PRIME LIFE INSURANCE Ltd v. NZABAHIMANA
The Supreme Court held that Prime Life Insurance Ltd was entitled to discontinue its revision application without the respondent's consent under Article 122 of Law No. 22/2018. Since the applicant discontinued the case, the Court could not proceed to examine the respondent's request about execution of the revised...
Source-derived case information.
- Parties
- Applicant: Prime Life Insurance Ltd; Respondent: Nzabahimana Jean Pierre
- Jurisdiction
- Rwanda
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Revision Review Application on Grounds of Injustice / Final Decision After Discontinuance by the Applicant
- Outcome
- Application discontinued; respondent awarded costs
- Legal Topics
- Discontinuance of Claim, Revision of Judgment on Grounds of Injustice, Costs and Advocate Fees
- Source Language
- rw
Source-derived case record
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Parties
Prime Life Insurance Ltd
Applicant
Nzabahimana Jean Pierre
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Civil Revision Review Application on Grounds of Injustice / Final Decision After Discontinuance by the Applicant
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant may discontinue the revision application without the respondent's consent
- 2 What costs may be awarded against a party who discontinues a claim or application
Ratio Decidendi
The Supreme Court held that Prime Life Insurance Ltd was entitled to discontinue its revision application without the respondent's consent under Article 122 of Law No. 22/2018. Since the applicant discontinued the case, the Court could not proceed to examine the respondent's request about execution of the revised judgment, and the case reverted to its prior state under Article 124. The Court further held that the respondent could recover only fees and costs authorized by Article 124(2), not general moral damages, and awarded advocate fees and procedural costs in amounts fixed at the Court's discretion.
Court Disposition
Application discontinued; respondent awarded costs
Orders
- Granted Prime Life Insurance Ltd's request to discontinue the revision application concerning judgment RCA00032/2023/HC/KIG dated 29/02/2024.
- Ordered Prime Life Insurance Ltd to pay Nzabahimana Jean Pierre 1,000,000 Rwandan francs as advocate fees and 100,000 Rwandan francs as procedural costs, totaling 1,100,000 Rwandan francs.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
5 paragraphs
PRIME LIFE INSURANCE Ltd v. NZABAHIMANA [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’IKIRENGA – RS/INJUST/RC00020/2024/SC (Mukantaganzwa, J. P., Mukamulisa na Kalihangabo, J.) 05 Ukuboza 2025] Amategeko agenga imiburanishirize y’imanza mbonezamubano – Ikirego gisaba gusubirishamo urubanza ku mpamvu z’akarengane – Kureka ikirego – Kwemererwa kureka ikirego k’umwe mu baburanyi, ntibisaba ko undi muburanyi abyemera. Amategeko agenga imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano – Kureka ikirego gisaba gusubirishamo urubanza ku mpamvu z’akarengane – Amafaranga yonyine ashobora gucibwa uwaretse ikirego ni ay’amagarama cyangwa igihembo cya Avoka n’andi yose yatanzwe n’uwo yari yareze mu gukurikirana urubanza. Incamake y’ikibazo: Prime Life Insurance Ltd yareze Nzabahimana wari umukozi wayo mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo isaba gusubizwa imodoka yari yaramuhaye no kumusubiza amafaranga yamwishyuriye yiga, kuko Nzabahimana yavuye mu kazi atarigeze yishyura amafaranga yayo nk’uko babyumvikanye mu masezerano bagiranye, ko mu gihe avuye mu kazi mbere y’uko ayo masezerano arangira, azishyura iyo modoka mu gihe ahisemo kuyigumana, yaba atayishyuye akayisubiza. Nzabahimana yireguye avuga ko iyo modoka yayishyuye, amafaranga yayo akayashyira kuri konti ya Prime ariko ikayamusubiza, ko rero idakwiye gusaba gusubizwa imodoka mu gihe yanze amafaranga. Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwaciye urubanza rwemeza ko ikirego cyatanzwe na Prime nta shingiro gifite, ko Nzabahimana agomba kuyishyura amafaranga y’imodoka ari mu masezerano bagiranye, rutegeka Prime kumwishyura amafaranga ajyanye n’ibyakoreshejwe mu rubanza. Prime ntiyishimiye icyo cyemezo, kuko yakijuririye mu Rukiko Rukuru narwo rutegeka ko Nzabahimana agumana imodoka, akayishyura amafaranga angana na 20.000.000 hakuwemo amafaranga bamukase mu gihe cy’amezi 10, kandi akayishyura mu gihe kitarenze amezi 6 azabarwa kuva urubanza rusomwe, akanishyura 1.361.826Frw yishyuriwe yiga. Prime yasabye ko urwo rubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru rusubirwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane, arabymererwa, Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga yemeza ko rwongera kuburanishwa n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga. Mu nama ntegurarubanza, impande zombi zemeranyijwe ku kureka ikirego kwa Prime, hakarangizwa urwo rubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru rwari rwasabiwe gusubirwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane. Nzabahimana yasabye ko Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rwazita ku bihe byo kurangirizwamo urubanza, anasaba indishyi z’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cya Avoka. Incamake y’icyemezo: 1. Kwemererwa kureka ikirego k’umwe mu baburanyi, ntibisaba ko undi muburanyi abyemera, kuko aba ari uburenganzira bwe ahabwa n’Itegeko. 2. Amafaranga yonyine ashobora gucibwa uwaretse ikirego cyo gusubirishamo urubanza ku mpamvu z’akarengane, ni ay’amagarama cyangwa igihembo cya Avoka n’andi yose yatanzwe n’uwo yari yareze mu gukurikirana urubanza. Rwemeye ukureka ikirego cyo gusubirishamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko N° 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 rigena imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, ingingo ya 111, 122 n’iya 124.
Imanza zifashishijwe: RCAA0136/11/CS, Ndizihiwe Patrick na Nyirabihogo Noelle v. Mudakemwa Bonaventure, Mukarutura Rusigariye Marcelline na Nyiransekanabo Marie. rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga wa 14/02/2014. Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Nzabahimana Jean Pierre yari umukozi wa Prime Life Insurance Ltd (ikomeza kwitwa “Prime” muri uru rubanza), ari Chief Finance Officer (CFO). Yahawe imodoka yo mu bwoko bwa Toyota Prado, nyuma aza gusezererwa ku kazi ku mpamvu z’ikosa rikomeye. Nzabahimana Jean Pierre yari yaragiranye amasezerano na Prime y’uko mu gihe avuye mu kazi mbere y’uko ayo masezerano arangira, azishyura iyo modoka mu gihe ahisemo kuyigumana, yaba atayishyuye akayisubiza. [2] Prime yareze Nzabahimana Jean Pierre mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo isaba gusubizwa imodoka yavuzwe haruguru kuko Nzabahimana Jean Pierre yavuye mu kazi kandi akaba atarigeze yishyura amafaranga yayo nk’uko babyumvikanye mu masezerano bagiranye, inasaba ko yasubiza n’amafaranga y’ishuri Prime yamwishyuriye. [3] Nzabahimana Jean Pierre yaburanye avuga ko yishyuye amafaranga y’imodoka ariko ko yageze kuri konti ya Prime ikayamusubiza, ko rero idakwiye gusaba gusubizwa imodoka mu gihe yanze amafaranga. [4] Mu rubanza RC00097/2022/TGI/GSBO rwaciwe ku wa 22/11/2022, Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo rwemeje ko ikirego cya Prime nta shingiro gifite, rutegeka Nzabahimana Jean Pierre kuyishyura amafaranga y’imodoka ari mu masezerano yo ku wa 16/04/2021, rutegeka Prime guha Nzabahimana Jean Pierre indishyi zihwanye na 100.000Frw, 50.000Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza hamwe n’igihembo cya Avoka kingana na 500.000Frw. [5] Prime yajuririye urwo rubanza mu Rukiko Rukuru ivuga ko Urukiko Rwisumbuye rutasesenguye neza amasezerano yo ku wa 16/04/2021 kuko yavugaga ko mu gihe Nzabahimana Jean Pierre avuye mu kazi mbere y’uko ayo masezerano arangira, azasubiza imodoka, yahitamo kuyigumana akishyura ikiguzi cyayo. [6] Mu rubanza RCA00032/2023/HC/KIG rwaciwe ku wa 29/02/2024, Urukiko Rukuru rwategetse ko Nzabahimana Jean Pierre agumana imodoka, akazishyura Prime 20.000.000Frw hakuwemo amafaranga bamukase mu gihe cy’amezi 10, kandi akayishyura mu gihe kitarenze amezi 6 azabarwa kuva urubanza rusomwe, akanishyura 1.361.826Frw yishyuriwe yiga. [7] Prime yandikiye Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire isaba ko urubanza RCA00032/2023/HC/KIG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru ku wa 29/02/2024, rusubirwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane. Nyuma y’isesengura ry’urubanza, Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire yakoze raporo ayoherereza Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga, na we yemeza ko rwongera kuburanishwa, rwandikwa kuri RS/INJUST/RC00020/2024/SC. [8] Ku wa 26/05/2025, Prime yandikiye Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga, imumenyesha ko iretse ikirego RS/INJUST/RC00020/2024/SC kuko yasanze itagifite inyungu, ishingiye ku ngingo ya 122 y’Itegeko N° 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 rigena imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi.
[9] Ku wa 12/06/2025, habaye inama ntegurarubanza, ababuranyi bahabwa umwanya wo kuganira ngo barebe uko uru rubanza rwarangirira mu buhuza, bemeranywa ku kureka ikirego kwa Prime, hakazarangizwa urubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru rwari rwasabiwe gusubirwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane. Nzabahimana Jean Pierre yasabye ko Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rwazita ku bihe byo kurangirizwamo urubanza, anasaba indishyi z’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cya Avoka. [10] Iburanisha ryabereye mu ruhame ku wa 03/11/2025, Prime ihagarariwe na Me Niyitegeka Emmanuel afatanyije na Me Habineza Gasore Gilbert, Nzabahimana Jean Pierre yunganiwe na Me Mukashema Marie Louise, hasuzumwa ikibazo cyo kumenya niba Prime Insurance Ltd yakwemererwa kureka ikirego hamwe n’ikijyanye n’amafaranga asabwa muri uru rubanza. II. ISESENGURA RY’IBIBAZO BIGIZE URUBANZA 1) Kumenya niba Prime Life Insurance Ltd yakwemererwa kureka ikirego [11] Me Niyitegeka Emmanuel na Me Habineza Gasore Gilbert bahagarariye Prime bavuga ko yashyize muri dosiye ibaruwa ivuga ko iretse ikirego ishingiye ku ngingo ya 122 y’Itegeko N° 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi. Basobanura ko Prime yasanze inzira y’urubanza ari ndende, ikaba nta nyungu igifite yo gukomeza kuburana kuko hasigaye kurangiza urubanza yari yasubirishijemo ku mpamvu z’akarengane. [12] Bavuga ko mu gihe Prime yakwemererwa kureka ikirego, urubanza rwari rwasabiwe gusubirwamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane rwahita rurangizwa kuko igihe cy’amezi atandatu cyo kuyishyura cyarenze. [13] Nzabahimana Jean Pierre na Me Mukashema Marie Louise umwunganira bavuga ko Prime yaretse ikirego ishingiye ku ngingo ya 122 y’Itegeko N° 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryavuzwe haruguru, ko n’ubwo ukurikije ibivugwa muri iyo ngingo, Nzabahimana Jean Pierre adafite uburenganzira bwo kwanga ubusabe bw’ureka ikirego, ariko ko Prime iramutse yemerewe kureka ikirego, basaba Urukiko kuzemeza ko igihe cy’amezi 6 cyo kwishyura yari yahawe mu rubanza rwasabiwe gusubirwamo, kigomba kubahirizwa. UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [14] Ingingo ya 122 y’Itegeko N° 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, iteganya ko kureka ikirego ari ukwiyambura ububasha bwo kuburana, ibyo bikajyana no kwiyambura uburenganzira umuntu yari afite bwo gukomeza gukurikirana icyo kirego. Iyo ngingo ikomeza ivuga ko ukwemera k’undi muburanyi atari ngombwa. [15] Ingingo ya 124, igika cya mbere, y’iryo Tegeko, iteganya ko kureka ikirego no kureka urubanza bituma ibintu bisubira uko byari bimeze ku mpande zombi mbere y’uko urukiko ruregerwa. [16] Dosiye y’urubanza igaragaza ko ku itariki ya 26/05/2025, Me Gashagaza Philbert mu izina rya Prime, yandikiye Perezida w’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga amumenyesha ko iretse ikirego cyo gusubirishamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane urubanza RCA 00032/2023/HC/KIG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru ku wa 29/02/2024. [17] Hashingiwe ku ngingo ya 122 y’Itegeko N° 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryavuzwe haruguru, Urukiko rurasanga Prime yakwemererwa kureka ikirego nk’uko ibisaba kuko ibifitiye uburenganzira ihabwa n’Itegeko.
[18] Urukiko rurasanga ku bijyanye n’ibisabwa na Nzabahimana Jean Pierre ko Urukiko rwasuzuma uburyo urubanza RCA00032/2023/HC/KIG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru ku wa 29/02/2024 rwarangizwa, ntaho rwahera rubisuzuma mu gihe urega yaretse ikirego, ahubwo ibintu bikaba bigomba gusubira uko byari bimeze nk’uko ingingo ya 124 y’Itegeko N° 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryavuzwe haruguru ibiteganya. 2) Ku bijyanye n’amafaranga asabwa muri uru rubanza [19] Nzabahimana Jean Pierre na Me Mukashema Marie Louise umwunganira bavuga ko asaba indishyi zo gushorwa mu manza ku maherere kuko ikirego cya Prime cyamugizeho ingaruka, ikaba ikwiye gutegekwa kumwishyura indishyi z’akababaro zingana na 1.000.000Frw, 1.000.000Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza, na 1.000.000Frw y’igihembo cya Avoka. Babisaba bashingiye ku biteganywa n’ingingo ya 111 y’Itegeko N° 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryavuzwe haruguru, no ku rubanza RCAA0136/11/CS rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga wa 14/02/20141, aho rwemeje ko uwarezwe afite uburenganzira ku ndishyi mu gihe ubujurire bwaretswe n’undi muburanyi. [20] Me Niyitegeka Emmanuel na Me Habineza Gasore Gilbert bahagarariye Prime bavuga ko indishyi zisabwa na Nzabahimana Jean Pierre nta shingiro zikwiye guhabwa mu gihe urubanza zishamikiyeho ruba rwavuyeho. Bongeraho ariko ko mu gihe Urukiko rwabibona ukundi, ibyo Nzabahimana Jean Pierre asaba yabigaragariza ibimenyetso. UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [21] Ingingo ya 124, igika cya kabiri, y’Itegeko N° 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryavuzwe haruguru, iteganya ko uretse ikirego cyangwa urubanza ashobora gucibwa amafaranga y’amagarama cyangwa igihembo cy’Avoka n’andi yose yatanzwe n’uwo yari yareze mu gukurikirana urubanza. [22] Hakurikijwe ibiteganywa n’inigngo imaze kuvugwa, amafaranga yonyine ashobora gucibwa uwaretse ikirego ni ay’amagarama cyangwa igihembo cya Avoka n’andi yose yatanzwe n’uwo yari yareze mu gukurikirana urubanza. [23] Urukiko rurasanga indishyi z’akababaro zingana na 1.000.000Frw. zisabwa na Nzabahimana Jean Pierre ntazo akwiye kuko ntaho ziteganyijwe mu ngingo ya 124, igika cya kabiri, y’Itegeko N° 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryavuzwe haruguru. [24] Urukiko rurasanga ahubwo kubera ikirego cyo gusubirishamo urubanza ku mpamvu z’akarengane cyatanzwe na Prime, Nzabahimana Jean Pierre yaragombye gushaka Avoka umuburanira, kandi kubera icyo kirego bikaba byumvikana ko yagize ibyo atanga mu gukurikirana urubanza kuko aregwa, bityo akaba akwiye kubisubizwa nk’uko biteganywa n’ingingo ya 124, igika cya kabiri, y’Itegeko N° 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryavuzwe haruguru. Bitewe n’uko ariko amafaranga asaba ari ikirenga kandi akaba atayagagariza ibimenyetso, Prime igomba kumwishyura 1.000.000Frw y’igihembo cya Avoka na 100.000Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza, aya mafaranga akaba agenwe mu bushishozi bw’Urukiko. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [25] Rwemeye ukureka ikirego cyo gusubirishamo ku mpamvu z’akarengane urubanza RCA00032/2023/HC/KIG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru ku wa 29/02/2024 kwakozwe na Prime Life Insurance Ltd. 1 Haburana Ndizihiwe Patrick na Nyirabihogo Noelle bajuriye vs Mudakemwa Bonaventure, Mukarutura Rusigariye Marcelline na Nyiransekanabo Marie.
[26] Rutegetse Prime Life Insurance Ltd kwishyura Nzabahimana Jean Pierre 1.000.000Frw y’igihembo cya Avoka na 100.000Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza, yose hamwe akaba 1.100.000Frw.