SPERO vs WEBBER TRADING CONSULTING SERVICES COMPANY Ltd
The court found that the consultancy contract between SPERO Ltd and Webber Trading & Consulting Services Company Ltd remained valid, as the alleged failure to achieve the contract's purpose did not constitute a ground for invalidity under Rwandan contract law. The arbitral award was therefore not subject to being...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- RCOMA00030/2022/HCC
- Parties
- Applicant: SPERO Ltd; Respondent: Webber Trading & Consulting Services Company Ltd
- Court
- Commercial High Court
- Jurisdiction
- Rwanda
- Judgment Date
- 21 July 2023
- Case Number
- RCOMA00030/2022/HCC
- Procedural Posture
- Commercial Arbitration Award Challenge / Judgment on Application to Set Aside Arbitral Award
- Outcome
- Application dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Setting Aside Arbitral Awards, Validity of Contracts, Consultancy Agreements
- Source Language
- rw
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
SPERO Ltd
Applicant
Webber Trading & Consulting Services Company Ltd
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Commercial Arbitration Award Challenge / Judgment on Application to Set Aside Arbitral Award
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the arbitral award dated 13/05/2022 between Webber Trading & Consulting Services Company Ltd and SPERO Ltd should be set aside on grounds of lack of contract validity
- 2 Whether SPERO Ltd is entitled to reimbursement of arbitration costs and damages
- 3 Whether either party is entitled to costs and attorney fees
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the consultancy contract between SPERO Ltd and Webber Trading & Consulting Services Company Ltd remained valid, as the alleged failure to achieve the contract's purpose did not constitute a ground for invalidity under Rwandan contract law. The arbitral award was therefore not subject to being set aside under Article 47 of the Arbitration Law. SPERO Ltd's claims for reimbursement of arbitration costs and damages were rejected, and costs were awarded to Webber Trading & Consulting Services Company Ltd.
Court Disposition
Application dismissed
Orders
- SPERO Ltd's application to set aside the arbitral award is dismissed as unfounded.
- SPERO Ltd is ordered to pay Webber Trading & Consulting Services Company Ltd 700,000 FRW (200,000 FRW for case follow-up costs and 500,000 FRW for attorney fees).
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
15 paragraphs
# SPERO vs WEBBER TRADING CONSULTING SERVICES COMPANY Ltd
- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2023-07-21 - Case/document no.: RCOMA00030/2022/HCC - Collection: Commercial High Court
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SPERO vs WEBBER TRADING CONSULTING SERVICES COMPANY Ltd [Rwanda URUKIKO RUKURU RW’UBUCURUZI – RCOMA00030/2022/HCC (Nkurunziza, P.J.,) 21 Nyakanga 2023] Amategeko agenga ubukempurampaka – amasezerano y’ubuhugukiramwuga (consultance)– amasezerano y’ubukempurampaka – Gukuraho icyemezo cy’ubukempurampaka – Uruhande rutishimiye umwanzuro w’Ubukemurampaka, ntiruzana ikibazo mu Rukiko nk’uruje kujuririra uwo mwanzuro, ahubwo rugaragaragaza ko uwo mwanzuro ukwiye kuvaho. Guta agaciro k’amasezerano ni imwe mu mpamvu yatuma icyemezo cy’ubukempurampaka ayo masezerano ashingiyeho cyavanwaho, ariko urukiko rwaregewe icyo cyemezo rubyemeza gusa iyo rusanze impamvu y’ ivanwaho ryacyo ntaho ihuriye no guta agaciro k’amasezerano. Incamake y’ikibazo: Sosiyete Webber Trading & Consulting Services Company Ltd yagiranye na sosiyete SPERO Ltd amasezerano y’ubuhugukiramwuga (consultance) hagamijwe kuyifasha kubona inguzanyo muri Banki, muri ayo masezerano bumvikana ko ubukempurampaka nibwo buzifashishwa mu gukemura impaka zavuka mw’iyubahirizwa ryayo. Amakimbirane yaje kuvuka hagati y’impande zombi bituma Webber Trading & Consulting Services Company Ltd irega SPERO mu bukempurampaka isaba ko yayishyura 33,269,157Frw ivuga ko akomoka ku masezerano y’ubuhugukiramwuga (consultancy Contract) itubahirije. Ubukemurampaka nabwo bufata icyemezo gitegeka sosiyete SPERO Ltd kwishyura sosiyete Webber nkuko babyumvikanye mu masezerano. Sosiyete SPERO ntabwo yishimiye imikirize y’abakemurampaka maze iregera uwo mwanzuro mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi ivuga ko uwo mwanzuro waba ushingiye ku masezerano atagifite gaciro kuko icyatumye abaho kitagezweho, ivuga ko hari ibitarubahirijwe, bityo ko isaba icyemezo kivanwaho. Sosiyete Webber Trading & Consulting Services Company Ltd nayo yiregura ivuga ko ibivugwa na SPERO Ltd nta shingiro bifite kuko amasezerano impande zombi zagiranye yujuje ibisabwa by'ibanze nkuko biteganywa n’amategeko, kandi akaba nta nkomyi nsensamasezerano yayateganijwemo, ivuga ko ari uburyo bwo gukomeza gushakisha amananiza hagamijwe kutayishyura, bityo ikaba isaba ko amasezerano bagiranye yubahirizwa nta buryarya. Webber Trading & Consulting Services Company Ltd ivuga kandi ko kutaboneka kw’inguzanyo bitafatwa nk’impamvu zatuma amasezerano yitwa ko nta gaciro afite. Incamake y’icyemezo: Uruhande rutishimiye umwanzuro w’Ubukemurampaka, ntiruzana ikibazo mu Rukiko nk’uruje kujuririra uwo mwanzuro, ahubwo rugaragaragaza ko uwo mwanzuro ukwiye kuvaho. Guta agaciro k’amasezerano ni imwe mu mpamvu yatuma icyemezo cy’ubukempurampaka ayo masezerano ashingiyeho cyavanwaho, ariko urukiko rwaregewe icyo
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cyemezo rubyemeza gusa iyo rusanze impamvu y’ ivanwaho ryacyo ntaho ihuriye no guta agaciro k’amasezerano. Ikirego nta shingiro. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko N° 005/2008 ryo kuwa 14/02/2008 ryerekeye ubukemurampaka n’ubwunzi mu bibazo by’ubucuruzi, ingingo ya 47. Nta manza zifashishijwe. Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Webber Trading & Consulting Services Company Ltd yagiranye na SPERO Ltd amasezerano y'ubuhugukiramwuga (contrat de consultance) taliki ya 07/05/2020 hagamijwe kuyifasha kubona inguzanyo muri Banki, ariko haza kubamo kutumvikana mu kuyashyira mu bikorwa. [2] Kubera ko amasezerano y'ubuhugukiramwuga yateganyaga mu ngingo yayo ya 6 ubukemurampaka nk'uburyo bwazifashishwa mu gukemura impaka zavuka mw'iyubahirizwa ryayo, Webber Trading & Consulting Services Company Ltd yatanze ikirego isaba ko SPERO yayishyura 33,269,157 Frw yavugaga ko akomoka ku masezerano y’ubuhugukiramwuga (consultancy Contract), SPERO itubahirijwe. [3] Ku wa 13/05/2022, Inteko y’ubukemurampaka yafashe icyemezo maze itegeka ko SPERO Ltd igomba kwishyura Webber Trading & consultancy 8.000.000 Frw hamwe n’andi mafaranga y’indishyi. SPERO ntabwo yishimiye iyi mikirize y’abakemurampaka ivuga ko hari ibitarubahirijwe muri ubu bukemurampaka, iregera Urukiko Rukuru rw‘Ubucuruzi isaba ko iki cyemezo kivanwaho (annulée). [4] Iburanisha ry’urubanza ryabereye mu ruhame kuwa 21/06/2023, SPERO iburanirwa na Me Abasa Fasil, Webber Trading & Consulting Services Company Ltd ihagarariwe n’Umuyobozi wayo Ntuyimana Jean de Dieu yunganirwa na Me Rwigema Vincent. II. IBIBAZO BIRI MURI URU RUBANZA N’ISESENGURA RYABYO 1.Kumenya niba icyemezo cy'ubukemurampaka cyo kuwa 13/05/2022 haburana Webber Trading & Consulting Services Company Ltd na SPERO Ltd cyavanwaho [5] SPERO iburanirwa na Me Abasa Fasil ivuga ko yari yaragiranye amasezerano na Webber yo kuyifasha kubona inguzanyo muri banki yitwa EQUITY BANK Rwanda PLC., Webber ikaba ariyo yari ifite ishingano zo gutegura umushinga kugirango SPERO ibone inguzanyo. Ko Webber yaje kubikora nabi bituma EQUIY BANK Rwanda itamuha inguzanyo nkuko bari
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babyumvikanyeho, SPERO yahise ireka ayo masezerano maze, yiyemeze kwishakira uburyo yabona amafaranga, ijya mu yindi Banki yitwa NCBA Bank. [6] Ikomeza ivuga ko amasezerano atari agifite agaciro kuko icyatumye abaho kitagezweho. Ko hashingiwe ku ngingo ya 47 agace ka 1° a) y’ Itegeko N° 005/2008 ryo kuwa 14/02/2008 ryerekeye ubukempurampaka n ’ubwunzi mu biba zo by’ubucuruzi aho ivuga ko : Imyanzuro yafashwe hakoreshejwe ubukempurampaka ishobora kuvanwaho n’urukiko ruvugwa mu ngingo ya 8 y’iri tegeko igihe gusa uwiyambaje ubukemurampaka usaba iryo vanwaho atanze ibimenyetso ko ayo masezerano nta gaciro afite hakurikijwe itegeko abiyambaje ubukemurampaka bashingiyeho bayakora, cyangwa iyo iryo tegeko ritateganyijwe, hakurikijwe amategeko y’u Rwanda. Ivuga ko ayo masezerano nta gaciro yari igifite kuko icyatumye amasezerano akorwa kitagezweho (guhabwa inguzanyo muri EQUITY BaNK) ku makosa ya Webber yo gutegura umushinga nabi. [7] Webber Trading & Consulting Services Company Ltd ihagarariwe n’Umuyobozi wayo Ntuyimana Jean de Dieu yunganirwa na Me Rwigema Vincent yiregura ko ibivugwa na SPERO Ltd nta shingiro bifite, ko ari uburyo bwo gukomeza gushakisha amananiza hagamijwe kutishyura umwenda ibereyemo Webber Trading & Consulting Services Company Ltd. Ko Amasezerano impande zombi zagiranye yujuje ibisabwa by'ibanze mw'ikorwa ry'amasezerano nkuko biteganywa n'ingingo ya 4 y'Itegeko rigenga amasezerano, kandi akaba nta nkomyi nsensamasezerano yayateganijwemo, bityo akaba akwiriye kubahirizwa nta buryarya nkuko amategeko abiteganya. Kuvuga ko yari ashingiye mu gushaka inguzanyo muri Equity Bank Rwanda Plc ntabwo ari ukuri kuko izina ryiyo Banki ntaho rigaragara mu masezerano. [8] Webber Trading & Consulting Services Company Ltd ihagarariwe n’Umuyobozi wayo Ntuyimana Jean de Dieu yunganirwa na Me Rwagema Vincent ikomeza ivuga ko Equity Bank Rwanda Plc yemereye SPERO Ltd inguzanyo aba ari yo iyanga, ikaba idakwiriye kubigira impamvu zatuma amasezerano yitwa ko nta gaciro afite kuko iyo biza kuba bimeze gutyo, SPERO Ltd itari gukomezanya na Webber Trading & Consulting Services Company Ltd muri NCBA Bank nkuko byagaragajwe m'ubukemurampaka. [9] Inavuga ko kuba iyi ngingo yaragarutsweho mu bukemurampaka ariko SPERO Ltd ikayitsindwaho, kuyigarura mu Rukiko iyita ko ari impamvu igaragaza itakazagaciro ry'amasezerano ari ukuyobya uburari gusa hagamijwe gutinza ishyirwa mu bikorwa ry'icyemezo cy'Inteko y'abakemurampaka. UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [10] Ingingo ya 47 y‘Itegeko N° 005/2008 ryo kuwa 14/02/2008 ryerekeye ubukemurampaka n’ubwunzi mu bibazo by’ubucuruzi ivuga ko: “Imyanzuro yafashwe hakoreshejwe ubukemurampaka ishobora kuvanwaho n’urukiko ruvugwa mu ngingo ya 8 y’iri tegeko igihe gusa: uwiyambaje ubukemurampaka usaba iryo vanwaho atanze ibimenyetso ko: a) uwo bagiranye amasezerano ateganya ubukemurampaka avugwa mu ngingo ya 9 atari abifitiye ubushobozi; cyangwa ayo masezerano nta gaciro afite hakurikijwe itegeko abiyambaje ubukemurampaka bashingiyeho bayakora, cyangwa iyo iryo tegeko ritateganyijwe, hakurikijwe amategeko y’u Rwanda; b) atamenyeshejwe uko bikwiye ishyirwaho ry’umukemurampaka cyangwa imigendekere y’ubukemurampaka, cyangwa ko atashoboye kubona uburyo bwo
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kwiregura kubera impamvu runaka; c) imyanzuro yafashwe ishingiye ku kibazo kitateganyijwe mu masezerano cyangwa kitari mu ngingo ziteganywa mu masezerano y’ubukemurampaka cyangwa ikubiyemo ibyemezo birenze ibiteganyijwe mu masezerano ku buryo bwo gukiranurwa n’abakemurampaka, nyamara ku buryo, niba imyanzuro y’imikirize yerekeranye n’ibibazo byashyikirijwe Inteko y’Abakemurampaka iramutse itandukanyijwe n’ibitarashyikirijwe Inteko, haseswa gusa igice cy’imikirize gifata imyanzuro ku bibazo bitashyikirijwe inteko; d) imiterere y’Inteko y’Abakemurampaka cyangwa imiburanishirize bitakurikije amasezerano ababuranyi bagiranye, mu gihe ariko ayo masezerano atanyuranye n’ibiteganywa n’ingingo z’iri tegeko abagiranye amasezerano badashobora kwirengagiza, cyangwa, ayo masezerano abaye adahari, iyo miterere n’imiburanishirize bitarakurikije iri tegeko; 2° urukiko ruramutse rusanze ko : a) ikiburanwa kidashobora gukemurwa hakoreshejwe ubukemurampaka hakurikijwe amategeko y’u Rwanda; b) urubanza rwaciwe runyuranye n’amategeko ndemyagihugu ya Repubulika y’u Rwanda”. [11] Ingingo ya 47 ivugwa mu gika kibanziriza iki, irondora impamvu zigomba gushingirwaho haregerwa mu Rukiko umwanzuro w’ubukemurampaka. SPERO Ltd Ltd, iregera umwanzuro wafashwe n’ubukemurampaka ishingiye kukuba uwo mwanzuro waba ushingiye ku masezerano atagifite gaciro kuko icyatumye abaho kitagezweho. [12] Dosiye y’urubanza igaragaza amasezerano y’ubuhugukiramwuga yabaye kuwa 07/5/2020 hagati y’impande zombi ziburana muri uru rubanza. Ingingo ya 6 yayo masezerano, iteganya uburyo bwo gukemura impaka burimo n’ubukemurampaka. Ku kibazo cyo kumenya niba amasezerano atagifite gaciro kuko icyatumye abaho kitagezweho, birasaba kumenya icyo ayo masereno yari agamije. Ingingo ya 2 yayo masezerano niyo avuga ibyo Umuhugukiramwuga azakora. Mu gika cya 37 cy’icyemezo cy’ubukemurampaka, Inteko yavuze ko isanga hashingiwe ku masezerano, akazi kagomba kwishyurirwa ari ugutegura umushinga no kuwukurikirana kugeza igihe inguzanyo itangiwe, kandi ibi akaba ari nako byagenze kubera ko nyuma yo gutegura izo nyandiko, bigaragara ko urega yakomeje kuzikurikirana muri Bank zari zasabwemo inguzanyo harimo na NCBA Bank. [13] Itegeko No 45/2011 ryo ku wa 25/11/2011 rigenga amasezerano mu Rwanda, mu mutwe wa III iteganya ibishobora gutesha agaciro amasezerano aribyo ukwibeshya, kugaragaza ibintu uko bitari, amasezerano akozwe ku gahato cyangwa kubera igitinyiro gikabije, no kutarangiza amasezerano bitewe n‘impamvu ndemyagihugu. Kuba ibikubiye mu masezerano bitaragezweho nkuko SPERO Ltd ibivuga, ntabwo byaba impamvu itesha agaciro ayo masezerano. Ahubwo Urukiko rusanga byareberwa mu nkurikizi zo kutubahiriza amasezerano cyangwa kutarangiza inshingano. [14] Ibirebana no kutubahiriza amasezerano no kutarangiza inshingano, ntibisuzumwa n’inkiko mu gihe impande bireba zahisemo ko nihavuka impaka zijyanye nabyo, zizakemurwa n’Ubukemurampaka. Uruhande rutishimiye umwanzuro w’Ububemurampaka kuri izo mpaka, ntiruzana ikibazo mu Rukiko nk’uruje kujuririra umwanzuro w’Ubukemurampaka, ahubwo rukwiye kuza rugaragaragaza ko uwo mwanzuro ukwiye kuvaho hashingiwe ku mpamvu ziteganywa n’ingingo ya 47 y’Itegeko N° 005/2008 ryo kuwa 14/02/2008 y’Itegeko ryavuzwe hejuru, zirimo no kuba amasezerano nta gaciro afite hakurikijwe itegeko abiyambaje ubukemurampaka bashingiyeho bayakora. Nkuko byagaragajwe mu bika bibiri bibanziriza iki, ibyo SPERO Ltd ivuga ko amasezerano yari yarataye agaciro, nta shingiro bifite, bityo, ibyo
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isaba ko icyemezo cy'ubukemurampaka cyo ku wa 13/05/2022, haburana na Webber Trading & Consulting Services Company Ltd na SPERO Ltd cyavanwaho, nta shingiro bifite kuko Urukiko rwasesenguye impamvu itanga isaba ivanwaho ryacyo, rusanga ntaho ihuriye no guta agaciro k’amasezerano. 2.Ku birebana n'amafaranga SPERO yatanze mu bukemurampaka [15] SPERO iburanirwa na Me Abasa Fasil ivuga ko WEBBER yatumye SPERO itakaza cyangwa itanga amafaranga mu bukemurampaka bitari ngombwa, igasaba Urukiko kuyitegeka gusubira SPERO Ltd, amafaranga yose yatanze, hakiyongeraho n'indindi z‘akababaro zingana na 20.000.000 Frw kubera kuyishora mu manza nta mpamvu. [16] Webber Trading & Consulting Services Company Ltd yiregura ko iyi ngingo nta shingiro ifite, kuko SPERO Ltd yanze kwishyura igihembo cy'ibanze cy'abakemurampaka yishyurirwa na Webber Trading & Consultuing Services Company Ltd, kandi inyandiko y'ubutumwa yemeye gushyiraho umukono yateganyaga ko uruhande rumwe iyo rutishyuye uruhare rwarwo, urundi rurwishyura rukazayasubizwa mu cyemezo cy'ubukemurampaka. UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [17] Amafaranga SPERO isaba gusubizwa, ni ayo ivuga ko yatanze nk’igihembo cy’ubukemurampaka. Ayo mafaranga yatanzwe kuko impande zombi zahisemo inzira y’ubukemurampaka, kandi SPERO Ltd yari yarezwe ikaba yaratsinzwe. Urukiko rusanga ayo mafaranga atakurwaho kuko icyatumye atangwa kikiriho. 3.Ibyerekeranye n’indishyi z’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cy’avoka no gushorwa mu manza [18] SPERO Ltd isaba Urukiko gutegeka uregwa kwishyura 3.000.000 Frw akubiyemo igihembo cy"Avoka n'ikurikiranarubanza na 40.000 Frw y'igarama. [19] Webber Trading & Consulting Services Company Ltd ivuga ko ikirego cya SPERO Ltd nta shingiro gifite, ikwiriye kwirengera ingaruka zacyo zose. Ivuga ko kuba SPERO Ltd yarashoje urubanza rw'amaherere bigatuma Webber Trading& Consulting Services Company Ltd itakaza amafaranga yo kurukurikirana no guhemba Avoka, ikwiriye gutegekwa kwishyura Webber 500.000Frw y'ikurikiranarubanza na 2.000.000Rfw y'igihembo cy'Avoka. [20] SPERO Ltd ivuga ibyo uregwa asaba Urukiko rutabiha ishingiro, kubera ko ibyo Urega asaba abifitiye uburenganzira. UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [21] 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 nkuko ryavuguruwe kandi ryujujwe kugeza ubu niteganya ko 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.
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[22] Ingingo ya 4 y'Iteka rya Minisitiri No 133/MOJ/AG/18 ryo kuwa 04/06/2018 rigena amafaranga atangwa mu manza mbonezamubano, iz'ubucuruzi, iz'umurimo, n'iz'ubutegetsi iteganya ko uwatsinze asubizwa amagarama. [23] Ingingo ya 26 y’amabwiriza No 01/2014 agena ibihembo mbonera by’Abavoka mu Rwanda iteganya ko igihembo fatizo cy’Avoka kigomba kuba hagati ya 500,000 FRW na 5,000,000 FRW. [24] Uwatsinzwe urubanza niwe wishyura amafaranga y’igihembo cy’avoka n’ay’ikurikiranarubanza mu gihe bigaragaye ko yaburaniwe n’avoka kandi ko yakurikiranye urubanza. Ku birebana n’uru rubanza, SPERO Ltd nta mafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cy’Avoka yahabwa kuko ntacyo yatsindiye mu byo yari yaregeye. Ndetse ntiyanasubizwa n’amagarama yatanze irega kuko ikirego cyayo nta shingiro gifite. Urukiko rusanga Webber Trading& Consulting Services Company Ltd ikwiye kwishyurwa na SPERO Ltd 200.000Frw y'ikurikiranarubanza na 500.000Frw y'igihembo cy'Avoka agenwe mu bushishozi bw’Urukiko kuko ayasabwe ari menshi. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [25] Rwemeje ko ikirego cyatanzwe na SPERO Ltd nta shingiro gifite. [26] Rutegetse SPERO Ltd kwishyura Webber Trading& Consulting Services Company Ltd (700.000FRW) ibihumbi magana arindwi (agizwe na 200.000Frw y'ikurikiranarubanza na 500.000FRW y'igihembo cy'Avoka) [27] Ruvuze ko ingwate y’amagarama yatanzwe na SPERO Ltd irega ihwanye n’ibyakozwe mu rubanza