TWAHIRWA v KALIGIRWA

TWAHIRWA v KALIGIRWA

The Supreme Court held that property acquired during cohabitation by unmarried partners must be divided equally if both contributed, regardless of whether the relationship was formalized by marriage. The house in question was found to have been substantially completed during cohabitation, and no significant...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
RCAA 0036/15/CS
Parties
Appellant: Twahirwa Ahmed; Respondent: Kaligirwa Rehema
Court
Supreme Court
Jurisdiction
Rwanda
Judgment Date
17 November 2017
Case Number
RCAA 0036/15/CS
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Supreme Court Final Judgment
Outcome
Appeal dismissed; cross-appeal dismissed; lower court decision affirmed with modifications on property value and costs.
Legal Topics
Cohabitation, Division of Property, Unmarried Couples, Valuation of Property, Appeals Procedure
Source Language
rw
Family Law Property Law Cohabitation Division of Property Unmarried Couples Valuation of Property Appeals Procedure

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Parties

Twahirwa Ahmed

Appellant

Kaligirwa Rehema

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Supreme Court Final Judgment

  1. 1 Whether property acquired during cohabitation by unmarried partners should be divided equally upon separation
  2. 2 Whether additional claims regarding other property and damages can be entertained at the appellate stage
  3. 3 How to value the property for division purposes

Ratio Decidendi

The Supreme Court held that property acquired during cohabitation by unmarried partners must be divided equally if both contributed, regardless of whether the relationship was formalized by marriage. The house in question was found to have been substantially completed during cohabitation, and no significant improvements were made after separation. Claims regarding other property and damages were rejected as new claims not raised in lower courts. The house's value for division was set at its current appraised value, including land.

Court Disposition

Appeal dismissed; cross-appeal dismissed; lower court decision affirmed with modifications on property value and costs.

Orders

  • Twahirwa Ahmed and Kaligirwa Rehema to equally divide the house located at PC 10969 (UPI: 1/03/08/02/1627), Nyakagunga, Cyimo, Masaka, Kicukiro, Kigali, valued at 61,110,713 Frw.
  • Twahirwa Ahmed to pay expert Gatsirombo Egide 300,000 Frw for valuation services.