Rwanda Case Law

MUKAGATARI vs AKARERE KA GISAGARA

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RS/INJUST/RCOM 00013/2022/CA

The court found that the documentary evidence, including letters from local officials, established a binding obligation by the district to pay the applicant for fertilizer supplied to VUP and FONERWA beneficiaries. The absence of a formal contract did not absolve the district, as the officials' written commitments sufficed under contract and evidence law. The applicant was entitled to the principal debt, interest for delayed payment at the average lending rate, and reasonable legal costs and attorney fees. Claims for additional damages were denied as the awarded sums sufficiently compensated…

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• Proof of contract
• Public authority liability
• Interest on delayed payment
• Procedural fairness
• Unilateral legal acts

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UBUSHINJACYAHA v BURINDWI

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPAA 00076/2024/CA

The statutory minimum sentence for the offence, after considering mitigating circumstances, is 15 years imprisonment as per Article 2 of Law Nº 059/2023. The court found no legal basis to reduce the sentence further, as the previous legal provision allowing for greater judicial discretion had been repealed.

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• Sentencing
• Mitigating circumstances
• Sexual offences
• Appeal procedure

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UBUSHINJACYAHA v UWAYEZU

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPAA 00251/2024/CA

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UBUSHINJACYAHA v MUTIGANDA N’ABANDI

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPA 00103/2021/CA

The Court found that RNC is a terrorist group as established by prior judgments and its conduct. The accused's actions constituted full membership in a terrorist group, not mere attempt, as they had accepted and taken steps to join. Procedural objections regarding prosecution authority were dismissed as inapplicable to terrorist group charges. The evidence, including investigative confessions and corroborating statements, was sufficient. The offences of joining an unlawful armed group and a terrorist group cannot be cumulated; only the terrorist group offence stands. The sentence of 15 years'…

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• Terrorism
• Membership in terrorist organization
• Procedural law
• Evidentiary law
• Sentencing

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MUKAKABERA N’ABANDI v. MUPENDE

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

RS/INJUST/RC 00009/2023/SC

The Supreme Court held that a challenge to an auction must be filed as an urgent claim in the court where the auction occurred, and upheld the land registration order.

• Auction annulment
• Land registration
• Jurisdiction of courts
• Execution of judgments
• Auction-annulment
• Land-registration

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NZAJYIBWAMI N’ABANDI v. SANLAM AG PLC

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

RS/INJUST/RC 00023/2024/SC

The Supreme Court restored non-pecuniary damages but rejected pecuniary damages, finding the applicants had not proved financial dependency on the deceased.

• Motor vehicle accident compensation
• Pecuniary damages
• Non-pecuniary damages
• Burden of proof
• Evidence admissibility
• Motor-vehicle-accident-compensation

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PROSECUTION v. MUTIGANDA ET AL.

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPA 00103/2021/CA

The accused were properly prosecuted and convicted for membership of a terrorist group, as RNC is judicially recognized as such; Prosecutor General's authorization is not required for terrorism charges; offences of joining an irregular armed group and membership of a terrorist group cannot be cumulated; mere consent or preparatory acts suffice to consummate the offence; admissions not consistently maintained do not warrant further mitigation; sentences imposed are proportionate and not subject to suspension.

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• Terrorism
• Membership of terrorist group
• Irregular armed group
• Criminal procedure
• Prosecutorial competence
• Sentence mitigation

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UBUSHINJACYAHA v NDEREYIMANA

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPAA 00255/2023/CA

The sentence of life imprisonment imposed on Ndereyimana Janvier for the murder of his wife is appropriate and should not be reduced, as the offence was committed with extreme cruelty and aggravating circumstances outweigh any mitigating factors presented.

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• Murder
• Sentencing
• Mitigating circumstances
• Appeal

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UBUSHINJACYAHA v MUGIMBA

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPA /GÉN 00001/2022/CA

The Court of Appeal found that the trial court did not err in convicting Mugimba Jean-Baptiste for conspiracy to commit genocide and complicity in genocide, as the evidence, including credible witness testimony and corroborating circumstances, established his participation in a meeting on 8 April 1994 where plans to kill Tutsi were made, lists of victims prepared, and weapons distributed. The court held that the trial court was not required to address every argument or piece of evidence individually, provided its reasoning was clear and material demands were addressed. The reduction of senten…

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• Genocide
• Conspiracy to commit genocide
• Complicity in genocide
• Evidentiary assessment
• Sentencing
• Appeals procedure

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PROSECUTION v. MUGIMBA

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPA /GÉN 00001/2022/CA

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