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Rwanda Case Law

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Criminal law RPAA 00332/2023/CA

UBUSHINJACYAHA v KABARERE

Court
Court of Appeal
Case number
RPAA 00332/2023/CA

The court found that Kabarere Pascasie intentionally used a deadly weapon (hammer) to strike the victim's head multiple times, and only external intervention prevented death. This established the requisite intent for attempted murder, not mere assault. However, due to the absence of permanent injury, her remorse, and the new legal provisions allowing mitigation, the sentence was reduced to 12 years and 6 months' imprisonment.

Source excerpt

  • Attempted murder
  • Assault and battery
  • Sentencing
  • Mitigating circumstances
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Civil law RCAA 00018/2023/CA

IRIBAGIZA v. MUKANYONGA

Court
Court of Appeal
Case number
RCAA 00018/2023/CA

The court held that Mukanyonga Félicité did not prove she was the sole heir of her late mother and therefore lacked standing and legal capacity to sue for the estate in her own name. Consequently, the lower courts erred in accepting her claim. All related judgments were set aside, and the matter reverted to its prior status.

Source excerpt

  • Standing to sue
  • Succession rights
  • Burden of proof in inheritance
  • Jurisdiction of courts
  • Effect of prior judgments
  • Procedural requirements for inheritance claims
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Criminal law RPAA 00427/2023/CA

UBUSHINJACYAHA v. NSHONGORE

Court
Court of Appeal
Case number
RPAA 00427/2023/CA

The Court of Appeal upheld Nshongore’s conviction for cannabis possession and sale, but reduced the sentence from life imprisonment to 18 years and a fine.

  • Drug offences
  • Evidentiary assessment
  • Sentencing
  • Mitigating circumstances
  • Criminal-law
  • Drug-offences
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Criminal law RPAA 00300/2024/CA

UBUSHINJACYAHA vs. NSHIMIYIMANA

Court
Court of Appeal
Case number
RPAA 00300/2024/CA

The conviction was upheld because the combination of the victim's testimony, corroborating witness statements, the accused's own admissions, and the medical report provided sufficient and admissible evidence of defilement. However, the sentence was reduced due to the accused being a first-time offender, aligning with precedent for similar cases.

Source excerpt

  • Evidence in criminal trials
  • Defilement of minors
  • Sentencing principles
  • Appeal procedure
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Criminal law RPAA00035/2023/CA-CMB RPAA00036/2023/CA

UBUSHINJACYAHA v. TWAYIGUZUMUGABE

Court
Court of Appeal
Case number
RPAA00035/2023/CA-CMB RPAA00036/2023/CA

Appellant failed to submit appeal grounds within the statutory 30-day period after judgment copy was uploaded to IECMS; no evidence of timely request or inability to access the copy was provided. Appeal grounds submitted eight months later are inadmissible. Appeal is not admitted.

Source excerpt

  • Drug offences
  • Appeal procedure
  • Timeliness of appeal grounds
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Criminal law RPAA 00423/2023/CA

UBUSHINJACYAHA vs. NIYONZIMA

Court
Court of Appeal
Case number
RPAA 00423/2023/CA

The Court of Appeal held that Niyonzima Pacifique's grounds of appeal were submitted after the statutory period and did not meet the legal requirements for late submission. Therefore, the appeal grounds were inadmissible and the High Court's judgment, including the 15-year sentence, remained in force.

Source excerpt

  • Appeal timelines
  • Sexual offences against minors
  • Procedural compliance
  • Sentencing
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Criminal law RPAA 00367/2023/CA

UBUSHINJACYAHA v. BAPFAKURERA

Court
Court of Appeal
Case number
RPAA 00367/2023/CA

The Court of Appeal found that although Bapfakurera Jean Claude did not fully admit guilt, his young age (19) and first-time offender status justified reducing his sentence from life imprisonment to 15 years, aligning with precedent for similar cases.

Source excerpt

  • Defilement
  • Sentencing
  • Mitigating circumstances
  • Appeal procedure
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Criminal law RPAA 00308/2024/CA

UBUSHINJACYAHA v NDAYIKENGURUTSE

Court
Court of Appeal
Case number
RPAA 00308/2024/CA

The court found that the quantity of cannabis (62 boules) and the circumstances, including the presence of buyers and corroborating testimony, established trafficking rather than simple possession. The defense's arguments regarding witness bias and lack of direct evidence of sale were rejected as unsubstantiated. The sentence imposed by the High Court was appropriate and lawful.

Source excerpt

  • Drug trafficking
  • Drug possession
  • Evidence assessment
  • Witness credibility
  • Sentencing
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About this LexChat collection

Rwanda decisions are organised by court, judge, legal area and indexed issue so a practitioner can move from a proposition to a citable authority with the surrounding context intact.

Source links and collection timestamps are retained alongside the indexed records.