06/2010 apportioned them.

3. Whether damages should be awarded

Counsel Niyibizi Diogene states that Uwimana Marine requests to be paid the following damages : a. Moral damages amounting to 10,000,000 Frw ; b. The court fees that Uwimana Marine was ordered to pay in the case RC 0576/010/TB/KRH rendered UWIMANA v KAGITARE

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on 31/01/2011 and court fees she was ordered to pay in the case RCA 0048/11/TGI/NGOMA ; c. Judicial costs amounting to 2,000,000 Frw ; d. Counsel fees paid during the previous cases amounting to 3,500,000Frw ; e. Counsel fees paid at the Supreme Court level amounting to 2,000,000Frw ; f. The loss she incurred from his proceedings amounting to 10,000,000 Frw accrued from expected income due to the fact that since 26/06/2012 till the year 2018, Kagitare Dancille continued exploiting the forest and selling wood steres.

Kagitare Dancille retorts that Uwimana Dancille does not deserve to be paid the damages she is requesting because she frauded through her little sister Munyana Amina ; therefore, she requests the Court to dismiss her claim. Kagitare Dancille also filed a counterclaim requesting the Court to order Uwimana Marine to pay her : a. 2,000,000 amount of money for all years of dragging her into unnecessary lawsuits. b. The value for the exploited trees amounting to 10,000,000Frw ; c. Judicial fees and counsel fees at this Court instance amounting to 3,000,000 the total amounting to 15,000,000Frw.

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DETERMINATION OF THE COURT

The Court finds that Uwimana Marine should not be awarded moral damages she requests for failure to have substantiated them. It also finds that the damages she alleges to have been ordered to pay in the judgement RC 0576/010/TB/KRH rendered on 31/01/2011 and damages ordered to be paid in the judgment RCA 0048/11/TGI/NGOMA rendered on 20/10/2011 are not mentioned in such judgment since she is the person who won them, and she does not provide details thereto, and for this reason, there is no basis it could rely on to award them to her.

The Court finds that Uwimana Marine did not produce elements of evidence for 10,000,000 Frw amount that she requests to be paid for lost expected income of which KAGITARE Dancille is liable and generated by the forest ; thus, there is no basis it could rely on to award them to her.

Regarding the judicial and counsel fees, the Court finds that the requested amount is excessive while she did not substantiate it; thus, it awards her a discretionary amount of 300,000 Frw of judicial costs and 500,000 Frw of counsel fees at the instant court, the total being 800,000Frw.

The Court finds that Kagitare Dancille should not be awarded damages she requested since she did not win any of her claims.

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III.

DECISION OF THE COURT

Finds with merit the application for review of the case No RCA 0334/14/TGI/NGOMA rendered by the Intermediate Court of Ngoma on 27/02/2014 due to injustice.

Finds the counterclaim filed by Kagitare Dancille without merit ;

Quashes the judgment RCA 0334/14/TGI/NGOMA rendered by the Intermediate Court of Ngoma on 27/02/2014 in whole ;

Decides that the forest with 3,6 ha of area located in Nganda Cell, Musaza Sector in Kirehe District belongs to Mwumvaneza Justin and co-owns it with Uwimana Marine ;

Orders Kagitare Dancille to pay 800,000 Frw of judicial and counsel fees to Uwimana Marine.

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LABOUR CASE

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SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA [Rwanda SUPREME COURT - RS/INJUST/RSOC 00001/2022/SC (Cyanzayire, P. J., Nyirinkwaya and Karimunda, J.) July 08, 2022] Labour law – Salary of an employee – Equality of employees in relation to salary – Employees who perform the same work, with equal skills, experience and ability must be equally paid, otherwise there is discrimination. – An employee with equal skills, experience and ability with his or her colleagues, but who is not equally paid as those at the same level, has the right to claim for being paid the same salary as of his/her colleagues or to ask for a fair salary. Labour law – Salary of an employee – Equality of employees in relation to salary – Upon approval by the Court in its discretion, employees at the same level may be paid different salaries when the employer objectively manages to prove to the Court that the employees who are paid a higher salary have special and particular skills that are useful for their work. Labour law – Salary of an employee – Equality of employees in relation to salary – Bonus – Although there is nothing preventing an employer from awarding bonus to some employees, if such bonus has been added to the wages, it becomes mandatory for all workers in the same situation. The prescription time limit is counted as of the date on which the worker was to be paid the salary, and it shall cease where the employer has computed all the salaries, has agreed with the worker that the salaries are the debt, where the worker’s case is pending before the court or 115

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where the labour inspectorate requested to settle the dispute has not yet given its conclusions. Labour law – Salary of an employee – Prescription of salary payment – Prescription of salary payment is counted as prescription of other personal rights or other property rights. Its calculation starts from the time when the right owner knew or could have known the reason for the pursuit. Review due to injustice procedure – Grounds that have been reinstated yet they have not been appealed – Any party entitled to ordinary and extraordinary remedies but that fails to assert his/her right within the time limit provided by law, is considered as having deprived him/herself of the procedure of appeal which would make his/her criticisms being corrected in the appeal – He/she is not allowed to apply for review of a case he/she lost because of injustice. Facts: Rugina worked for SONARWA Assurance Company Ltd as Data Management Officer and was later promoted to Head of Department but was not paid for that position. He then requested his employer to pay him the salary for the new position, but instead, he received a dismissal letter. He then appealed to the Labour Inspector who mediated both parties, and it was held that they were suspended due to financial reasons, that therefore such dismissal was lawful. He later submitted a claim to the Intermediate Court of Nyarugenge which examined the issue and found that he was illegally fired and the same Court awarded to him damages. SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd appealed to the High Court alleging that by the time Rugina was appointed as Head of Department, his previous position and salary were unchanged and that the previous Court relied on no evidence in awarding to him damages. The High Court found that

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Rugina was illegally dismissed because the Labour Inspector was informed about of his dismissal after he was fired, and accordingly awarded to him various damages. SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd appealed to the Court of Appeal stating that Rugina's complaints were not first submitted to the workers' representatives and that there were certain grounds of his claim that he filed as a complaint which were not part of what he had presented to the Labour Inspector. The Court found that the appeal was groundless because in the previous cases, such objection was not raised and therefore awarded damages to Rugina. This prompted SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd to apply for review due to injustice and the Supreme Court reviewed the judgment. In this instant case, the Court examined the basic salary to rely on while calculating the requested damages and to determine when runs the prescription time limit of the salary. SONARWA argues that the fact that an employee was promoted does not mean that his/her salary had to necessarily increase, and that it is not a principle that employees at the same level are equally paid, especially since he was informed and admitted that his salary will not increase, except for transport allowances only. The respondent claims that the fact that he was promoted to Branch Manager and given the responsibility of monitoring other branches, but continued

to be paid the salary he was given before being promoted, is against the law. The applicant for review also claims that the Court, without ground, refused to hold that on 12/04/2017, the salaries paid before 11/04/2015, the time when Rugina Jason was dismissed, had reached their prescription time limit, since the two-year period provided by the law has elapsed. SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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On the issue of prescription time limit of salary, the respondent states that since 02/12/2013, he and other Branch Managers wrote to the employer, requesting to be paid for the new position , and reminded again this issue on 26/06/2014 and 20/09/2015, after waiting in vain for the reply, they submitted the issue to the Labour Inspector, who found that two years had never elapsed without claiming his salary, the reason why he is requesting this instant Court to hold that this issue is unfounded. Held: 1. Employees performing the same work, with equal skills, experience and ability should be equally paid, otherwise there is discrimination. An employee with equal skills, experience and ability to his or her colleagues, but who is not equally paid as those at the same level, has the right to claim for being paid the same salary as of his/her colleagues or to ask for a fair salary.

2. Although there is nothing precluding an employer from awarding bonus to some employees, if such bonus is added to the wages, it becomes mandatory for all workers in the same situation. Upon approval by the Court in its discretion, employees at the same level may be paid different salaries when the employer objectively manages to prove to the Court that the employees who are paid a higher salary have special and particular skills that are useful for their work.

3. The prescription time limit is counted as of the date on which the worker was to be paid the salary, and it shall cease where the employer has computed all the salaries, has agreed with the worker that the salaries are the debt, where the worker’s case is pending before the court or where the labour inspectorate requested to settle the dispute has not yet given its conclusions.

4. Prescription of salary payment is counted as prescription of other personal rights or other property rights. Its calculation starts

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from the time when the right owner knew or could have known the reason for the pursuit.

5. Article 55, the last paragraph and Article 63 of Law n0 30/2018 of 02/06/2018 determining jurisdiction of courts together denote that any party entitled to ordinary and extraordinary remedies but that fails to assert his/her right within the time limit provided by law, is considered as having deprived him/herself of the procedure of appeal which would make his/her criticisms being corrected in the appeal – He/she is not allowed to apply for review of a judgment due to injustice, disregarding that there are other cases that have been pronounced, for requesting the review due to injustice of the grounds for which he/she did not voluntarily lodge appeal, because such procedure would be contrary to the provisions of the law. Application for review due to injustice is unfounded. Statutes and statutory instruments referred to: Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda of 2003 revised in 2015, article 30; Law n° 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 relating to civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure, article 111; Law n° 30/2018 of 02/06/2018 determining the jurisdiction of courts, article 55, 63. Statutes and statutory instruments which are no longer into force referred to: Law n° 13/2009 of 27/05/2009 regulating labour in Rwanda, article 83.

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Cases referred to: Ngizweninshuti v. Muhima, RS/INJUST/RC 00024/2018/SC rendered by the Supreme Court on 21/02/2020; Nditiribambe et al. v. Nyamwasa Faustin, RS/INJUST/RC 00007/2018/SC rendered by the Supreme Court on 13/03/2020; Mukamana et al v. Umuhoza, RCOM RS/ INJUST/ RC 00004/2019/SC rendered by the Supreme Court on 28/07/2020; Cour de Cassation, Chambre sociale, n° 07-42-107, 16 décembre 2008, Bull Civ, V. n° 250 Authors cited: Fanie Van Jaarsveld and Stefan Van Eck, Principles of Labour Law, Durban, Butterworths, 2002, p. 78; Nsengiyuma Métusera, Droit social, Manuel de droit Rwandais, 1993, p. 79; Françoise Favennec-Hery et Pierre-Yves Verkindt, Droit du Travail, Paris, LDGJ, 2020, p.661. Judgment I. BACKGROUND OF THE CASE

This case started in the Intermediate Court of Nyarugenge, Rugina Jason arguing that before SONARWA S.A was split into SONARWA Holdings Ltd, SONARWA General Insurance Company Ltd and SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd, he worked for it since 01/08/2008. He adds that as a result of these changes, the employees of SONARWA S.A. were included in the new companies that had just been formed,

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and on 15/11/2011, he was given an indefinite-term contract, and was appointed as Data Management Officer at SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd, and on 14/11/2013, he was appointed as Branch Manager of Huye Branch, and he was assigned to supervise Rusizi Branch, and he was informed that his previous salary and level did not change, however, he was given the monthly transport allowances amounting to 200,000 Frw. Rugina Jason stated that he and his workmates who were also promoted did not receive a salary commensurate with their current level, and hence wrote to the employer for payment of arrears of salaries, they were informed that the matter would be examined, and surprisingly on 12/04/2017 instead of receiving a response, they were dismissed from job.

Rugina Jason submitted the matter to the Labour Inspector, and SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd submitted that Rugina Jason was dismissed due to financial reasons that led the Company to carry out reforms in the job positions and that there were no arrears of salary owed to him. After the disagreement, Rugina Jason lodged the case to the Intermediate Court of Nyarugenge claiming that he was illegally dismissed from his job, requesting to receive the salary that he claimed that was not given to him when he was an employee and also to be awarded the procedural fee.

In the judgment n0 RSOC 00331/2018/TGI/NYGE rendered on 20/09/2019, the Intermediate Court of Nyarugenge found that Rugina Jason's claim had merit in part, it decided that Rugina Jason was illegally dismissed from job, ordered to SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd to award to him 80,431,900 Frw for various damages, as well as to pay to him social security contributions based on the actual salary of the SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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Branch Manager. The Court based these decisions on the fact that: - After the dismissal of Rugina Jason from job, the employer informed the Labour Inspector, which means that he was dismissed in violation of the provisions of article 34 of Law n0 13/2009 of 27/05/2009 regulating labour into force at that time;1 - Rugina Jason was dismissed from the position of Branch Manager, he should have been paid a salary of 1,999,252 Frw, and should also be credited with the difference of the 42 months' salary that was not given and also the notice, termination benefits, leave allowances and social security contributions that were not paid ; - The catering allowance and that of the mutual aid fund requested by Rugina Jason should not be awarded to him because he did not provide justification for them.

SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd appealed to the High Court stating that when Rugina Jason was appointed as Branch Manager, his level and salary were not changed, the previous Court decided that he should have been paid the amount of 1,999,252 Frw, which is the basis for calculating the difference of the salary he was not given, the notice and the termination benefits without providing evidence and it awarded to him the

1 That article provided that “The employer may proceed to dismiss individual or collective worker(s) due to economic reason, internal reorganization or consecutive restructuring for economic difficulties or technological transfers with the aim of protecting the competitiveness of the enterprise. In such a case the dismissal ranking shall be done in accordance with the performance, professional qualification, time spent in the enterprise and social charges of each worker. The employer informs the competent labour inspector in a written form”.

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moral damages which he did not claim and that were not provided for by the law.

In the judgment RSOCA 00257/2019/HC/KIG rendered on 28/05/2020, the High Court found that Rugina Jason was illegally fired because the Labour Inspector was notified of his dismissal after he was already dismissed. It also found that the transport allowances, accommodation allowances, catering allowances and the money of the mutual aid fund that Rugina Jason requested in the incidental appeal cannot be awarded to him because he does not provide elements of evidence for them and the medical expenses in King Faisal Hospital, and the relocation fees as well as the balance of salary during the 16 months which he would not have been given should not be firstly examined in the appeal, it also found that Rugina Jason should not be awarded the interest equal to 18% of all damages decided by the Court as he requested, because he is not a businessman and he does not prove the legal basis for that claim, it decided that the appeal of SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd has merit in part, it decided that, apart from the 1,000,000 Frw of moral damages awarded pursuant to article 258 of the Third Book of the Civil Code to be deducted from the damages, the judgment under appeal is sustained.

SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd appealed to the Court of Appeal alleging that the complaints of Rugina Jason were not submitted to the workers representatives in the Company as stipulated in article 140 of Law n0 13/2009 of 27 /05/2009 that regulated labour in Rwanda2, Rugina Jason had

2 That article provided that “Should there be any individual labour dispute between a worker and an employer; the concerned party shall request the workers’ delegate to settle it amicably. Where the workers’ delegates fail to SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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submitted eight complaints to the Labour Inspector, at the level of the Intermediate Court, he added 11 claims, and those new claims would not be admitted, the Intermediate Court would not rely its decision on the court submissions that Rugina Jason provided on 08/05/2019, after the pre-trial conference without being required to deposit another court fee, the claims related to the balance of the termination benefits, the notice allowances and the social security contributions not paid for him should not be admitted because they were not submitted to the Labour Inspector, in general, SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd could not be held responsible for the damages because the claims based on for their determination were prescribed, it requested that due to those flaws, therefore, the judgment

RSOC 00331/2018/TGI/NYGE rendered by the Intermediate Court of Nyarugenge and the judgment RSOCA 00257/2019/HC/KIG rendered by the High Court should be quashed.

In his defense, Rugina Jason stated that he resorted to the courts after trying to amicably settle the issue. He explained that on 16/09/2016, he wrote to the Chairperson of the Board of Directors claiming a salary commensurate with his actual level, the Chairperson requested to the Director General of SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd to settle the issue, after realizing that nothing was done, he appealed to the workers representatives in the Company but in vain, he then resorted to the Labour Inspector who advised him to file the claim before the courts. He sustained that the previous courts did not disregard the provisions of article 140 of Law n0 13/2009 of 27/05/2009 regulating labour

settle the dispute, the concerned party shall refer the matter to the Labour Inspector for an out of court settlement. When conciliation efforts fail, the dispute may be taken before the competent court. When all the steps referred to above have not gone through, the court may declare the claim inadmissible.”

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in Rwanda, they did not upload the submissions after the pre-trial conference in the Intermediate Court of Nyarugenge, instead, they explained in details the submissions they had submitted at the time of lodging the claim, and he notes that SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd should not be allowed to present for the first time in the appeal the flaws it did not present in the previous courts, especially they are not of public order.

In the judgment RSOCAA 00007/2020/CA rendered on 29/10/2021, the Court of Appeal found that the appeal of SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd and the cross appeal of Rugina Jason were groundless, it ordered to SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd to pay to Rugina Jason 41,777,748 Frw of damages, 3,000,000 Frw of counsel's fee and 50,000 Frw of court fee in the High Court, and to pay for him the balance of social security contributions based on gross salary equal to 1,999,252 Frw per month. The Court based these decisions on the following reasons: i. The fact that in the previous courts, SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd did not raise the objection on the issue related to the fact that Rugina Jason did not submit his case to the workers’ representative in the Company and it did not prove that such objection was of public order so that even the Court on its initiative, could have raised it, such objection cannot be admitted for the first examination in the second appeal; ii. The fact that SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd pleaded on all the claims against it means that in the second appeal it did not state that those claims should not be admitted or requested SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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that the decisions made on the claims on which it pleaded be invalidated and it did not prove that the objection it raises is of public order so that the Court, on its initiative, could have raised it; iii. The fact that SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd agreed to plead on the submissions filed after the pre-trial conference and on the claims allegedly lodged for the first time in those submissions, it cannot request that after the decision of the court those decisions could not be admitted or request that the judgment be quashed; iv. The fact that the issue of illegal dismissal should not be examined in the appeal because SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd did not lodge appeal against it indicates that it was satisfied with the decision made by the courts on the issue; v. The fact that there was no prescription of salary because Rugina Jason never exceeded more than two years without claiming his salary, the claim of SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd that the salary of the Branch Manager should be counted for 24 months instead of 42 is baseless; vi. The fact that the Employee’s Handbook of 2015 does not provide the right applicable law to be considered in determination of the level Rugina Jason had been occupying because he was appointed to the position of Branch Manager on 14/11/2013 at the time, such Employee's Handbook did not exist;

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vii. The amount of 1,999,252 Frw was basis for calculation of various damages in the judgment under appeal as a gross salary, therefore it is unfounded because it is contrary to the position set by the Supreme Court in the judgment RS/INJUST/RSOC/2019/SC against Niwemugeni Jeannette and KCB Bank Rwanda Ltd, which states that a retired employee is not compensated based on the gross salary, but on the net salary after deducting income taxes and social security contributions ; viii. The fact that SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd. should pay for Rugina Jason the balance of the social security contributions that it did not pay computed on a gross salary equal to 1,999,252 Frw per month, instead of 514,581 Frw per month; ix. The fact that Rugina Jason did not provide elements of evidence to justify that he should have been paid for 100% of the medical expenses, and therefore he should not be entitled to it; and in terms of accommodation, transport and communication allowances, he is not entitled to them because he failed to prove that he claimed for them and did not receive them. x. The fact that SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd should not be held accountable for contributions made to the mutual aid fund, as this is a statutory body with separate management. SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd wrote to the President of the Supreme Court requesting that the judgment RSOCAA 00007/2020/CA rendered by the Court of Appeal on 29/10/2021, be reviewed on grounds of injustice. In his decision n0 008/CJ/2022 of 06/01/2022, the President of the Supreme Court held that the application should sent to the Registry of the Supreme Court for retrial.

The hearing was heard in public on 24/05/2022, SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd represented by Counsel Abijuru Emmanuel together with Counsel Basomingera Alberto while Rugina Jason was represented by Counsel Rwagitare Fred Fiston. II. ANALYSIS OF LEGAL ISSUES II.1. Determination of the basic salary on which to rely in calculation of claimed damages

Counsel Abijuru Emmanuel and Counsel Basomingera Alberto, representing SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd, argue that the Company was established in 2012, and the employees continued to be paid in accordance with their level of salaries in SONARWA S.A. until 2016 based on the principle that the position and salary of the employee should not be reduced. They submit that even if the document showing the institutional structure is not signed, it is the one that is enforced. With regard to salaries, they find that it should not be based on the 2005 regulations, rather on the Employee’s Handbook and other various decisions made by the employer. They argue that the fact that the Employee’s Handbook of 2015 indicates that it keeps on the existing Internal rules and regulations of 2005 is a mistake

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and that the Court of Appeal should not have based its decision on the Internal rules and regulations of 2005 since it led the Court to award to Rugina Jason a salary based on his wishes, it interfered with the functioning of private companies so that if the decision it took is maintained would prejudice the employers and the development in general.

They submit that, according to the letter dated 14/05/2013 addressed to Kanyamahoro Kazungu Deus who was in the same position as Rugina Jason, in 2013, the Branch Manager was paid a gross salary equal to 1,035,590 Frw, and the basic salary was 715,550 Frw. They also argue that the Court of Appeal confused the issues, where it stated that Ntwari Alphonse was an employee of SONARWA S.A. because he was Head of Service in that Company, then he was deployed to SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd as Head of Unit, and then he was promoted to the level of Head of Department, so he never became Branch Manager in SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd, which means that it is not appropriate that the salary equal to 1,999,252 Frw paid to Ntwari Alphonse as Head of Department be considered as the one that Rugina Jason, who was at the level of Officer I, should have been paid, a level which was very low, at the third level from the position Ntwari Alphonse was occupying.

They state that the fact that Rugina Jason was promoted does not necessarily mean that his salary would be increased, and it is not a principle that employees at the same level are equally paid, especially that Rugina Jason was informed that his salary will not change, he only agreed on an increase in transport allowances. They motivate that SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd did not have branches in the provinces until 2013, all branch managers have not claimed for salaries allegedly not SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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paid, instead, they requested for a salary increase, so the fact that all these were disregarded causes injustice.

Rugina Jason and Counsel Rwagitare Fred assisting him, state that there is no injustice in the judgment rendered by the Court of Appeal. They explain that the Internal rules and regulations of 2005 continued to be used until 2015, because even in the Preamble of the Employee's Handbook, it is stated that "This Handbook of Policies and Regulations Governing Employees repeals and replaces the Handbook of Regulations Governing employees which was adopted in January 2005.” They aver that SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd failed to provide other laws that were into force between 2011 and 2015, the Employee's Handbook adopted by the Board of Directors, and that the Court would not base on the laws adopted in 2015 while the issue occurred in 2013.

They state that the fact that Rugina Jason was promoted to the level of Branch Manager of Huye Branch, and was responsible for supervising the branches of Nyamagabe, Rusizi and Nyamasheke but he continued to be paid the salary he was paid before being promoted, constitutes a violation of article 10 (10) of the Internal rules and regulations which stipulates that "Employees are paid according to the salary level commensurate with the work they do." They explain that the Court of Appeal did not confuse the issues because SONARWA S.A. was split into three companies including SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd, all of which continued to be governed by the 2005 Internal rules and regulations, and the employees of those companies remained on the levels where they were before the reforms, so they should have continued to be equally treated. They state that the Court of Appeal determined the damages

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based on the provisions of article 21 of the Internal rules and regulations stating that the Head of Service is on the same level with the Branch Manager, so what was done was not to support the requests of Rugina Jason but to correct the functioning of SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd which was unlawful.

They argue that the fact that the Court held that Rugina Jason should be paid for the position on which SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd admits to have appointed him, is not to interfere with the responsibilities of the employers, but rather to correct the errors so that other employers do not apply the same to their employees. They explain that the right to equal pay for workers who do the same job is provided under article 30 of the Constitution, and that this concurs with the position adopted by the Court of Appeal in the case of Muberangabo Titien v. SONARWA Holdings Ltd, where it ruled that the employee who is promoted must be paid the same as his/her colleagues on that level3. On this point, they state that the salary equal to 715,550 Frw that SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd states that the Branch Manager was paid is not true because that was the basic salary, while the total salary of the Branch Manager was 1,999,252 Frw according to the pay roll of Ntwari Alphonse.

They conclude by stating that the organisational structure that SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd is using during the trial seeking to prove that Rugina Jason was at a different level from that of Ntwari Alphonse is an evidence available after 2015, unsigned, forged by the employer for the reasons of the case and it has not been contested since the beginning of the case because it was filed in the Court of Appeal, therefore, such

3 See judgment RSOCAA 00005/2018/CA rendered by the Court of Appeal on 08/3/2019. SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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document is worthless. They further argue that the problem of Rugina Jason is not unique to him as SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd wants to prove, but that it is shared with other employees who were also Branch Managers, who sued the employer and won, the lawsuits were prevented from advancing due to the fact that the damages awarded would have made those cases not to fall under the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal.

DETERMINATION OF THE COURT

Article 30 of the 2003 Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda revised in 2015, provides that “All individuals, without any form of discrimination, have the right to equal pay for equal work”.

Regarding to the way in which this principle should be enforced, Legal Scholars Fanie Van Jaarsveld and Stefan Van Eck state that workers who carry out the same work, with equal skills, experience and ability should be equally paid, otherwise there will be discrimination.4 On the other hand, Nsengiyumva Métusera states that an employee with equal skills, experience and ability to his or her colleagues, but who is not equally paid as those at the same level, has the right to claim for being paid the same salary as of his or her colleagues or to ask for a fair salary, that although there is nothing that prevents the employer

4 “The fact that an employer pays an employee more than other employees does not amount to discrimination. Pay differentials may be justified in law and in practice by the fact that employees have different levels of qualifications, experience, skills, competence, expertise and so on. I will only be regarded as discrimination when two similarly circumstanced employees are treated differently.”, Fanie Van Jaarsveld na Stefan Van Eck, Principles of Labour Law, Durban, Butterworths, 2002, p.

78.

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from awarding bonus to some employees , when such bonus is added to the wages, it is paid to all employees.5

This position is also upheld by the courts of other countries, such as the Court of Cassation in France that found that an employee hired by a company called Fauchon as a Commercial Assistant on 01/02/2000, then on 01/10 /2000, she was promoted to the Head of Export Area, then on 25/05/2004, she was dismissed due to gross misconduct, but since she was promoted she has not been paid the same salary as her colleagues in the same position, that she should be given the balance of all unpaid salaries. The same Court also found that, upon approval by the Court in its discretion, employees at the same level may be paid different salaries when the employer objectively manages to prove to the Court that the employees who are paid a higher salary have special and particular skills that are useful for their work.6

5 “Rien n’empêche à l’employeur d’accorder discrétionnairement des avantages matériels à titre de libéralités à certains travailleurs et de les refuser à d’autres. Néanmoins, dès que ces avantages ont acquis le caractère de salaire, ils deviennent obligatoires pour tous les travailleurs se trouvant dans la même situation.”, Nsengiyuma Métusera, Droit social, Manuel de droit Rwandais, 1993, p. 79. 6 “ Attendu que Mme X … a été engagée par la société Fauchon le 1er février 2000 … en qualité d’assistante commerciale, qu’elle a été promue le 1er octobre 2000 au poste de chef de zone export; qu’elle a été licenciée pour faute grave le 25 mai 2004; qu’elle a saisi la juridiction prud’homale de demandes tendant à faire juger le licenciement sans cause réelle et sérieuse et à obtenir la payment d’un rappel d’heures supplémentaires et de dommages-intérêts au titre d’une inégalité de traitement subie en matière salariale; …Vu le principe “à travail égal salaire égal”; Attendu qu’au regard de ce principe, la seule différence de dilpômes, alors qu’ils sont d’un niveau équivalent, ne permet pas de fonder une différence de rémunération entre des salariés qui exercent les mêmes fonctions, sauf s’il est démontré par des justifications, dont il SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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The Court finds that the case file contains a letter from SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd to Rugina Jason dated 14/11/2013, informing him that he has been promoted to the position of Branch Manager of Huye Branch and that he will also be in charge of overseeing the marketing of the company's commercial activities in Rusizi Branch. The letter also states that his current salary and position will remain unchanged, but that he will receive 200,000 Frw for transport allowances. The file also contains the performance evaluation reports of 2014 and 2016 which prove that Rugina Jason was the Head of SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd, Huye Branch. These elements of evidence prove that there is no doubt that Rugina Jason was Branch Manager of Huye Branch from 14/11/2013 until his dismissal.

The Court finds that in the hearing held on 24/05/2022, before this instant Court, SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd stated that from its establishment, its employees continued to be paid the same salaries as they were paid while they were still in SONARWA S.A., and even when SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd appeared before the Labour Inspector in Nyarugenge District, it admitted that it received the request of the employees in the position of Branch Manager to be paid the

appartient au juge de contrôler la réalité et la pertinence, que la possession d’un diplôme spécifique atteste de connaissances particulières utiles à l’exercice de la fonction occupée; …Qu’en statuant comme elle l’a fait (la cour d’appel), alors que Mme X … qui occupait la même fonction de chef de zone export que Mme Y ..., possedait des diplômes de niveau équivalent, …sans préciser en quoi les diplômes de Mme Y … attestaient de connaissances particulières utiles à l’exercice de la fonction occupée, de sorte qu’ils justifiaient une différence de rémunération, la cour d’appel a violé le principe susvisé; …” Cour de Cassation, Chambre sociale, N° 07-42-107, 16 décembre 2008, Bull Civ, V. N° 250.

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salaries related to that position, and replied to them that their request would be considered when the time comes, they were requested to wait, therefore the Court of Appeal concluded that SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd did not comply with the provisions of its 2005 Internal Rules and Regulations that were into force in 2013 when Rugina Jason was appointed as Branch Manager.

The Court finds that the Preamble of 2015 Employee's Handbook states that “This Employee's Handbook of Policies and Regulations repeals and replaces the existing Employee's Handbook that was adopted in January 2005. This change in the Employee's Handbook is due to the fact that it is not updated due to the amendment in labour law of 2009 and many other changes that have taken place in the Company over the years. This shows that in terms of human resource management, SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd continued to be governed by the Internal Rules and Regulations of Personnel of SONARWA S.A. from January 2005 until the Employee's Handbook was adopted.

The Court finds that articles 20 and 21 of the Internal Rules and Regulations of January 2005 determine and explain the organisational structure in SONARWA S.A., including the position at level E, which includes four positions that are hierarchically as follows: Chief of service, Principal Chief of service , Authorized Officer (Fondé de pouvoir) and Principal Authorized Officer (Fondé de Pouvoir Principal). The letter dated 14/11/2013 appoints Rugina Jason in the position of Huye Branch Manager , and the performance appraisal reports of 2014 and 2016 indicate that Rugina Jason was Head of Huye Branch, this indicates that the position occupied Rugina Jason is that of SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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the Head of the Department which is usually provided by Internal Rules and Regulations mentioned above.

The Court declared unfounded the statements of SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd that although Rugina Jason was the Head of the Department, he was at the rank of Officer I, and that in determining salaries it should be based on the salary of Kanyamahoro Kazungu Deus who was Rubavu Branch Manager, for the following reasons: i. The rank of Officer I does not appear in the 2005 Internal Rules and Regulations; it only appears in the document entitled Approved Salary Structure for Sonarwa Life Staff dated October 2012. The document does not bear the seal, stamp nor signature of Sonarwa Life Assurance officials, and Officer I is at the level of "K" rank of the Head of drivers in the Company, which is not clear how the Director of the District Unit would be at the same level as the Head of drivers in that Company; ii. The document dated 14/05/2013 appoints Kanyamahoro Kazungu Deus in the position of Rubavu Branch Manager stating that he is placed at the level of Assistant Manager, and that he will be paid 1,035,590 Frw, Ntwari Alphonse occupied the very same post and he was paid 1,999,252 Frw, the same as Habakubana Egide who was paid 1,980,520 Frw, which is unclear how Rugina Jason who was also Branch Manager was not in the position of Assistant Manager like his

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colleagues and was placed in the position of Officer I. iii. The fact that the position of Officer I was supervised by the Head of Commercial Unit who is also supervised by the Branch Coordinator, does not appear in Internal Rules and Regulations of 2005 of SONARWA S.A.

Based on the aforementioned explanations and the provisions of paragraph two of article 84, of the 2005 Internal Rules and Regulations of SONARWA S.A. which was into force when Rugina Jason was promoted on 14/11/2013 stating that “For employees who are promoted, the salary increase should be equal to the difference between the vertical salary scale of the level or the level they have reached and of the scale or level on which they are appointed", the Court finds that, as the Court of Appeal held, the position of Branch Manager meets that of the Head of Service, and therefore from 14/11/ 2013, Rugina Jason would have been paid for such position.

Regarding the salary, the Court finds that the Court of Appeal held that SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd failed to prove that the Branch Manager was not paid a gross salary equal to 1,999,252 Frw, or how Ntwari Alphonse would have been paid a higher salary than Rugina Jason simply because one is in SONARWA General Insurance Ltd and the other is in SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd and they are on the same level and are all governed by the 2005 Internal Rules and Regulations of SONARWA S.A. SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd still argues that Kanyamahoro Kazungu Deus was Rubavu Branch Manager at the position of Assistant Manager, the performance evaluation of Ntwari Alphonse in 2014 as the SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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Head of Claims and Benefits Unit and the letter written to him on 11/06/2016 informing him of the salary composition as approved by the Board of Directors in October 2012, which also mentions that he is at the position of Assistant Manager, meaning that Assistant Manager is the position of the Director of Unit in SONARWA Life Assurances Company Ltd, to which Rugina Jason was promoted in 2013.

The Court finds that the casefile contains various documents indicating that the gross salary of Ntwari Alphonse is equal to 1,999,252 Frw, that of Kanyamahoro Kazungu Deus equal to 1,035,590 Frw, and that of Rugina Jason equal to 514,581 Frw, yet they are all at the same level of Assistant Manager. So far, SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd does not provide any reasonable ground to justify how employees of the same rank, doing the same job, are differently paid. Since SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd does not deny that Ntwari Alphonse was also Assistant Manager, this instant Court concurs with the ruling of the Court of Appeal which held that the salary scale of Assistant Manager should be based on that of Ntwari Alphonse.

The Court also finds that the Court of Appeal was in position of reversing the decision upheld by the High Court that the damages and the difference of salaries that Rugina Jason should be given, ought to be computed on the net salary of Ntwari Alphonse instead of the gross salary. However, in its ruling, the Court held that the salary amounting to "1,134,317 Frw appears on the pay roll of Ntwari Alphonse". Although the pay roll indicates that the salary of Ntwari Alphonse was equal to 1,184,317.00 Frw, which was the basis for calculating the damages and the difference of salaries requested, this instant

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Court has no basis to re-examine that fact because Rugina Jason never requested for its correction. II.2. Whether there are excessive salaries that have been paid or whether there are salaries paid after their prescription time limit

Counsel Abijuru Emmanuel and Counsel Basomingera Alberto representing SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd, argue that Rugina Jason has been the Huye Branch Manager for 40 months and 28 days, so the Court of Appeal did not prove where it got 42 months, and it refused without reason to confirm that the first wages of 11/04/2015 paid before 12/04/2017, when Rugina Jason was dismissed, had reached their prescription time limit because it had exceeded the two-year period stipulated by law.7 They explain that the letters Rugina Jason wrote on 14/11/2013, 02/12/2013, 26/04/2014 and 20/09/2015 are not among of the reasons of stopping the prescription as provided by law, the Court of Appeal should have held that the only reason that could have stopped the prescription was the complaint submitted to the Labour Inspector on 23/01/2017.

Rugina Jason states that this ground was appealed to the Court of Appeal and was not admitted, and he finds that it should not be considered in the application for review on grounds of

7 Article 83 of the Law n° 13/2009 of 27/05/2009 regulating labour provided that “Prescription of salary payment shall be of two (2) years. This prescription time limit is counted as of the date on which the worker was to be paid the salary. Counting this time limit shall cease where the employer has computed all the monies, has agreed with the worker that the monies are the debt, where the worker’s case is pending before the court or where the labour inspectorate requested to settle the dispute has not yet given its conclusions.”

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injustice. He submits that if SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd doubts that he has been a Branch Manager for 42 months, it should provide evidence, indicating how it did calculations. On the issue of prescription of salary, he avers that from 02/12/2013, he and other Branch Managers wrote to the employer, asking for being paid for the level they were appointed to, they reminded again on 26/06/2014 and 20/09/2015, and when they did not receive any answer, they submitted the matter to the Labour Inspector, who found that the impugned two years had never elapsed without requesting for his salary payment, and that is why he is praying this instant Court to declare this ground of appeal unfounded.

DETERMINATION OF THE COURT

Article 83 of Law n0 13/2009 of 27/05/2009 regulating labour in Rwanda that was into force when Rugina Jason was the Huye Branch Manager in SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd reads that “the prescription of salary payment shall be of two (2) years. This prescription time limit is counted as of the date on which the worker was to be paid the salary. Counting this time limit shall cease where the employer has computed all the monies, has agreed with the worker that the monies are the debt, where the worker’s case is pending before the court or where the labour inspectorate requested to settle the dispute has not yet given its conclusions”.

Regarding to whether the issue of prescription should be admitted for examination at this level, the Court finds that such ground has been appealed to the Court of Appeal, was examined from paragraphs 82 to 86, therefore, the statements of Rugina Jason that such claim was not admitted for examination at the

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appeal instance so that it cannot be submitted to review due to injustice are baseless.

Regarding the prescription of salary, the Court finds that article 83 of Law n013/2009 of 27/05/2009 regulating labour in Rwanda, which was into force when Rugina Jason was appointed as Branch Manager, provided that “the prescription time limit is counted as of the date on which the worker was to be paid the salary. Counting this time limit shall cease where the employer has computed all the monies, has agreed with the worker that the monies are the debt, where the worker’s case is pending before the court or where the labour inspectorate requested to settle the dispute has not yet given its conclusions”. In explaining about the prescription of salaries, Françoise Favennec-Hery and Pierre- Yves Verkindt state that the prescription of salaries is computed in the same way as the prescription of other personal rights or other property rights, that its calculation starts when the owner of the right knew or could have known the reasons of pursuing it.8

In relation to this instant case, the Court finds that Rugina Jason and his colleagues started claiming for their salaries on 02/12/2013, and again on 26/06/2014 and 20/09/2015, and he was dismissed from job on 12/04/2017. The fact that Rugina Jason claimed his salary and repeatedly reminded that the salary which he would have been being paid is not the one he is paid until he is dismissed, this means that he had started an action to defend his rights. It has never been more than two years that he did not

8 L’action en paiement ou en répétition du salaire se prescript à compter du jour où le titulaire d’un droit a connu ou aurait du connaitre les faits lui permettant de l’exercer. Il s’agit donc en la matière de la prescription de droit commun. Françoise Favennec-Hery et Pierre-Yves Verkindt, Droit du Travail, Paris, LDGJ, 2020, p.661. SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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remind the employer that the salary is lower than what an employee in his position should be paid and the employer agreed with him because he requested him to be patient for the matter to be examined until he was fired without receiving a response that his request is unfair or impossible.

This Court therefore agrees with the analysis made by the Court of Appeal on this issue that the employer does not state that the prescription of salary should be calculated from the time the employee submitted a complaint to the Labour Inspector whereas the employee wrote to the latter claiming for the salary, and the employer did not deny this right to the employee until he was illegally dismissed.

Regarding to whether there are excessive salaries which were paid, the Court finds that the case file indicates that Rugina Jason was appointed as Branch Manager on 14/11/2013, and was dismissed on 12/04/2017, equivalent to 41months, it appears to this instant Court that the Court of Appeal did not prove how it reached to 42 months, that is why with respect to the salary difference RUGINA Jason was not paid, it should be computed as follows: 1,184,317 Frw-361,366 Frw x 41= 33,740,991 Frw.

The Court finds that, according to paragraph 95 of the judgment under review on grounds of injustice, the Court of Appeal had found that Rugina Jason should be awarded 32,463,942 Frw (1,134,317 Frw -361,366 Frw) x 42 months, and Rugina Jason was satisfied with it because he never filed a claim for review due to injustice, so the balance of unpaid salaries confirmed by the Court of Appeal shall be maintained.

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II.

3. Whether the damages should be computed on the salaries of three (3) months instead of six (6) months as held by other courts

Counsel Abijuru Emmanuel and Counsel Basomingera Alberto representing SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd, argue that Rugina Jason was dismissed for legitimate economic reasons and that nobody contradicted such fact. They explain that in the Judges' Retreat held in Rubavu between 30/11/2016 and 03/12/2016, it was decided that the workers who were dismissed for legitimate reasons but there was a violation of procedure, they would be awarded damages amounting to three month salary. They state that the fact that the Court of Appeal failed to comply with such position, could confuse lower courts, leading to different rulings on the same issue.

Rugina Jason and Counsel Rwagatare Fred assisting him, state that the Intermediate Court of Nyarugenge found that he was illegally dismissed, and SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd did not appeal against such decision to the High Court, and when the Company intended to submit again the issue to the Court of Appeal, the latter decided that such ground of appeal was inadmissible for being examined since it was not appealed to the High Court. For them, this issue should not be included among the grounds on which SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd bases the injustice it suffered.

They state that in case this ground is admitted and examined, they request this instant Court to realize that moral damages determined by the courts are provided under article 33 of Law n0 13/2009 of 27/05/2009 regulating labour in Rwanda which was into force when Rugina Jason was appointed to the SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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position of Branch Manager,9 and were also provided by the Law n0 66/2018 of 30/08/2018 regulating labour published after the Judges’ Retreat held in Rubavu. They also explain that SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd misinterprets the resolutions of the Judges’ Retreat held in Rubavu because it was resolved that an employee who is dismissed for serious reasons but without notice, is awarded moral damages which do not exceed three month salary in addition to the compensation notice, whereas the employee who is dismissed without reasons and without notice, shall be awarded moral damages equal to his or her salary for three to six months in addition to the compensation notice. Regarding the case of Rugina Jason, the latter was dismissed without reasons and without notice, therefore, they note that the courts did not err in awarding to him damages equal to his six month salaries.

DETERMINATION OF COURT

The Court finds that the case file does not indicate that in the Court of Appeal, SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd appealed against the amount of damages awarded by the previous courts. The fact that the damages were again examined in

9 That article 33 provided that “Any unlawful termination of contract may result in damages. Damages paid to the unlawfully dismissed worker cannot go below his/her three-month salary but they cannot exceed the six (6) - month salary. This does preclude the payment of indemnities and other benefits to which the worker is, entitled. Where the worker has worked for the employer for a period which is longer than ten (10) years, damages shall not go beyond the salary of nine (9) months. This also applies in the case of workers’ delegates and the representatives of trade union. The provisions of this article shall also apply in the case the damages have to be paid by a worker who abusively terminated the contract.”

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paragraph 95 of the judgment under application for review due to injustice was not due to the fact that there was an appeal, rather the Court of Appeal noticed that the basis of calculation of awarded damages should be changed, instead of calculating them on basis of the gross salary, they should be computed on basis of net salary as above expounded.

The issue of whether the grounds that have been decided on but were not appealed can be subject to review on the grounds of injustice, was examined by this instant Court in various cases including that of Ngizweninshuti Albert v. Muhima Giovani,10 the very Court finds that the last paragraph of article 5511 and article 6312 of Law n0 30/2018 of 02/06/2018 determining the jurisdiction of courts together denote that any party entitled to ordinary and extraordinary remedies but that fails to assert his/her right within the time limit provided by law, is considered as having deprived him/herself of the procedure of appeal which would make his/her criticisms being corrected in the appeal, therefore, he/she cannot apply for review of a judgment due to injustice, disregarding that there are other cases that have been

10 See judgment RS/INJUST/RC 00024/2018/SC decided by Supreme Court on 21/02/2020, paragraphs 18-22. See again judgment RS/INJUST/RC 00007/2018/SC decided by Supreme Court on 13/03/2020 of Nditiribambe Samuel, Gatera Jason and Nyamaswa Faustin and judgment RCOM RS/ INJUST/ RC 00004/2019/SC decided by Supreme Court on 28/07/2020 of Mukamana, Havugimana, Umuhoza and Candali. 11 “… any party entitled to ordinary and extraordinary remedies but that fails to assert his/her right within the time limit provided by law, is not allowed to apply for review of a case he/she lost because of injustice, …” 12 « When the Supreme Court or any other court designated by the President of the Supreme Court receives an application for review of a judgement on grounds of being vitiated by injustice, it examines the merits of the case anew and in the presence of all parties. »

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pronounced, for requesting the review due to injustice of the grounds for which he/she did not voluntarily lodge appeal, because such procedure would be contrary to the provisions of the law.

Since SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd has not yet appealed against the issue relating to the amount of moral damages awarded by the High Court for examination by the Court of Appeal, the instant Court has no basis to examine such issue in the course of the judgment under review due to injustice. II.

4. Whether SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd would be charged damages while it won the case in part and whether it should be refunded the expenses incurred during the judgment execution

Counsel Abijuru Emmanuel and Counsel Basomingera Alberto assisting SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd submit that in the judgment under review on the grounds of injustice, the Court of Appeal declared their appeal groundless, but the damages were reduced from 79,431,900 Frw to 41,777,748 Frw, which means that SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd really won in part. They state that such contradiction of the Court led to be charged 1,000,000 Frw to them as counsel fee for each level while they were the ones who deserved that fee because they had won in addition to the court fee in High Court and in the Court of Appeal.

Rugina Jason and Counsel Rwagitare Fred assisting him argue that the damages awarded to Rugina Jason were not reduced due to the fact that the appeal of SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd was grounded in part rather the

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judgment in the Court of Appeal coincided with the new position set by the Supreme Court that the damages should be computed on basis of the net salary. They also add that SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd did not lodge appeal against the counsel fee it was charged in the High Court, and therefore, it cannot submit again the issue in the course of the judgment under review on the grounds of injustice.

DETERMINATION OF COURT

The case file indicates that in paragraph 94 of the judgment under review due to injustice, the Court of Appeal found that the damages awarded to Rugina Jason were computed on basis of the gross salary of Ntwari Alphonse, however the position set in the case of Niwemugeni Jeannette against KCB Bank Rwanda Ltd, the Supreme Court upheld that the dismissal compensation is not computed on gross salary, rather on net salary after deduction of the income tax and the social security contributions.

The Court finds that the statements of SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd that it won the case in the Court of Appeal because the damages awarded to Rugina Jason were reduced to 41,777,748 Frw are baseless because the fact that the Court reached at such decision of reducing damages was not due to the fact that the appeal was grounded , rather the Court, in its discretion, found that in calculating the damages, the previous courts were based on the irrelevant law, they based on the gross salary whereas the Supreme Court set the position that they should be calculated basing on the net salary. This indicates that in relation to the grounds of appeal , SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd did not win the case so that the Court could decide SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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that it won in part to lead to be exonerated or be awarded counsel fee and be repaid court fee. II.5. Whether SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd should be refunded the expenses incurred during its voluntary execution of the judgment RSOCAA 00007/2020/CA

Counsel Abijuru Emmanuel and Counsel Basomingera Alberto assisting SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd argue that SONARWA had started to voluntarily execute the judgment rendered by the Court of Appeal because it had already paid 10,000,000 Frw, and it requests this instant Court that when it decides that the judgment under review is really vitiated with injustice, Rugina Jason would be ordered to refund such money.

Rugina Jason and Counsel Rwagitare Fred assisting him submit that SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd would not start executing the judgment if it did not really admit that there is something it owed to him, and that it cannot request for the refund of the expenses incurred during the execution of judgment while it has not yet won its application for review due to injustice.

DETERMINATION OF THE COURT

The Court finds that while the main grounds relied on by SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd for its injustice are baseless, there is no reason to hold for the refund of 10,000,000 Frw it claims to have paid to Rugina Jason in order to execute the judgment rendered by the Court of Appeal.

1.

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II.

6. Determination of the basis of the claimed damages in this case

Counsel Abijuru Emmanuel and Counsel Basomingera Alberto assisting SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd submit that Rugina Jason has dragged the company into unnecessary lawsuits, so they request this instant Court to order to him to pay 1,000,000 Frw for procedural fee and 1,500,000 Frw for counsel fee at this instance.

Counsel Rwagitare Fred assisting Rugina Jason states that there was no injustice in the judgment rendered by the Court of Appeal, and he requests this instant Court to declare baseless all the damages claimed by SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd. He also adds that the Company continues to drag Rugina Jason into unnecessary lawsuits, to that effect he requests this instant Court to order to the Company to award to Rugina Jason 1,500,000 Frw for counsel fee and 200,000 Frw for procedural fee at this instance.

Counsel Abijuru Emmanuel and Counsel Basomingera Alberto representing SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd submit that Rugina Jason is the one who initiated unnecessary lawsuits, and SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd continued to appeal as long as it suffered injustice until it applied for review due to injustice of the judgment rendered by the Court of Appeal, therefore the damages he claims are groundless.

DETERMINATION OF THE COURT

Article 111 of Law n° 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 relating to the civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure, reads SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

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that: " The claim for representation fees is an incidental claim to the principal claim aiming to repay expenses incurred during judicial proceedings. The claim for legal costs is adjudicated at the same time with the principal claim. It can also be admitted and adjudicated even if the principal claim has not been admitted.”

The Court finds that SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd does not deserve all the damages it claims as it does not win anything in this case.

The Court finds that Rugina Jason deserves 200,000 Frw for procedural fee and such amount is reasonable, while the amount of 1,500,000 Frw for counsel fee that he claims at this level is excessive and he does not provide supporting evidence, therefore, in the discretion of the Court, he is entitled to 500,000 Frw. III. DECISION OF THE COURT

Holds that the application for review due to injustice of the judgment RSOCAA 00007/2020/CA rendered by the Court of Appeal filed by SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd lacks merit ;

Holds that the judgment RSOCAA 00007/2020/CA rendered by the Court of Appeal on 29/10/2021 is sustained, and its decision should be executed as follow : “125. Orders to SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY Ltd to pay to Rugina Jason 41,777,748 Frw as above expounded, in addition to 3,000,000 Frw for counsel fee and 50,000 Frw for court fee he

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deposited by filing the claim as decided by the High Court, all totalling to 44,827,748 Frw; 126. Orders to SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY Ltd to pay to Rugina Jason the balance of the contributions he did not pay for him in RSSB based on gross salary equal to 1,999,252 Frw per month, instead of 514,581 Frw per month.”

Orders to SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd to pay to Rugina Jason 200,000 Frw for procedural fee and 500,000 Frw for counsel fee at this instance, the total amount is 700,000 Frw.

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COMMERCIAL CASE

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UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET

SACCO KIMIRONKO ET AL [Rwanda Court of Appeal – RS/INJUST/RCOM 00006/2020/SC, (Cyanzayire, P.J., Nyirinkwaya and Hitiyaremye, J.) 18 March 2022] Commercial law – The contract of agency is a contract whereby one person (the principal/represented) mandates another person (agent /representative) to carry out legal transactions on behalf and account of the principal as if the latter performs them him/herself – The contract between a party to a case and a professional court bailiff is not an agency contract, it is rather a contract meant for delivery of service for judgement execution. Commercial procedure – Third party opposition – A person can make a third party opposition while he/she has never been a party in the initial case whether himself/herself or those he/she represents have never been summoned, but he/she has personal interest thereof. Commercial procedure – Disputes arising from judgement execution – Issues related to the seizure procedure – Claim for invalidation of the auction owing to violation of seizure procedure has nothing to do with disputes arising from judgement execution – The difference between judgement execution related disputes and seizure related disputes – Judgement execution related disputes are those resulting from disagreement between parties themselves or between the latter and the court bailiff over the interpretation of the court’s ruling and its related implementation – While seizure related disputes are disputes that seek for the invalidation or revocation of the auction due to the alleged violation of the pre-auction formalities 115 5

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whether in the course or following the auction. Disputes in relation to judgement execution are settled by the Court that heard the concerned case. Facts: HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko Company granted a loan to Uburiyemuye, they entered into a contract and agreed that the loan will be repaid back within one-month period, and the loan was secured with an immovable property that included a commercial house located in Rubavu District. Uburiyemuye did not fulfil the agreement and HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko sued him before the Commercial Court of Nyarugenge praying to be repaid the principal debt together with the related interests; the Court held that Uburiyemuye has to repay the principal debt plus the related interest. Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène appealed the above ruling to the Commercial High Court alleging to have been charged with the ordinary interests yet the interests were immediately deducted from the loan, he also claimed that the delay interests were excessive. The Court held that his appeal lacks merit, and sustained the appealed judgement. Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène applied for case review but the Court held that his application was not admitted. Following all those cases, Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène seized again the Commercial Court and prayed to be refunded the interest that was deducted from his loan, but the Court held that his claim was not admitted due to the fact that the interest issue had been litigated in the previous final judgments. For the execution of the judgement related to the loan that Uburiyemuye lost, Rugema Ziga, a professional court bailiff,

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auctioned the mortgage and it was acquired by HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko. Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène seized the Commercial High Court suing Rugema Ziga Jean Claude, the Court bailiff, seeking for the invalidation of the auction, alleging that the impugned judgment was illegally executed, that it violated the content of the Court’s auction writ, such as the observance of 15 days of the auction publicity in the determined places, failure to disclose of the interested bidders with their respective price proposals and auctioning the mortgage on a derisory price. The Commercial High Court heard the case and held that the claim filed by Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène has merit, that the auction by the Court bailiff for the execution of the judgment was illegal, hence ordering that it be invalidated. HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko made third party opposition against that judgement before the Commercial High Court, alleging that the Court had no jurisdiction to hear the merit of Uburiyemuye’s claim, and stating that the impugned auction should have not been nullified. The Commercial High Court held that it had no jurisdiction to hear the case on the observance of auction formalities since such a hearing is reserved to the Commercial Court, and it therefore held that the ruling of the Commercial High Court on the case is thereby quashed. The Court of Appeal heard the case and held that the objection related to the lack of jurisdiction by Rugema Ziga has no merit since the appeal was on the third party opposition case and yet such cases are appealable once; and it held that the appeal by Uburiyemuye falls well under the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal. UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO ET AL

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The Court has as well examined the capacity of HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko to file third party opposition against the case, and it held that nothing precluded it to do so since it had never been a party to the judgement under the third party opposition. The Court examined whether the Commercial High Court had jurisdiction to hear the case in question, and it found that the Commercial High Court had no jurisdiction to hear the case since all seized related disputes are reserved to either the President of the Primary Court or the President of the Commercial Court, therefore it was not in the jurisdiction of the Commercial High Court; the seized Court thus held that the appeal filed by Uburiyemuye lacks merit. Uburiyemuye petitioned the President of the Supreme Court and prayed to have his case reviewed for being vitiated with injustice, he claimed that the Court of Appeal heard his case on the raised objection and then ruled on his appeal without allowing parties to litigate thereof. Following the analysis of his application, the President of the Supreme Court ordered his case to be reviewed due to injustice. Uburiyemuye states that he requests the Court to quash the judgement rendered by the Commercial High Court alleging that HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko could not make third party opposition against the judgement to which Rugema Ziga was a party and they had concluded the contract for the judgement execution, therefore, he conducted the auction for its interests, meaning that he was aware of the case to which he is a party. HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko submits that it had interest to make third party opposition against the case for it to be reviewed since the case prejudiced it as it bought the property

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through the auction, therefore it must protect its interests as it was not summoned to the case. Rugema Ziga Jean Claude submits that HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko had a right to oppose the case as they had interest related to the fact that it bought the disputed property through the auction. For the concern that Rugema Ziga Jean Claude was working for the account of HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko, he replied that their contractual deals ended with the auctioning. Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène argued that the Commercial High Court had jurisdiction to hear the case RCOM 00021/2017/CHC since it entailed disputes resulting from the auction and related seizure formalities. HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko invoking a legal provision of the law that then governed civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure finds that the Commercial High Court had no jurisdiction to hear the case, since the subject matter was about the non-observance of auction formalities yet such cases are solely reserved to the Primary Court or the Commercial Court whereas the judgement under execution is the one rendered by the Commercial Court. The Court bailiff submits that the Commercial Court of Musanze had the jurisdiction to hear the case, as it is the very Court that drew up the auction writ. Held: 1. The contract of agency is a contract whereby the Principal (represented) mandates an agent (representative) to carry out legal relations on behalf and account of the Principal as if the latter performs them him/herself. UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO ET AL

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2. The contract between a party to a case and a professional court bailiff is not a mandate contract (contract of agency) it is rather a contract of service of judgement execution.

3. A person who can make a third party opposition against a judgment is the one who has not been to the case as claimant or respondent, while himself/herself or those he/she represents have never been summoned to the case, but he/she has interest to the case.

4. Disputes arising fro the judgement execution are those resulting from disagreement between parties themselves or between the latter and the court bailiff over the interpretation of the court’s ruling and its related implementation.

5. Disputes arising from the judgement execution shall be settled by the Court that heard the concerned judgement.

6. Seizure-related disputes are those seeking for the invalidation or revocation of the auction due to a violation of the pre-auction formalities whether during and after the auction. The claim lacks merit Statutes referred to: Law no 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 relating to civil, commercial, labour and and administrative procedure, article 161; Law no 21/2012 of 14/06/2012 relating to civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure, articles 208 and 309.

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Cases referred to: Case RCAA 00015/2017/SC, between COOPILAC, Sebahire Roger David v. Nesongane Marina of 27/04/2018 by the Supreme Court; Case RSOC 0001/CS between Mutuyubutatu Josephine v. MINERALS SUPPLY AFRICA Ltd (MSA) of 07/07/2017 by the Supreme Court. Judgment I. BACKGROUND OF THE CASE

On 15/06/2012 Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène and HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko concluded a loan agreement of 15,000,000 Frw ; and they agreed that the loan will be repaid back within one-month period with an ordinary interest of 750,000 Frw (that is immediately deducted from the loan that Uburiyemuye granted to him). The loan was secured by a mortgage in the UPI : 3/03/02/7450 which had a commercial building located in Kitarimwa Village, Gikombe Cell, Nyakiriba Sector in Rubavu District.

Ubiriyemuye Jean Damascène failed to abide by the agreement, and this made HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko to sue him before the Commercial Court of Nyarugenge requesting him to repay the principal debt together with the related interests, and the case was recorded as RCOM 0987/13/TC/NYGE. The case was heard in absence of Uburiyemuye and the judgement was pronounced on 13/12/2013. The Court bound him to pay a principal debt of 15,000,000 Frw UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO ET AL

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with ordinary interests amounting to 10,500,000 Frw; delay interests of 21,000,000 Frw and 700,000 Frw for Counsel fee.

Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène appealed the ruling to the Commercial High Court, and the appeal was recorded as RCOMA 0164/14/HCC claiming that he was unfairly charged with ordinary interests of 10,500,000 Frw yet he had already paid, as the interests were immediately deducted from the loan he received. He is well alleged that 21,000,000 Frw he was charged for delay interests were overly excessive, the Court held that his appeal lacks merit and sustained the ruling of the appealed judgement. Uburiyemuye applied for the case review and his application was registered as RCOM 00342/2017/CHC/HCC but the Court declared it inadmissible.

Following all those cases, Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène again seized the Commercial High Court and prayed to be refunded 750,000 Frw as ordinary interests that were directly deducted from the loan he received. The claim was recorded as RCOM 003582019/TC but the Court declared inadmissible his claim due to the fact that the interest had already been litigated in cases RCOM 0987/13/NYAGE and RCOMA 0164/14/HCC that have already became final.

For the execution of the loan case that Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène lost, Rugema Ziga Jean Claude, a professional court bailiff, auctioned an immovable property in the UPI :3/03/08/02/7451 registered to Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène and it was won by HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko on 4, 000,000 Frw.

Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène seized the Commercial High Court, suing Rugema Ziga Jean Claude, the Court bailiff,

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seeking for the invalidation of the auction alleging that the impugned judgment was illegally executed, that it violated the content of the Court’s auction writ, such as the observance of 15 days of the auction publicity in the determined places, failure to disclose the interested bidders with their respective price proposals, and auctioning the mortgage on a derisory price.

On 21/11/2017, the Commercial High Court heard the case RCOM 00021/2017/CHC and held that the claim filed by Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène has merit, that the auction by Rugema Ziga Jean Claude, the Court bailiff, for the execution of the judgment RCOMA 164/14/CHC was unlawful, and therefore ordered that the impugned auction of the property in UPI : 3/03/08/02/7451 be invalidated. The very Court further ordered Rugema Ziga Jean Claude to pay Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène for Counsel fee and for the incurred case related expenses.

HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko made a third party opposition against the above ruling before the Commercial High Court, the third party opposition was registered as RCOM 00001/2018/CHC/HCC, it alleged that the Commercial High Court had no jurisdiction to hear the merit of the claim by Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène and it prayed the Court not to invalidate the auction. The Commercial High Court heard the case on the third party opposition and held that it had no jurisdiction to hear the case on the observance of auction related formalities since such a hearing is reserved to the Commercial Court that heard the case, and it therefore held that the ruling of the Commercial High Court on the case is thereby quashed and ordered Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène to pay HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko 575,000 Frw for Counsel and Court fees. UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO ET AL

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Uburiyemuye Jean Damascene appealed the above ruling before the Court of Appeal, the appeal was registered as RCOMA 00004/2019/CA and prayed the Court to examine whether HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko had the capacity to oppose the judgment RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC; he also requested the Court to examine whether the Commercial High Court had no jurisdiction to hear the very case, and he claimed for a variety of damages. Rugema Ziga Jean Claude together with HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko objected the admissibility of the claimant’s appeal arguing that the appeal had already been heard in the case RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC whereby the appellant invoked article 208 of the Law n0 21/2012 of 14/06/2012 relating to civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure, and he prayed the Commercial High Court to help settle disputes that had resulted from the execution of the judgement RCOMA 0164/HCC, and they reminded that such cases are appealable once. The Court closed the hearing by deciding that the ruling on the objection will be pronounced on 20/03/2020. The Court of Appeal heard the case and held that the objection of the lack of the jurisdiction raised by Rugema Ziga was unfounded since the appeal was on the third party opposition case and yet such cases are appealable once ; and it held that the appeal by Uburiyemuye is well in the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal. The Court has as well examined the capacity of HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko to oppose the case, and it held that it had capacity to oppose the case since it had never been a party in the very opposed case.

The Court further examined whether the Commercial High Court had no jurisdiction to hear the case RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC, and it found that all issues to do with

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seizure formalities are reserved to either the President of the Primary Court or to the President of Commercial Court for cases heard by Commercial courts. The Court of Appeal has therefore held that the Commercial High Court had no jurisdiction to hear such case and held that the appeal by Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène lacks merit. The Court held to sustain the judgment RCOM 0001/2018/CHC/HCC.

Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène petitioned the President of the Supreme Court praying for the review of the judgment RCOMA 00004/2019/CA for being vitiated by injustice, he claimed that the Court of Appeal heard his case on the raised objection and then ruled on his appeal without allowing parties to litigate thereof. He also complained that the Court of Appeal charged him with unjustified damages.

Following the analysis of his application, the President of the Supreme Court ordered the case RCOMA 00004/2019/CA of 15/05/2020 by the Court of Appeal to be reviewed for injustice related grounds, and the case was registered as RS/INJUST/ RCOM 00006/2020/SC.

The case was heard in public on 13/04/2021, Uburiyemuye was present and assisted by Counsel Nsabimana Jean Baptiste, HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko represented by Counsel Rurishya Ngenda Philemon while Rugema Ziga Jean Claude was represented by Counsel Kagame Kimonyo Alexis.

After the Court has heard from the parties, it closed the hearing and scheduled the pronouncement on 30/04/2021. On this date, the ruling was not pronounced owing to the fact that one of the judges who heard the case had been appointed to other duties, and the case was again scheduled on 09/09/2021 to be reheard. UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO ET AL

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All parties again appeared assisted or represented as before but they however said to add nothing on the plea of 13/04/2021. The hearing was closed and the pronouncement was scheduled on 08/10/2021.

On that date the Court pronounced its ruling on the sole interlocutory judgement and held that the Court of Appeal only heard the case on the objection but then ruled even on the substance of the case with no litigations thereof ; the Court quashed the judgment RCOMA 00004/2019/CA of 15/05/2020 rendered by the Court of Appeal, and it therefore invalidated all its related effects including the damages that Ubiriyemuye Jean Damascène was charged with. The Court held that the hearing on the appeal that Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène had lodged before the Court of Appeal was conducted on later date that the Court’s Registry will announce, and this is the very date that the Court will examine issues to do with damages that parties claimed for.

The hearing was scheduled on 14/12/2021, and all parties were thereof notified but the case was not heard owing to a reason that Counsel Nsabimana Jean Baptiste assisting Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène informed the Court of his absence as he had to attend a certain burial; the case was adjourned to 08/02/2022 and all parties were thereby notified. The date came and the hearing opened with Ubiriyemuye Jean Damascene together with his legal advisor in absentia ; but defendants invoked article 54 of the Law 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 relating to civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure1 and prayed to have the case heard.

1 If the claimant fails to appear before the court without valid reason, the respondent may apply to the court for the removal of the case from the list of cases or for the hearing of the case on the merits, and the judgement is

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Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène together with his legal advisor came in late, joined and went on with the hearing .

[19] The issues that were heard and decided by the Court are the issues to do with the appeal that Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène had filed before the Court of Appeal, and those issues included the following : a. Whether HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko had a right to oppose the case RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC; b. Whether the Commercial High Court had jurisdiction to hear the the very case. c. Issue of various damages.

After hearing for each party on the raised issues, the Court closed the hearing and informed parties that the ruling will be pronounced on 18/03/2022.

considered as having been rendered after hearing both parties, except when the court finds it necessary to adjourn the case in order to re-summon the claimant in the interests of the administration of justice and in the manner provided under this law If the case is removed from the list of cases, proceedings are terminated and all court fees already incurred are borne by the claimant. UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO ET AL

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II. ISSUES OF THE CASE AND THEIR

ANALYSIS 1. Whether HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko had a right to oppose the case 00021/2017 of 21/11/2017 rendered by the Commercial High Court.

Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène and his counsel argue that HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko could not make a third party opposition against the judgment

RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC in which Rugema Ziga Jean Claude was a party, and they had concluded the contract for the judgement execution ; he therefore conducted the auction for its interests as he was aware of the case in which he is a party. They prayed the Court to declare null and void the judgement RCOM 00001/2018/CHC/HCC that opposed the judgement RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC.

Counsel Rukarishya Ngenda Philemon representing HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko submits that his client had interest to oppose the judgment and have it reviewed since the case prejudiced it. He states that there was no ground that precluded it from opposing that case because it intended to recover the loan and it bought the property through the auction; the fact that Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène had attacked the auction cannot preclude HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko to oppose the case in a bid to protect its interests more so that it had not been summoned to it.

Counsel Kagame Kimonyo Alexis representing Rugema Ziga Jean Claude corroborates that HOME BASKET SACCO

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Kimironko had a right to oppose the judgment as it had interest related to the fact that it bought the disputed property through the auction. For the concern that Rugema Ziga Jean Claude was working for the account of HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko, he replied that their contractual deals ended with the auction.

DETERMINATION OF THE COURT

Paragraph one of article 161 of the Law n0 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 relating to civil, commercial, administrative and labour procedure provides that a third party opposition seeks to quash or change a judgement to the benefit of the third party appealing against it; whereas paragraph one of article 162 of the very law reads that a person who was not a party to a case but who has an interest in it may make a third party opposition to set aside a judgement which is prejudicial to his or her rights and if neither that person nor the person he or she represents were called at the trial.

The take of the above mentioned articles is that the opposing third party must be a person who has never been a party in the initial case whether as a plaintiff or a defendant yet he/she thereof has a personal or a proxy interest.

Representation is defined as an arrangement by which one person (principal/mandator) mandates another (agent/representative) to carry out legal transactions on the behalf and account of the Principal as if the latter carried them out him/herself. Representation can also be by law (legal representation); for instance, in a circumstance of representing a minor whose age is still under majority, or in a circumstance by UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO ET AL

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which a company manager represents the company’s shareholders. Representation can again be by a court’s order such as in the circumstances of guardianship for incapable persons. Representation can as well be by ways of mandate agreement2.

2 La représentation ….est l'effet soit d'une convention, soit de la Loi, elle règle l'effet par lequel une personne, dite le représenté ou encore le mandant, engage une personne dite, le mandataire ou représentant, lequel reçoit de ce mandant la mission de traiter avec un ou plusieurs tiers comme s'il avait directement traité avec ce ou ces tiers, Serge Braudo, Dictionnaire du Droit privé, Définition de représentation, https://www.dictionnaire- juridique.com/definition/representation.php, 1996-2022, consulté le 9/03/2022. La représentation est le mécanisme par lequel une personne, le représentant, conclut un acte juridique pour le compte d'une autre, le représenté, en vertu d'un pouvoir que lui confère soit la loi (représentation légale), soit une décision de justice (représentation judiciaire), soit un contrat (représentation conventionnelle) ; le mécanisme de la représentation, définition, https://www.labase-lextenso.fr/ouvrage/9782275097763-42, consulté le 9/03/2022. Le pouvoir de représentation dont est investi un représentant peut lui avoir été conféré au titre d’un contrat. Le pouvoir de représentation sera ainsi le produit d’un accord de volontés. Cette hypothèse correspond à la conclusion d’un contrat de mandat ; Aurélien Bamdé(Docteur en droit privé), in Droit des contrats, Droit des obligations, Effet relatif, Effets du

contrat, https://aurelienbamde.com/2017/07/14/la-representation-droit-commun/, posted le 14/07/2017, consulté le 9/03/2022 . …La représentation du mineur est assurée : soit par ses parents, soit par un tuteur ; ibidem …tandis que les associés expriment en assemblée la volonté de la personne morale, les dirigeants sociaux représentent cette volonté qui a été exprimée par les associés, ibidem. Lorsqu’une personne est frappée d’une incapacité d’exercice générale ou spéciale, l’expression de sa volonté ne peut s’opérer que par l’entremise d’un représentant………Le juge désignera ………un représentant chargé d’agir au nom et pour le compte de la personne protégée ; ibidem

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This type of agreement is defined as a contract by which one person mandates another person to undertake certain engagements and does so in the name and account of his mandator3, this type of contract is different from an employment contract whereby one person employs another for the latter to accomplish defined tasks.

Coming back to the case RCOM 00021/CHC/HCC of 21/11/2017 by the Commercial High Court, it looks that Uuriyemuye Jean Damascène sued Rugema Jean Claude, a court bailiff, for unlawful auction in the execution of case ROCOMA 164/14/HCC that he had lost against HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko due to a debt that he owed them. It is also clear that HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko has never been a party to case RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC, since nobody sued them, or summoned them to it and neither HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko nor people it represents, that is its shareholders, has never been a party to the case not even summoned for it.

The Court finds that neither HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko, nor the persons it legally represents has never been party to case RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC as it is above highlighted, yet it had an interest to protect as the winner of the case whose execution is alleged to be unlawful by Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène. Nothing precluded it from opposing the judgment as per the provisions of articles 161 and 162 of the aforementioned law n0 22/2018 of 29/04/2019.

d'une autre, le représenté, en vertu d'un pouvoir que lui confère soit la loi (représentation légale), soit une décision 3 Le mandat ou procuration est un acte par lequel une personne donne à une autre le pouvoir de faire quelque chose pour le mandant et en son nom ; ibidem UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO ET AL

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Regarding the statements of Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène who claims that HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko had no right to make a third party opposition against the judgement in which Rugema Ziga Jean Claude was a party and they had concluded the contract for the judgement execution, the Court finds them baseless since Rugema Ziga Jean Claude cannot be confused with HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko or the persons it legally represents, as above expounded. More so, their contract was not a contract for representation (an agency contract), it was rather an employment contract meant for the execution of the court’s judgment.4

With reference to the above provided elucidations, the Court finds that HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko had a right to make a third party opposition against the judgement RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC of 21/11/2017 rendered by the Commercial High Court.

4 Le contrat de prestation de services est défini à l’article 1710 du Code civil sous le nom de « louage d’ouvrage ». Il s’agit d’une convention généralement conclue à titre onéreux entre deux parties, un prestataire et son client, et qui fait naître entre eux des droits et obligations. D’aucuns diraient que le contrat de prestation de services matérialise une sorte de relation de travail où un professionnel se rend responsable de l’accomplissement d’une mission pour le compte d’un donneur d’ordre ; Contrat de prestation de services, par Avocats Picovschi, Avocats d’affaires, https://www.avocats- picovschi.com/contrat-de-prestation-de-services_article_267.html, mis à jour le 13/08/2021, consulté le 09/03/2022 Article 38 of the Law n0 12/2013 of 22/03/2013 governing the function of bailiffs provides that before executing any judgment, decisions or any other enforcement orders, the professional bailiff shall conclude a written contract with the client specifying the amount of his/her fees and the modalities of payment. That contract must take into account the scale reffered to in Article 37 of this Law.

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2. Whether the Commercial High Court had no jurisdiction to hear the case

RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC

Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène together with his legal Counsel argue that the Commercial High Court had no jurisdiction to hear the case RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC; they submit that the Court had no jurisdiction to invoke article 2085 of the Law n0 21/2012 of 14/06/2012 relating to civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure to hear the case since the auction of 04/05/2017 was contested; the Court still could not invoke article 3096 of the very law since this article concerns seizure-related formalities. They submit that the disputes arose on 04/05/2017 when the Court bailiff affirmed that the auction has thereby been conducted but failed to account for bidders who attended, the amount of money and who gave it, the price of the house on which they disagree.

Counsel Rukarishya Ngenda Philemon, representing HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko made a reference to article 309 of the Law n0 21/2012 of 14/06/2012 relating to civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure by then in

5 Disputes regarding the execution of judgement shall be brought before the court that rendered the final judgment or that made a foreign judgement enforceable in Rwanda. The court decides thereon within fifteen (15) of the date of receipt of application. Such judgements shall not be subjected to appeal. 6 All procedural difficulties that may occur in the course of seizure shall be resolved by the ruling of the President of the Primary Court or the president of the commercial court for the execution of judgment delivered by a commercial court. Such claims shall be following the procedure of exparte applications. However, that decision shall be appealable within a period of 15 days starting from the date on which parties were notified thereof. UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO ET AL

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force, and argued that the Commercial High Court had no jurisdiction to hear the case since the issue at hand was about the non- observance of auction-related formalities, and such issues are normally filed to the Primary Court or to the Commercial Court for the execution of judgements rendered by the Commercial Court.

He avers that by basing on article 260 of the Law no 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 relating to civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure, the Court’s decision was not subject to appeal, it was instead supposed to be entirely implemented, he therefore finds no injustice in the judgement rendered by the Court of Appeal.

Counsel Kagame Kimonyo Alexis, who represents Rugema Ziga Jean Claude argues that the Commercial High Court had no jurisdiction to hear the case RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC, since the subject matter was about the unlawful execution of the Court’s judgement and the invalidation of the auction of 04/05/2017. He also pointed out that Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène changed the subject matter of the case by stating that it is the case of the disputes arising from the execution of the judgement, but the nature of the claim seems to stem from article 309 of the then above mentioned law n0 21/2012 of 14/06/2012, that provided for seizure-related formalities. He then adds that it is the Commercial Court of Musanze that had jurisdiction to hear the case, since it is this very Court that had issued the concerned auction writ.

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DETERMINATION OF THE COURT

The disputes of the parties on this issue are related to determine whether the claim filed by Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène in the case RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC is the claim related to the disputes arising from the judgment execution as provided under article 208 of the Law n0 21/2012 of 14/06/2012 relating to civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure, then in force, or whether it is a claim that concerns the settlement of the issues related to seizure procedure that occurred in the course of the seizure as provided under article 309 of the aforementioned law.

Article 208 of the Law n0 21/2012 of 14/06/2012 relating to civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure provided that “Disputes regarding the execution of judgement shall be brought before the court that rendered the final judgment (….)”, while paragraph one of article 309 of the same law provided that “all procedural difficulties that may occur in the course of seizure shall be resolved by the ruling of the President of the Primary Court or the president of the commercial court for the execution of judgment delivered by a commercial court”.

The issues related to the difference between the judgment execution disputes and the seizure procedural difficulties were elucidated by this very Court in the case whereby COOPILAK sued Sebahire Roger David together with Nesongane Marina. In that case, the Court expounded that the disputes related to the judgement execution provided under article 208 of the Law n0 21/2012 of 14/06/2012 relating to civil, commercial, labour and UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO ET AL

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administrative procedure are the disputes resulting from the misunderstanding between the parties themselves or between the latter and the court bailiff over the interpretation of the court’s decision (the ruling) and its execution, which means that such disputes are related to the misunderstanding over the actual court decision and its execution modalities7 , while the seizure related disputes are the disputes that seek for the invalidation or revocation of the auction due to the alleged violation of the pre- auction formalities whether in the course or after the auction8. .

Similarly, in another case whereby Mutuyubutatu Joséphine sued MINERALS SUPPLY AFRICA Ltd (MSA), the very Court analysed the provision of article 208 of the Law n0 21/2012 of 14/06/2012 and found that the disputes subject to litigation are those disputes resulting from the execution of the court’s judgment, and the parties found that there is disagreement between them about the execution of the decision of the Court that rendered the judgment, so that the issues are settled by requesting the same Court to clarify its decision for fair execution9. These are the same elucidations given by Gasasira Ephrem in his book on civil and commercial procedure10. .

7 Case RCAA 00015/2017/SC of 27/04/2018 between COOPILAK v. Sebahire Roger David and Nesongane Marina, paragraph 26. 8 Ibidem, paragraph 35 9 The interlocutory judgement case RSOC 0001/2017/CS rendered on 07/07/2017 between Mutuyubutatu Joséphine v MINERALS SUPPLY AFRICA Ltd (MSA), para 10 10 “…... It at times happens for a judgement execution to be difficult, especially when the court decision is unclear or ambiguous …… In such a scenario, it is always a good idea to seek for interpretation from the court that rendered such a decision for more clarification; Gasasira Ephrem, Manuel de Droit Rwandais, Procédure civile et commerciale, Printerset 1993, P.

294.

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With regard to this case, the case file indicates that Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène lodged a claim to the Commercial High Court, the claim was registered as

RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC and he sought for the invalidation of auction that he alleged to be unlawful. He claimed that Rugema Ziga Jean Claude unlawfully auctioned his immovable property registered on UPI : 3/03/08/02/7451, he disregarded the auction writ delivered by the President of the Commercial Court, on the following issues : a. Not advertising the auction for 15 days and in the determined places ( that is on radio, in newspapers, and with public notice on the place of the auction); b. Not disclosing the bidders and their price proposals; c. Auctioning the property on a derisory price.

The Court finds that the claim filed by Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène seeking for the revocation of the auction due to the violation of auction-related formalities in accordance with the provision of article 309 of the above mentioned Law n0 21/2012 of 14/06/2012 as explained, it is not based on the judgment execution disputes as provided under article 208 of the same Law, applicable in case of disagreement on actual court decision and its subsequent execution.

Considering the provided explanation and the provisions of the aforementioned article 309, this Court finds that the Commercial High Court had no jurisdiction to hear case RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC. UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO ET AL

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3. Whether damages requested for by parties are worthy awarding es claimed for before the Court of Appeal

Before the Court of Appeal, Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène claimed 1,000,000 Frw for Counsel fee, 1,000,000 Frw for moral damages, and 500,000 Frw for the procedural fee and refund of the deposited court fee.

Counsel Rukarishya Ngenda Philemon representing HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko submitted that the damages claimed by Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène cannot be examined because it can amount to charge him for delaying the judgement execution. He also adds that since 2014 up to now, the claimant has been complicating the judgement execution, and till to date, he is still keeping Frw 50 million of the clients, therefore he did not incur the loss that can justify the damages.

Counsel Rukarishya Ngenda Philemon prayed the Court to order to Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène to pay HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko 200,000 Frw for pecuniary damages, 500,000 Frw for Counsel fee and 200,000 Frw for the incurred case-related expenses. He also requested the Court to fine him with 200,000 Frw for deliberately delaying the judgment execution by filing a non-appealable lawsuit.

Counsel Kagame Kimonyo Alexis representing Rugema Ziga Jean Claude submits that the damages claimed by Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène is ungrounded, since it is him who initiated and dragged himself into unnecessary lawsuits. And he adds that once the Court finds his claim void, he should be

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ordered to pay to his client 500,000 Frw for pecuniary damages and 1,000,000 Frw for Counsel fee.

Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène together with his legal counsel submit that the damages claimed against him are unfounded because the appeal is the right entitled to him by the law. ii. Damages claimed before the Supreme Court

Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène together with his legal counsel claimed 10,000,000 Frw for the moral damages, and 5,000,000 Frw for procedural fee and Counsel fee because the respondents dragged him in unnecessary lawsuits, and he spent time looking for a lawyer to help him follow up the case.

Counsel Rukarishya Ngenda Philemon representing HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko submits that the claimant should be charged with 4,000,000 Frw as damages for deliberately delaying the judgment execution and for compensation for the incurred case-related expenses, he also requested for 3,000,000 Frw paid as Counsel fees for all the three instances.

Counsel Kagame Kimonyo Alexis representing Rugema Ziga Jean Claude filed a counter-claim against Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène and claimed for 2,000,000 Frw over dragging his client into unnecessary lawsuits, he again claimed 1,000,000 Frw for the procedural fee and 1,000,000 Frw for Counsel fee.

Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène argues that respondents deserve no damages since they initiated unnecessary lawsuits. UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO ET AL

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DETERMINATION OF THE COURT i. Damages claimed before the Court of Appeal

Paragraph one of article 111 of the Law n0 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 relating to civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure provides that “the claim for representation fees is an incidental claim to the principal claim aiming to repay expenses incurred during judicial proceedings”.

In his appeal, Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène requested the Court to award him damages for the procedural and Counsel fees. The Court finds that the procedural fee claimed on basis of the abovementioned article and other damages he claimed cannot be awarded to him since he has lost the case.

The Court finds that HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko deserves the damages for the Counsel and procedural fees requested for in its cross-appeal since it had to hire a lawyer and had to make a follow up of the case, the Court awards to it 500,000 Frw for Counsel fee and 200,000 Frw for procedural fee since it finds them appropriate. However, the Court finds that it cannot be awarded the pecuniary damages since it does not justify it, as well as the pecuniary damages claimed against Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène for filing the appeal with the intention of delaying the judgment are baseless because there is no element of evidence proving that the appeal was lodged with the intention of really delaying the judgment

With regard to the Counsel fee requested by Rugema Ziga Jean Claude in the cross-appeal, the Court, in its own discretion awards him 500,000 Frw at the appeal level. However, the Court

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finds that he deserves no compensation for the pecuniary loss since he did not justify it. ii. Damages claimed for before the Supreme Court

The Court finds that the moral damages, the procedural fee and the counsel fee claimed by Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène cannot be awarded to him as he lost this case.

[The Court finds that the damages for delaying the auction claimed by HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko and the damages for being dragged in unnecessary lawsuits cannot be claimed by Rugema Ziga Jean Claude in his counter-claim and cannot be awarded to them because they are not the ones who applied for the injustice related review as it has been ruled by this very Court in its various previous rulings11 . But the Court finds that they can be awarded the procedural fee and the court fee granted in the discretion of the Court as they claim excessive damages without any justification, each one is awarded 300,000 Frw for procedural fee and 500,000 Frw for Counsel fee at this instance.

11 Case RS/INJUST/RC 00024/2018 of 21/02/2020 between Ngizweninshuti Albert v. Muhima Giovani; Case RS/INJUST/RC 00007/2018/ SC of 13/03/2020 between Nditiribambwe Samuel and Gatera Jason v. Nyamaswa; Case RS/INJUST/RCOM 0000/2018/SC of 12/06/2020 between Prime Insurance Ltd v. Kansiime James; Case RS/INJUST/RSOC 00001/2018/SC of 25/09/2020, between Bank Populaire du Rwanda v. Ukwibishaka Alexis and many more. UBURIYEMUYE v HOME BASKET SACCO KIMIRONKO ET AL

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III. DECISION OF THE COURT

Holds that the claim filed by Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène appealing against the ruling of case RCOM 00001/2018/CHC/HCC of 05/02/2019rendered by the Commercial High Court is void of merit ;

Holds that the judgment RCOM 00001/2018/CHC/HCC of 05/02/2019 rendered by the Commercial High Court is sustained ;

Holds that the Commercial High Court had no jurisdiction to hear the case RCOM 00021/2017/CHC/HCC ;

Orders to Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène to pay to HOME BASKET SACCO Kimironko 200,000 Frw for procedural fee and 500,000 Frw for Counsel fee at the appeal instance, the Court also orders to him to pay them 300,000 Frw for procedural fee and 500,000 Frw for Counsel fee at this instance, the total is1,500,000 Frw.

Orders to Uburiyemuye Jean Damascène to pay to Rugema Ziga Jean Claude 500,000 Frw for Counsel fee at the appeal instance and 300,000 Frw for procedural fee and 500,000 Frw for counsel fee at this instance the total due amounts to 1,300,000 Frw. .

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CRIMINAL CASE

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NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA ET AL [Rwanda COURT OF APPEAL – RS/INJUST/RP 00001/2019/CA, (Karimunda, P.J., Nyirandabaruta and Umugwaneza, J.) January 8, 2021] Criminal law – Offences – Continuing offence – A continuing offence, it is a crime that implies an ongoing criminal activity, and which reveals without doubt the permanent intent to commit it – The computation of the statute of limitation commences at the last day of the commission of the last criminal act, and a judge pronounces the same penalty for all constitutive acts committed. Facts: This case arose from the plaint brought by Nyirabatoni against Gahima, alleging that she donated him a plot of land through a written donation agreement, but that later on, Gahima disappointed her, which led her to initiate legal suits to get back her plot. She lost the case on ground that Gahima refuted such donation by indicating that he co- owns the said plot with his little brother Mupenzi, and they acquired it through the land sharing process between them and Nyirabatoni. Later on in 2013, Nyirabatoni sued Gahima and a person named Munyakarama who wrote the land sharing document while he was an executive secretary of Nyagahinga Cell in Rusororo Sector for having committed the offence of forgery and use of forged document. The Investigation organ transmitted the dossier to the Prosecution authority, which decided to close the file for reasons of prescription of the offence. Nyirabatoni filed a claim in the Intermediate Court of Gasabo by way of private prosecution against Gahima and Munyakarama accusing them of forgery and use of forged 185

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document, and such Court dismissed the claim due to the expiry of the time limit. Nyirabatoni lodged an appeal against the decision before the High Court to request the rectification of the mistakes made by the Intermediate Court of Gasabo. She explains that she brought a case against Gahima and Munyakarama for having committed the offence of forgery and use of forded document, and the Intermediate Court of Gasabo, at the time of trial, examined about the sole crime of forgery, of which it decided to be expired, and left aside that of use of forged document whereas it is a continuing offence. The High Court found that the offence of which Nyirabatoni charged Gahima and Munyakarama consists of forgery, the same offence that she denounced to the Prosecution authority, which decided it to have been expired, and therefore it held that her right to initiate a claim by way of private prosecution is confined to the only offence of forgery mentioned in the closed file since the act of the Prosecution to close the file served her as the basis to seize the court, and for that reason, it declared her appeal without merit. Nyirabatoni applied to the Ombudsman requesting to reexamine the case for the reasons of the injustice suffered in the judgment RPA 0571/14/HC/KIG rendered by the High Court, and after the analysis of her judgment, the Office of the Ombsdusman found that the decision

was unjust and wrote to the President of the Supreme Court by pointing out the injustice suffered by Nyirabatoni. In the decision N° 086/CJ/2019 of 14/03/2019, the President of the Supreme Court ordered the review of the case due to injustice, and the case was heard by the Court of Appeal. Before the Court of Appeal, the case was heard by default of Gahima despite having been regularly summoned to appear, and the Court initially examined the objection raised by Munyakarama who alleged that the identification submitted by Nyirabatoni does not correspond to his. After

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hearing the statements of both parties and verification of his identification, the Court held that no one is in a position to know the identification of an individual better than himself/herself, and it rejected the objection. The hearing was resumed, Nyirabatoni alleged that she filed the claim about the forgery and use of forged document as indicated by elements of evidence in the investigation files for such an offence because according to he inventory of the file of the Intermediate Court of Gasabo and in the case RP 0140 /14/TGI/GSBO, it is evident that this constitutes the subject matter of the case and the same being the subject of appeal before the High Court, but that concerning the use of forged document, it has never been examined by both Courts, which resulted in injustice against her. She adds that the document they allege to be forged is still produced as an evidence until now and has been relied on in cases for the invalidation of the donation because the judgment rendered by the Primary Court of Rusororo held that no donation has ever been made as it was a land sharing instead, and therefore that time limit for statute of limitation should not be computed since such document is still valid untill now, and for these reasons, they find the offence of use of forged document to be a continuing offence. Munyakarama retorts that he has never been accused of use of

forged document because he was rather charged of forgery, while Gahima was charged of use of forged document too, and that as a secretary of land sharing committee, he prepared the land sharing document of the plot that belonged to Benda and Mukagatare between Nyirabatoni and Gahima, who started quarreling about it, and the administration decided to apportion it to them. Concerning whether the offence of forgery consists of a continuing offence, Munyakarama retorts that he was not accused of such crime. NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA ET AL

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The side of the Prosecution declares that, even though it did not appear in this case for charging or discharging any one, the action brought by Nyirabatoni and that was admitted by the Investigation Bureau consists of forgery and use of forged document and that the Prosecution did not exercise caution at the time of closing the file by considering the forgery only, and thus, it requests the Court of Appeal to exercise its discretion and examine if Nyirabatoni has also denounced the use of forged document, and in the affirmative, hold that she suffered injustice. Held: Regarding the continuing offence, it is a crime that implies an ongoing criminal activity, and which reveals without doubt the permanent intent to commit it, and of which the computation of the statute of limitation commences at the last day of the commission of the last criminal act, and a judge pronounces a same penalty for all constitutive acts committed. Review of the case due to injustice has merit in parts. Statutes and statutory instruments referred to: Law Nº 027/2019 of 19/09/2019 relating to the criminal procedure, articles 6,7,107 and 118. Law nº 30/2013 of 24/5/2013 relating to the criminal procedure, articles 5 (1°) and 6. Organic law n° 01/2012/OL of 02/05/2012 establishing the penal code, articles 22, 609 and 610. Law nº 15/2004 of 12/06/2004 relating to evidence and its production, article 2. No case referred to.

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Authors cited: Jean-Paul DOUCET, Dictionnaire de droit criminel Michel Franchimont, Ann Jacobs et Adrien Masset, Manuel de Precédure Pénale, 4ed, Larcier, Bruxelles, 2012, p. 131 Serge Guinchard et Jacques Buisson, Procédure Pénale, 10 ed, LexisNexis, Paris, 2014, p.806 Judgment I. BACKGROUND OF THE CASE

In this case, Nyirabatoni Elizabeth alleges that she donated the plot of land to Gahima Dembe Eduard through a written contract of donation. Gahima Dembe Eduard exhibited ungrateful behavior towards her, and for this reason, she initiated claims intending to get back the offered plot, which she lost due to the fact that Gahima Dembe Eduard denied such donation by rather indicating that he co- owns the said plot with his little brother Mupenzi Vincent and that they received it through land sharing carried out between them and Nyirabatoni Elizabeth. Nyirabatoni Elizabeth made a denunciation to the judicial police in the year 2013, whereby she stated that Gahima Dembe Eduard and Munyakarama Pierre who hand-wrote the land sharing document while he was the Executive Secretary of Nyagahinga Cell in Rusororo Sector, committed the offence of forgery and use of forged document. The Judicial Police transmitted the file to the Prosecution, but the latter decided to close the file on ground of prescription of the offence.

Nyirabatoni Elizabeth filed a claim before the Intermediate Court of Gasabo by way of private prosecution whereby she sued Gahima Dembe Eduard and Munyakarama Pierre for the offence of forgery and forged NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA ET AL

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document, and in the judgment RP 0140/14/TGI/GSBO rendered on 15/07/2014, the Court rejected the claim due to the expiry of the time limit to prosecute the offence.

Nyirabatoni Elizabeth appealed to the High Court requesting the rectification of the mistakes made by the Intermediate Court of Gasabo whereby she explains that she sued Gahima Dembe Eduard and Munyakarama Pierre by way of private prosecution for having committed the forgery and use of forged document, and that at the time of trial, the Intermediate Court of Gasabo has only tried the offence of forgery, whereby it held that it has been time barred, and left aside the offence of use of forged document, despite being a continuing offence.

In the Judgment RPA 0571/14/HC/KIG rendered on 31/12/2015, the High Court found that the offence of which Nyirabatoni Elizabeth charged Gahima Dembe Eduard and Munyakarama Pierre consists of forgery, the same offence denounced to the Prosecution authority, which declared it time barred. This Court held that her right to file a claim by way of private prosecution concerns only the offence that was concerned in the closed file, namely forgery, since the act of the Prosecution to close the file served her of the basis of her filing by way of private prosecution. The Court noted that the decision of the first instance Court based on article 6 of the law relating to criminal procedure is founded and therefore it rejected her appeal and upheld the ruling of the appealed judgment.

Nyirabatoni Elizabeth wrote to the Chief Ombudsman requesting to examine the judgment for the purpose of noting injustice within the judgment RPA 0571/14/HC/KIG rendered by the High Court on 31/12/2015.

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After the examination of her case file, the Office of the Ombudsman realized that though the Intermediate Court of Gasabo decided that the prosecution of the claim filed by Nyirabatoni Elizabeth was time barred, she had indicated to the same Court that the offence she charged Gahima Dembe Eduard and Munyakarama Pierre is not only that of forgery but also that she charged them of the use of forged document, and that she came to be aware of such document when Gahima Dembe Eduard produced it as an element of evidence before the Primary Court of Rusororo in the case RC0143/011/TB/RUS tried on 25/08/2011, and in appellate case RCA 0231/12/TGI/GSBO tried on 07/09/2012 by the Intermediate Court of Gasabo, which implies that Gahima Dembe Eduard used such document for the last time on 07/09/2012.

The Office of the Ombudsman wrote to the President of the Supreme Court whereby it pointed out the injustice suffered by Nyirabatoni Elizabeth, and in the order N° 086/CJ/2019 of 14/03/2019, the President of the Supreme Court approved the review of the judgment RPA 0571/14/HC/KIG due to injustice. He ordered it to be transferred to and heard by the Court of Appeal, which assigned it the docket RS/INJUST/RP00001/2019/CA.

The public hearing was scheduled on 16/10/2019, and at that day it was postponed due to sickness of Munyakarama Pierre, and later on, it was postponed several other times for the reasons of parties and Covid-19 pendemic until 22/9/2020 when it was heard. The Prosecution was represented by Rudatinya Nyangezi Gaspard, a national prosecutor, while Nyirabatoni Elizabeth was represented by her son Munanira John who was also represented by Counsel Karangwa Vincent and Counsel Bandora Alfred, and Munyakarama Pierre assisted by Counsel Nsengimana Emmanuel and Counsel Nizeyimana NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA ET AL

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Boniface while Gahima Dembe Eduard was absent despite being summoned to appear and the case was heard by his default.

The hearing has initially addressed the objection raised by Counsel Nsengimana Emmanuel assisting Munyakarama Pierre according to which the identification declared by Nyirabatoni Elizabeth does not correspond to hers. After hearing the statements of the parties about the objection and examining the identification of Nyirabatoni Elizabeth, daughter of Gacemeri and Kabera mentioned in the documents available in the dossier as indicated above, and basing on article 61 of the Law nº 32/2016 of 28/08/2016 governing persons and family stating that “…. Civil status records or judgments replacing or correcting them are binding upon all persons whatsoever”, the Court held that no other person is in a good position to know the identification of another person better than themselves, and that the objection raised by Counsel Nsengimana Emmanuel is baseless.

The hearing on the merit of the case was resumed and addressed all legal issues before being closed, but the Prosecution was instructed to hand to the Court the closed file concerning the plaint of Nyirabatoni Elizabeth against Gahima Dembe Eduard and Munyakarama Pierre. The parties were notified that the pronouncement of the judgment was scheduled on 30/10/2020.

On 05/10/2020, the Prosecution authority uploaded the file prepared by the Judicial Police in which Nyirabatoni Elizabeth sued Gahima Dembe Eduard and Munyakarama Pierre in this file in IECMS, and the legal counsel for Nyirabatoni Elizabeth have also uploaded a new element of evidence constituted by his court submissions she prepared while she initiated the claim by way of private prosecution

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as well as a document about the legal provisions governing donation.

On 30/10/2020, the Court held in the interlocutory judgment to resume the hearing on 10/11/2020 at 8h30 am for the parties to reply on the documents and elements of evidence uploaded in the file after the closure of the hearing. At that day, the case was not heard because the Prosecution did not appear, and it was postponed to 08/12/2020 where it was heard in public while the parties were represented or assisted as before. II. LEGAL ISSUES AND THEIR

ANALYSIS 1. Whether Nyirabatoni Elizabeth sued Gahima Dembe Eduard and Munyakarama Pierre before the Intermediate Court of Gasabo for having committed the offence of use of forged document and whether it is a continuing offence.

Counsel Karangwa Vincent states that Nyirabatoni Elizabeth seized the Court for forgery and use of forged document as indicated by elements of evidence in the Judicial Police file, since even according to the inventory of the file before the Intermediate Court of Gasabo as well as in the judgment RP 0140 /14/TGI/GSBO, it is evident that such offences were charged and the same have been the subject of appeal before the High Court whereas concerning the use of forged document, it has never been tried by both instance courts, and thus, such scenario occasioned the injustice towards Nyirabatoni Elizabeth.

Counsel Karangwa Vincent alludes that the document they attacked to be forged is still produced as evidence until NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA ET AL

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now and that it has been relied on in the cases of invalidation of the donation because the judgment delivered by the Primary Court of Rusororo held that no donation was made because there rather happened the land sharing, and therefore that the computation of the time limit should be interrupted especially that such document is still in use, which is the basis to assert that the offence of use of forged document consists of a continuing offence.

Counsel Bandora Alfred states that Nyirabatoni Elizabeth and Gahima Dembe Eduard repatriated from Uganda, and after Nyirabatoni Elisabeth succeeded the estate of her sibling Mukagatare, she awarded Gahima Dembe Eduard a donation. Later on, the dispute arose where the family of Gahima Dembe Eduard offended that of Nyirabatoni Elizabeth, which drove her to request for the invalidation of such donation. He explains that the donation document was turned into that of land sharing, which is the origin of the offences of forgery and use of forged document, and that given that Nyirabatoni Elizabeth is octogenarian, it is her son who initiated the claim before Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for forgery and use of forged document, and that the offence that affected them as shown in their case submissions before Judicial Police consists of use of such document after they turned it into land sharing while it concerned the donation.

Counsel Bandora Alfred states in addition that the offence of use of forged document consists of a continuing offence since it has been in use until now, and that even Rwanda Forensic Laboratory asserted that Munyakarama Pierre and Gahima Dembe Eduard played a role in altering the document regarding donation into the land sharing, which deprived Nyirabatoni Elisabeth of the right to her property.

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The Prosecutor states that, though he did not appear in this case to inculpate or exculpate any body, the action initiated by Nyirabatoni Elisabeth and which was recorded by the Judicial Police consisted of forgery and use of forged document, and that the Prosecution did not exercise caution while closing the file on the basis of the offence of forgery only, that courts were seized of both crimes but that they considered the sole offence of use of forged document. He thus requested the Court of Appeal to exercise the discretion and examine whether Nyirabatoni Elizabeth sued for use of forged document too, and that if it finds it with merit, to hold that she suffered injustice because courts would not have dismissed her claim in relation to the offence of use of forged document that Gahima Dembe Edouard and Munyakarama Pierre continued using until the year 2013 since it is a continuing offence and has affected Nyirabatoni Elisabeth.

Munyakarama Pierre states that he has never been charged of use of forged document, rather, he was charged of forgery whereas Gahima Dembe Eduard was charged of forgery and use of forged document. He adds that as the presiding and secretary of the land sharing committee, he drafted the land sharing document of the land that belonged to Benda and Mukagatare where he shared it between Nyirabatoni Elizabeth and Gahima Dembe Eduard, who were starting to dispute about it, and the administration decided to apportion it to them and that he did it in the interest of rwandans rather than in his personal interest, especially that he had no knoweldge of any of them, and in addition to that, he neither was entitled with the power to change the agreement the two have concluded nor the administration would interfere in such agreement since the only thing it could do was affixing the stamp on such document, and that whatever he did was approved by the administration of the Sector. He requested the instant Court NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA ET AL

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to hold that the offence of forgery he was accused of was time barred.

His legal Counsel Nsengimana Emmanuel states that the bench that has started to hear the case has instructed the legal counsel for Nyirabatoni Elizabeth to produce the document used for filing the claim in order to verify whether she denounced the accused for both offences, which was not done, and that considering the documents of the file (page 38), it contains the statement of closure of the file indicating that the offence denounced by Nyirabatoni Elizabeth consists of that of forgery that was provided for by article 609 of the penal code, and that pursuant to article 111 of the law relating to criminal procedure, he finds that doubt emmerged because Nyirabatoni Elizabeth failed to produce the supporting evidence to her claim, especially that in the course of interrogation by the Judicial Police, she declared that she denounced the offence of forgery against Gahima Dembe Eduard and Munyakayanza Pierre, meaning that she had no interest to sue, as she submitted her claim in the year 2013 after having been entitled with the right to succession, and that the fact for the Prosecution to allege that there occurred a mistake should benefit the accused.

Counsel Nizeyimana Boniface assisting Munyakarama Pierre too, states that he would like to rectify his first statements according to which Munyakarama Pierre and Gahima Dembe Eduard were accused of forgery and use of forged document as they were rather accused of forgery only, that Nyirabatoni Elizabeth submitted it by way of private prosecution and lost the case and without requesting the rectification of such mistake, and that the judgments that occasioned injustice to her are not the ones that were reconsidered, therefore that, would the use of forged document affected her, the Court will examine whether

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Munyakarama Pierre or Gahima Dembe Eduard have used it.

Regarding whether the offence of use of forged document consists of a continuing offence, the Counsel for Munyakarama Pierre states that he was not accused of such offence.

Munanira John (son of Nyirabatoni Elizabeth who also represents her mother), states that Nyirabatoni Elizabeth is not related to Gahima Dembe Eduard; instead, that the plot that was inherited by Nyirabatoni Elizabeth was misappropriated by Gahima Dembe Eduard, which drove her to complain against him before the administration, but that Gahima used the authorities who helped him to forge the document where they mentioned that there has been land sharing. He states that at the time of donation, Gahima Dembe Eduard requested the draft be made, which Nyirabatoni Elizabeth accepted, and they asked Munyakarama Pierre to record it in the registry of information of the Cell, the act which served him to forge the document because he was deputy to the chairperson of the Cell, but that be it the chairperson of the Cell or the Chairperson of the Sector, none has declared that land sharing document was established, which was supported by the Forensic Laboratory.

Mupenzi Vincent (the sibling to Gahima Dembe Eduard) heard as an informer, states that Gahima Dembe Eduard occupied such plot of land since 1994 while Nyirabatoni Elizabeth came in the year 2000 after Gahima Dembe Eduard erected a house in the plot, and Nyirabatoni Elizabeth requested his expulsion from that land. The administration decided that Nyirabatoni Elizabeth should remain in that house because she alleges that it belongs to his sibling and the remaining estate be shared within the context of land sharing government policy, but that what NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA ET AL

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was considered as donation did not happen because Nyirabatoni Elizabeth and Gahima Dembe Eduard did not know each other as they rather came in confrontation within that land.

DETERMINATION OF THE COURT a) Whether Gahima Dembe Eduard and Munyakarama Pierre were accused of use of forged document

Article 2 of the Law nº 15/2004 of 12/06/2004 relating to evidence and its production provides that case evidence is the demonstration of the truth of a fact in judicial case. Similarly, article 3 of the same Law reads that each party has the burden of proving his/her allegations.

Article 107 of the nº 027/2019 of 19/09/2019 relating to criminal procedure provides that “The burden of proof is on the public prosecution or, in case of a claim for damages or private prosecution, on the victim of an offence or his or her rightful beneficiaries (…)”

Regarding the offence of forgery, the Court finds that there is no contestation between the parties on whether the plaint Nyirabatoni Elisabeth initiated against Gahima Dembe Eduard and Munyakarama Pierre consisted of forgery or whether the prosecution of such crime was time barred due to statute of limitation; rather, disputes are based on the determination of whether in her plaint, Nyirabatoni Elizabeth accused them of the use of forged document as well.

Regarding the offence of use of forged document, the case file reveals that on 30/7/2013, the Judicial Police transmitted to the Prosecution at primary level of Rusororo

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the case file indicating that the offences of which Gahima Dembe Eduard and Munyakarama Pierre were accused consist of forgery and use of forged document whereas the document of 14/8/2013 closing the file of the plaint submitted by Nyirabatoni Elizabeth shows that the Prosecution closed the file on the basis of article 609 of the penal code providing and punishing the offence of use of forged document, which implies that the closing of the file by the prosecution took into account the sole offence of use of forged document, which it deemed to be time barred.

According to the submissions filed by Nyirabatoni Elizabeth to the Intermediate Court of Gasabo by way of private prosecution, the offences she accused Gahima Dembe Eduard and Munyakarama Pierre are forgery and use of forged document. It is also evident in paragraph 13 of the judgment RP 0140/14/TGI/GSBO rendered on 15/07/2014 that the respondents were tried about both crimes, where the counsel for Nyirabatoni Elizabeth stated that the offence of forgery of which Gahima Dembe Eduard is accused of, is a continuing offence, which the Court dismissed, on ground that it is not an ongoing activity because if the forged document is produced, the time runs from and ends at the very day and that the fact that he would produce it as an evidence for the second time is not what makes it a continuing offence.

The case file of the judgment RPA 0571/14/HC/KIG rendered by the High Court on 31/12/2015 indicates that Nyirabatoni Elizabeth lodged an appeal in such Court stating that the position adopted by the Intermediate Court is erroneous since it focused on the forgery only without addressing its use, which she requested to be mended. Basing on the document of the Prosecution closing the file, that Court found that the right that Nyirabatoni Elizabeth had to exercise the action by way of private prosecution is NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA ET AL

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only limited to the offence denounced in the closed file, which means that of forgery, therefore that the decision taken at the first instance is not irregular and should be maintained.

Concerning the offence of use of forged document, the Court notes that as indicated above, the file of Nyirabatoni Elizabeth claim which the Judicial Police transmitted to the Prosecution and closed by the latter, and the court submission by Nyirabatoni Elizabeth before the Intermediate Court of Gasabo by way of private prosecution as well as in the judgment RP 0140/14/TGI/GSBO tried by such Court, Nyirabatoni Elisabeth denounced the offences of forgery and use of forged document, therefore the statements of Munyakarama Pierre and his legal counsel according to which Nyirabatoni Elizabeth accoused them of the sole offence of forgery, lack merit.

The Court finds that the fact that the analysis of the High Court on the determination of whether Nyirabatoni Elizabeth accused Gahima Dembe Eduard and Munyakarama Pierre the offence of use of forged document on the basis of the document established by the Prosecution in which it decided that the action was time barred regarding the sole offence of forgery whereas accusation concerned also that of its use, especially that even the Prosecution admitted before the instant Court that it did not exercise caution to close the file, and that Court having considered the sole statement closing the file without examining the entire closed file, where it upheld the ruling of the judgment RP 0140/14/TGI/GSBO rendered by the Intermediate Court of Gasabo; the foregoing shows the mistake made by such Court and the injustice enticed to Nyirabatoni Elizabeth by the decision against which she applied for review due to injustice.

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b) Whether the offence of use of forged document consists of a continuing crime

Article 6 of the Law nº 30/2013 of 24/5/2013 relating to criminal procedure that was into force at the time of filing states that the prescription period for a criminal action shall start from the date on which the offence is committed when during that time interval no investigation or prosecution has been conducted. As to instantaneous offences, the prescriptive period of a criminal action shall run from date of the commission of the offence. As to continuing offences, the prescriptive period of a criminal action shall run from the date of the cessation of the last act of the offence. The same provisions are repeated in article 7 of the Law nº 027/2019 of 19/09/2019 relating to criminal procedure1

Article 5 (1°) of the aforementioned Law nº 30/2013 of 24/5/2013 into force at the time of filing the action provides that except the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes which are not subject to prescription, a criminal action for other offenses shall lapse after a period of ten (10) years for felonies.

Article 22 of the Organic Law N° 01/2012/OL of 02/05/2012 instituting the penal code that was into force at the time of the commission of the offence Gahima Dembe Eduard and Munyakarama Pierre are accused of, states that a felony is an offence punishable under the law by a main penalty of an imprisonment of more than five (5) years.

1 Article 7 of the Law nº 027/2019 of 19/09/2019 relating to criminal procedure provides that the prescriptive period for a criminal action starts to run from the date on which the offence was committed if during that time no investigation or prosecution was conducted. For instantaneous offences, the prescriptive period of a criminal action runs from the date on which the offence was committed. For continuing offences, the prescriptive period of a criminal action runs from the time of the cessation of such an act (….). NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA ET AL

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Article 609 of the Organic Law n° 01/2012/OL of 02/05/2012 provides that “Any person who forges or alters documents by forged signature or fingerprint, falsifying documents or signatures or impersonation, forging agreements, its provisions, obligations, discharged obligations shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of more than five (5) years to seven (7) years”. Similarly, article 610 states that “Any person who knowingly, uses a counterfeit document shall be liable to the same penalty as the person counterfeiting a document.”

The case file contains a document written on 28/5/2000 in which Nyirabatoni Elisabeth donated a plot of land to Gahima Dembe Eduard. It contains also a document established on 28/4/2000 and titled land sharing report between Nyirabatoni Elizabeth and Gahima Dembe Eduard, where it is stated that Nyirabatoni Elizabeth and Gahima Dembe Eduard shared a plot of land, and that Gahima Dembe Eduard shall have to get back the plot he was attributed during the prior sharing between him and Nyirabatoni Elizabeth.

The file contains the judgment RC 0143/011/TB/RUS rendered by the Primary Court of Rusororo on 25/8/2011 opposing Nyirabatoni Elizabeth to Gahima Dembe Eduard for the invalidation of donation where such Court held that “the claim of Nyirabatoni Elizabeth lacks merit on ground that there was concluded a donation contract of the plot of land between her and Gahima Dembe Eduard in writing on 20/8/2009 ( as noted in the judgment) at Nyagahinga Cell, and for this reason it remains valid and should be performed”.

The file indicates that Nyirabatoni Elizabeth lodged an appeal against the judgment RC 0143/011/TB/RUS before the Intermediate Court of Gasabo, which tried the case RCA 0231/12/TGI/GSBO of 7/9/2012, and held that

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the claim of Nyirabatoni Elizabeth is groundless, that land sharing was carried out between her and Gahima Dembe Eduard and his brother Mupenzi Vincent, therefore that the ruling of the case RC 0143/011/TB/RUS is upheld, which is an indication that during the deliberation, the Court relied on the fact that Gahima Dembe Eduard and Mupenzi Vincent produced the land sharing document established on 28/4/2000 which was not contradicted by Nyirabatoni Elizabeth. Nyirabatoni Elizabeth stated that she does not know the existence of such document, because when she made the donation to Gahima Dembe Eduard, they established a written document on 28/5/2000, the same document that Gahima Dembe Eduard turned into land sharing document on 28/4/2000.

According to the content of the file, both the documents of 28/04/2000 and 28/05/2000 have been examined by the Forensic Laboratory that realized that: “the figure 5 that was mentioned in the date has been turned into 4, therefore that the accurate date of the donation contract between Nyirabatoni Elizabeth and Gahima Dembe Eduard is 28/05/2000; that the words “Gusaranganya hagati ya …y’abantu (2)” were added after as campared to the rest of the text of the donation contract between Nyirabatoni Elisabeth and Gahima Dembe Eduard, and shows that the handwriting of the alphabet and a figure 2 mentioned at the top of the contested contract, correspond to the writtings style of the contract between Nyirabatoni Elizabeth and Gahima Eduard”.

Concerning the continuing offence, a legal scholar Jean-Paul Doucet, in Dictionnaire de droit criminel2, states

2 Jean-Paul DOUCET, Dictionnaire de droit criminel, (Infraction continue. Une infraction est dite continue, ou continuée, lorsqu’elle résulte d’une activité qui se prolonge dans le temps et qui marque concrètement la persistance d’une intention délictueuse (tel est le cas du NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA ET AL

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that it is an offence that results from an activity which extends over time and which concretely marks the persistence of a criminal intention. The limitation period for the offence only begins to run from the day the offense ended, but the judges can only pronounce a single sentence for all of the alleged acts (….), while Michel Franchimont, Ann Jacobs and Adrien Masset3, state that the continuing offence aims at creating and maintaining a tortious situation, therefore prescription does not begin to run until the day the tort ends4.

The Court finds that as indicated by the content of the file,the author of the donation contract document of 28/5/2000 is the same person who altered it to be that of land sharing alleged to have been carried out on 28/04/2000, because the Forensic Laboratory indicated that the handwriting of the text of the top of such document where it is stated “Gusaranganya hagati ya …y’abantu (2)” relates to the handwriting of the contract, which implies that such document of 28/04/2000 is a counterfeited document.

The Court finds that since such document of 28/04/2000 was used till 07/09/2012 while GAHIMA Dembe Eduard produced it as evidence for land sharing between him and Nyirabatoni Elizabeth before the

délit d’édification d’un bâtiment sans permis de construire, qui se prolonge pendant toute la durée des travaux). Les auteurs parlent parfois, dans un sens proche, d’infraction successive*, ou d’infraction continue successive. Le délai de prescription ne commence à courir que du jour où l'infraction a pris fin, mais les juges ne peuvent prononcer qu'une seule peine pour l'ensemble des agissements reprochés.) 3 Michel Franchimont, Ann Jacobs et Adrien Masset, Manuel de Precédure Pénale, 4ed, Larcier, Bruxelles, 2012, P. 131 (Lorsque l’infraction est continue, c’est-à-dire lorsqu’elle vise la création et le maitien d’une situation délictueuse, la prescription ne commence à courir que le jour ou l’état délictuel prend fin). 4 Serge Guinchard et Jacques Buisson, Procédure Pénale, 10 ed, LexisNexis, Paris, 2014, p.806

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Intermediate Court of Gasabo in the judgment RCA 0231/12/TGI/GSBO rendered on 07/09/2012, where Nyirabatoni Elizabeth filed for counterfeit and use of counterfeited document before the Intermediate Court of Gasabo in the year 2013, but such Court held that the prosecution of her claim was time barred because the document attacked was established in 2000. In addition, such Court misinterpreted the facts because, though the document was established in 2000, but it continued to be produced in different cases until the year 2012.

The Court finds that Nyirabatoni Elizabeth became aware of the document of 28/05/2000, which Gahima Dembe Eduard altered to the land sharing document, when he produced it as evidence in the judgment rendered on 25/08/2011. Thus, the fact that Gahima Dembe Eduard continued to use it until the year 2012, as stated above, the prescription period of prosecution should have been computed since the last time of use of such document, meaning from the year 2012, which entails that since the use of counterfeited document was attacked in the year 2013, the prosecution of such offence was not yet time barred at that time, because as explained basing on the provisions of law referred to above, the prescription for felonies is ten years, and the offence of use of counterfeited document that Gahima Dembe Eduard and Munyakarama Pierre are charged of is a felony, and the foregoing supports the fact that the accusation for the crime they are prosecuted for intervened before the expiry of time limitation.

The Court finds that the fact that Nyirabatoni Elizabeth has initiated a claim that was not admitted on the ground that the prosecution was time barred, amounted to injustice that should be mended by admitting her claim and prosecute the accused for use of counterfeited document. NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA ET AL

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2. Whether there are inculpating elements of evidence against Gahima Dembe Eduard and Munyakarama Pierre for the offence of use of counterfeited document

The legal counsel for Nyirabatoni Elizabeth states that Gahima Dembe Eduard and Munyakarama Pierre counterfeited the document by altering the donation document of 28/5/2000 into land sharing, of which they pretended to have been established on 28/4/2000. They also state that there are inculpating elements of evidence including the documents established by authorities confirming that no land sharing has ever been carried out, and even Rwanda Forensic Laboratory has proved that the document of 28/4/2000 is counterfeited, and that such document continued to be used in different court cases, and that they were relied on to defeat Nyirabatoni Elizabeth. Thus, they requested that Gahima Dembe Eduard and Munyakarama Pierre should be punished according to the law.

Munyakarama Pierre as well as his legal counsel state that he did not counterfeit any document because the land sharing was carried out and recorded in the appropriate registry, and that in the event he committed it, the prosecution of such an offence would be time barred as the document alleged to be forged dates back in 2000 while Nyirabatoni Elizabeth filed a claim in 2013, and that it is not indicated the time Munyakarama Pierre committed the offence of using it which was qualified as a continuing offence; therefore they request the Court to declare him not guilty of the charges against him.

The Prosecutor states that the file was closed in relation to the offence of counterfeit and not that of use of counterfeited document, the reason why, basing on the evidence as explained by the legal scholars as well as the

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document established by the administration of Rusororo Sector, the accused are guilty of the charges against them, and should therefore be punished in accordance with articles 609 and 610 of the Organic Law n° 01/2012/OL of 02/05/2012 instituting the penal code that was into force at the time of the commission of the offence.

DETERMINATION OF THE COURT

Article 609 of the Organic Law n° 01/2012/OL of 02/05/2012 instituting the penal code at the time the offence that Gahima Demde Eduard and Munyakarama Pierre are charged of was committed, states that “Any person who forges or alters documents by forged signature or fingerprint, falsifying documents or signatures or impersonation, forging agreements, its provisions, obligations, discharged obligations shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of more than five (5) years to seven (7) years and a fine of three hundred thousand (300,000) to three million (3,000,000) Rwandan francs”. Similarly, article 610 of the same Organic Law provides that “Any person who knowingly, uses a counterfeit document shall be liable to the same penalty as the person counterfeiting a document”.5

Article 118, paragraph 2 of the Law no 027/2019 of 19/09/2019 relating to criminal procedure provides that “Private prosecution is carried out when the victim of an offence files a claim in a criminal court demanding that the offender, his or her co-offender or accomplice be punished and be ordered to pay damages proportional to the injury caused.”

5 Such penalty is similar to the penalty provided for by paragraph 3 of article 276 of the Law nº68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offences and penalties in general. NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA ET AL

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Article 6 of the aforementioned Law no 027/2019 of 19/09/2019 states that: “Except offences that are not subject to prescription as provided by Law, criminal action for other offences lapses: 1° after a period of ten (10) years for felonies”

According to the content of the file, it is evident that the Executive Secretary of the Rusororo Sector wrote to the Kabuga Police Station head, informing him/her that they don’t have the record in relation to land sharing betwen Nyirabatoni Elizabeth and Gahima Dembe.

It is also evident according to the content of file as stated above that the document of 28/05/2000 relating to donation as well as that of 28/04/2000 titled as that of land sharing were examined by Rwanda Forensic Laboratory, which discovered that the figure 5 which was part of the date was altered to be 4, and the words “gusaranganya hagati y’abantu (2)” were added after as campared to the rest of the text of the donation contract between Nyirabatoni Elisabeth and Gahima Dembe Eduard; therefore, the accurate date of the contract between Nyirabatoni Elizabeth and Gahima Dembe Eduard is that of 28/05/2000.

It is evident from the file that on 8/7/2013, the person named Ntidendereza Anaclet who was the chairman of Runyonza Cell from 1997 to 2004 who participated in the land sharing committee, testified that no land sharing has occured between Nyirabatoni Elizabeth and Gahima Dembe Eduard; rather, Nyirabatoni Elizabeth donated him but the donation which was altered to be land sharing by the Executive Secretary of the Cell named Munyakarama Pierre who was recording the deed, since the donation happened in the presence of Munyakarama Pierre, the donee and the donor, which, unlike land sharing, did not attract the attendance of many people.

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The Court finds that though Gahima Dembe Eduard and Munyakarama Pierre were not prosecuted for counterfeit due to statute of limitation, it is crucial to determine whether the land sharing document of 28/04/2000 is counterfeited before determining whether or not both are guilty of the offence of using such document.

Concerning that document, considering the witness declarations by Ntidendereza Anaclet, the former chairman of Runyonza Cell, who was present at the time the donation was made and signed it, as well as the report by Rwanda Forensic Laboratory stated above, the Court finds that as indicated by the analysis made in paragraph [49] of this case, the document of 28/04/2000 titled as land sharing between Nyirabatoni Elizabeth and Gahima Dembe Eduard is a counterfeited document. a) Regarding Gahima Dembe Eduard

Regarding the offence of forgery, the Court of Appeal finds that Gahima Dembe Eduard is guilty of the offence of the use of counterfeited document of 28/4/2000, because as stated above, he used it in the case RC 0143/011/TB/RUS tried by the Primary Court of Rusororo on 25/8/2011, and used it again on 7/9/2012 in the case RCA 0231/12/TGI/GSBO tried by the Intermediate Court of Gasabo where he produced it as an evidence to prove that they shared the land that was under dispute between him and Nyirabatoni Elizabeth, and the Court relied on such document to decide that the claim of Nyirabatoni Elizabeth lacks merit as there occured the land sharing between her and Gahima Dembe Eduard. For these reasons, he should be held liable for such an offence.

Based on the provisions of articles 609 and 610 of the Organic Law N° 01/2012/OL of 02/05/2012 instituting the penal code that was into force at the time of the NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA ET AL

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commission of the offence, the Court finds that Gahima Dembe Eduard should be liable to a term of five (5) years and a fine of three hundred thousand (300,000).

It finds however that the punishment of five (5) years given to Gahima Dembe Eduard deserves to be suspended within one year, because until now, he has never been subject to another criminal sanction in form of imprisonment or community service exceeding six (6) months in a final judgment. b) Regarding Munyakarama Pierre

The Court finds that neither Nyirabatoni Elizabeth nor the Prosecution has produced any elements of evidence to prove that while Gahima Dembe Eduard used the counterfeited document stated above, he was with Munyakarama Pierre, and they did neither indicate another instance where Munyakarama Pierre personally used such document; consequently, he must be declared not guilty of the offence of use of counterfeited document.

The Court finds that the issue regarding the invalidation of the contract of donation requested by the counsel for Nyirabatoni Elizabeth, should not be examined in the instant case since it has never been tried in the judgment RPA 0571/14/HC/KIG rendered by the High Court on 15/07/2014 against which the application for review due to injustice was initiated. c) Regarding damages

Counsel Karangwa Vincent and Counsel Bandora Alfred requests the Court to order to Gahima Dembe Eduard and Munyakarama Pierre to pay to Nyirabatoni Elisabeth 5,000,000Frw of moral damages for being dragged into

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unnecessary lawsuits, 1,000,000Frw of judicial fees and 3,000,000Frw of counsel fees.

Munyakarama Pierre states that he should not be liable of damages and his legal Counsel Nsengimana Emmanuel also states that damages sought from Munyakarama Pierre are groundless because he played no role in the use of such counterfeited document, while concerning the counsel fees, he states that the legal counsel for Nyirabatoni Elizabeth should request them from their client.

DETERMINATION OF THE COURT

Regarding moral damages requested by Nyirabatoni Elizabeth for being dragged into lawsuits, the Court finds that any act whatsoever of man which causes damage to another obliges the person responsible to repair it. Accordingly, the fact that Gahima Dembe Eduard used the counterfeited document enticed the loss to Nyirabatoni Elizabeth in civil case whereby she was requesting the invalidation of the donation she offered to him, the reason why she denounced to Judicial Police Gahima Dembe Eduard and Munyakarama Pierre to have committed forgery and use of counterfeited document, and when the Prosecution closed the file on ground of prescription of the offence, she seized the Court by way of private prosecution, which implies that she aggrieved due to the fact that she donated the plot of land to Gahima Dembe Eduard, but who prejudiced her, the act which led her to seek the services of an advocate. For these reasons, Gahima Dembe Eduard should be ordered to pay to Nyirabatoni Elizabeth, moral damages, as well as judicial damages for all such cases based on article 111 of the Law no 22/2018 of 29/04/2018 relating to civil, commercial, social and administrative procedure. NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA ET AL

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The Court deems however that the amount of 5,000,000Frw of moral damages claimed by Nyirabatoni Elizabeth is excessive, and should therefore be awarded a discretionary amount of 1,000,000Frw.

The Court finds in addition that Gahima Dembe Eduard should pay her the discretionary amount of 500,000Frw of judicial fees and 1,000,000Frw of counsel fees for all levels of court instance because the amount Nyirabatoni Elizabeth claimed is excessive, and the total amounts to 2,500,000Frw.

The Court finds that Munyakarama Pierre should not be ordered to pay damages since he is not guilt of the offence of use of counterfeited document; therefore, damages should only be paid by Gahima Dembe Eduard. III. DECISION OF THE COURT

Decides that the claim of Nyirabatoni Elizabeth for case review due to injustice of the judgment RPA 0571/14/HC/KIG rendered on 15/07/2014 has merit in parts;

Decides that Munyakarama Pierre is not guilty of the offence of use of counterfeited document;

Decides that Gahima Dembe Eduard is guilty of the offence of use of counterfeited documents;

Sentences Gahima Dembe Eduard to a term of five (5) years of imprisonment suspended within one year and a fine amounting to three hundred thousand (300.000 Frw);

Orders to Gahima Dembe Eduard to pay to Nyirabatoni Elizabeth 1,000,000 Frw of moral damages, 1,000,000 Frw of counsel fees and 500,000 Frw of judicial

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fees for all instance levels, the total amount is 2,500,000 Frw. NYIRABATONI v GAHIMA ET AL