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Rwanda Criminal

Court of Appeal

UBUSHINJACYAHA v. TWIZERANE

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Source document

01

Holding and result

Twizerane Alphonse's acceptance of guilt at the appellate stage does not warrant sentence reduction per established jurisprudence, but the court may reduce the sentence to reflect the offence's gravity and mitigating circumstances, including lack of prior convictions.

Court disposition

Appeal dismissed as to grounds; sentence varied

Orders

  • Twizerane Alphonse sentenced to 12 years imprisonment and fined 3,000,000 FRW
  • Twizerane Alphonse exempted from court fees due to being in custody

02

Material facts

Parties

Ubushinjacyaha

Prosecution Counsel: Butera Oscar

Twizerane Alphonse

Appellant Counsel: Me Sebazungu Cathérine

Amounts and remedies

  • Imprisonment: 12
  • Fine: FRW 3,000,000

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Criminal Appeal / Court of Appeal Final Judgment

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Whether Twizerane Alphonse should have his sentence reduced based on acceptance of guilt at appellate stage

Party arguments

Applicant
Twizerane Alphonse argued that although he previously denied the offence, he now admits guilt, seeks forgiveness, and requests a reduced sentence of 10 years imprisonment, citing first-time prosecution and mitigating circumstances.
Respondent
The prosecution argued that Twizerane's acceptance of guilt at the appellate stage cannot justify sentence reduction, and the imposed sentence is within statutory limits under Article 11 of Law Nº 059/2023.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    RPA 00060/2021/CA; RPA 0343/10/CS

    Acceptance of guilt can only be considered for sentence mitigation if made before the conclusion of trial at first instance, unequivocally, and with acknowledgment of the offence's gravity and consequences.

  2. 02

    RPAA 00039/2021/CA

    The court may reduce a sentence to match the gravity of the offence even if appeal grounds lack merit.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

Twizerane Alphonse's acceptance of guilt at the appellate stage does not warrant sentence reduction per established jurisprudence, but the court may reduce the sentence to reflect the offence's gravity and mitigating circumstances, including lack of prior convictions.

Obiter and limits

  • The court is not prevented from reducing a sentence to match the gravity of the offence even if appeal grounds are unsubstantiated.
  • Acceptance of guilt at appellate stage is insufficient for mitigation unless made unequivocally before first-instance trial concludes.

Court disposition

Appeal dismissed as to grounds; sentence varied

  • Twizerane Alphonse sentenced to 12 years imprisonment and fined 3,000,000 FRW
  • Twizerane Alphonse exempted from court fees due to being in custody

Source and reliance status

Court of Appeal · 29 April 2025

This page organises the available record for research. Confirm quotations, current status, and subsequent treatment against the official source before relying on the case.

Judgment reading view

Judgment text

The complete available source text.

Source document

Court of Appeal

Criminal· 29 April 2025

RPAA 00181/2024/CA

UBUSHINJACYAHA v. TWIZERANE

- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2025-04-29 - Case/document no.: RPAA 00181/2024/CA - Collection: Court of Appeal

Text

Page 1

UBUSHINJACYAHA v. TWIZERANE [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’UBUJURIRE – RPAA 00181/2024/CA (Rutazana, P.J.) 29 Mata 2025] Amategeko agenga imanza z’inshinjabyaha – Kugabanya igihano nubwo impamvu z’ubujurire zaba zitahawe ishingiro – Ntacyabuza Urukiko kugabanyiriza igihano uregwa, hagamije gutanga igihano gihwanye n’uburemere bw’icyaha kabone n’ubwo impamvu z’ubujurire zaba zitahawe ishingiro. Incamake y’ikibazo: Twizerane Alphonse na se umubyara witwa Muganga Abraham bakurikiranyweho n’Ubushinjacyaha icyaha cyo gukubita no gukomeretsa Nyirampumbya Genereuse bikamuviramo gupfa, nyuma y’iperereza bubaregera Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Muhanga busaba ko buri wese ahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 20 n’ihazabu ingana na 7.000.000 FRW. Urwo Rukiko rwaciye urubanza rwemeza ko aba bombi bahamwa n’icyaha rubahanisha igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’irindwi 17 n’ihazabu ingana na 5.000.000 FRW kuri buri wese. Twizerane na Muganga bajuririye mu Rukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Nyanza, urwo Rukiko mu guca urubanza rwemeza ko habayeho izima ry’ikirego cy’ikurikiranacyaha ku bireba Muganga Abraham kuko yapfuye, naho kuri Twizerane Alphonse rwemeza ko nta gihindutse ku rubanza yajuririye. Twizerimana yajuririye mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire avuga ko mbere yaburanaga ahakana icyaha ariko ko kuri uru rwego acyemera, agasaba imbabazi ndetse no kugabanyirizwa igihano agahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 10. Ku rundi ruhande

Ubushinjacyaha buvuga ko ubujurire bwa Twizerimana budakwiye guhabwa ishingiro, ko uretse no kuba ukwemera icyaha akoze bwa mbere mu bujurire kudashobora gushingirwaho agabanyirizwa igihano, icyo yahanishijwe kiri mu mbibi z’ibiteganywa n’ingingo ya 11 y’Itegeko Nº 059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 rihindura Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange kikaba rero kidakwiye kongera kugabanywa. Incamake y’icyemezo: Ntacyabuza Urukiko kugabanyiriza igihano uregwa, hagamije gutanga igihano gihwanye n’uburemere bw’icyaha kabone n’ubwo impamvu z’ubujurire zaba zitahawe ishingiro. Ubujurire nta shingiro bufite. Urubanza rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Nyanza ruhindutse gusa ku bijyanye n’igihano. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko Nº 059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 rihindura Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, Ingingo ya 2.

Page 2

Imanza zifashishijwe: RPA 0343/10/CS; Ubushinjacyaha vs Mpiranya Boniface rwaciwen’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 27/02/2015, RPAA 00039/2021/CA; Ubushinjacyaha vs Shakabatenda Jean de Dieu rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 02/07/2021, RPA 00060/2021/CA; Ubushinjacyaha vs Nsabimana Callixte Alias Sankara n’abandi rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 04/04/2022, RPAA 00234/2024/CA; Ubushinjacyaha vs Hatungimana Jean Claude & Rucogoza Donath rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 20/01/2025, RPAA 00312/2023/CA; Ubushinjacyaha vs Biziyaremye Faustin rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 18/03/2025.

Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Twizerane Alphonse n’umubyeyi we (Se) witwaga Muganga Abraham bakeketsweho kuba, ku wa 25/11/2019 ahagana saa munani z’amanywa, bafatanyije barakubise Nyirampumbya Généreuse nyuma bikamuviramo gupfa, bituma bafatwa batangira gukurikiranwa. [2] Nyuma y’iperereza Ubushinjacyaha bwabareze bombi mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Muhanga bubakurikiranyeho icyaha cyo gukubita cyangwa gukomeretsa ku buryo bubabaje byateye urupfu, busaba ko buri wese ahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 20 n’ihazabu ingana na 7.000.000 FRW. [3] Mu rubanza RP 01010/2019/TGI/MHG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Muhanga ku wa 28/9/2020 rwemeje ko abaregwa bombi bahamwa n’icyaha cyo gukubita cyangwa gukomeretsa byateye urupfu cyakorewe Nyirampumbya Généreuse, rubahanisha igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’irindwi 17 n’ihazabu ingana na 5.000.000 FRW kuri buri wese. [4] Ibyo Urukiko rwabyemeje rushingiye ku bimenyetso bigizwe n’imvugo z’abatangabuhamya barimo Ngirente Jean Damascène, Gakuru Damascène na Macumu Fabien bemeza ko abaregwa bafatanyije gukubita nyakwigendera, Raporo y’Ubuyobozi bw’Umudugudu wa Kigwende nayo igaragaza ko abaregwa bakubise nyakwigendera bikamuviramo gupfa, n’imvugo za Muganga Abraham mu Bugenzacyaha aho yemeye ko akanasobanura ko yakubise nyakwigendera kuko yamusanze kwa nyina kandi ubuyobozi bwaramubujije kujya mu ngo z’abaturage kuko aroga. [5] Muganga Abraham na Twizerane Alphonse bajuririye Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Nyanza, mu rubanza RPA 00902/2020/HC/NYZ rwaciwe n’urwo Rukiko ku wa 31/01/2024 rwemeza ko habayeho izima ry’ikirego cy’ikurikiranacyaha ku bireba Muganga Abraham kuko yapfuye, naho kuri Twizerane Alphonse rwemeza ko nta gihindutse ku rubanza yajuririye, rutegeka ko akomeza guhanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 17 n’ihazabu ingana na 5.000.000 FRW.

Page 3

[6] Twizerane Alphonse yongeye kujurira mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire, urubanza ruhabwa RPAA 00181/2024/CA, ruburanishwa mu ruhame ku wa 08/04/2024 Twizerane Alphonse yunganiwe na Me Sebazungu Cathérine naho Ubushinjacyaha buhagarariwe na Butera Oscar, Umushinjacyaha ku rwego rw’igihugu. [7] Mu bujurire bwe Twizerane Alphonse avuga ko mbere yaburanaga ahakana icyaha ariko ko ubu aje kucyemera, gusaba imbabazi no gusaba kugabanyirizwa igihano, kandi agahanwa hakurikijwe ibiteganywa n’ingingo ya 11, igika cya 6 y’Itegeko Nº 059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 rihindura Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange. [8] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko ubujurire bwa Twizerane Alphonse nta shingiro bufite kuko uretse no kuba ukwemera icyaha akoze bwa mbere mu bujurire kudashobora gushingirwaho agabanyirizwa igihano, icyo yahanishijwe kiri mu mbibi z’ibiteganywa n’ingingo ya 11 y’Itegeko Nº 059/2023 ryavuzwe haruguru kikaba rero kidakwiye kongera kugabanywa. [9] Hahingiwe ku mpaka zimaze kugaragazwa, Urukiko rurasuzuma niba Twizerane Alphonse akwiye kugabanyirizwa igihano hashingiwe ku kwemera icyaha akoze bwa mbere kuri uru rwego rw’ubujurire. II. ISESENGURA RY’IKIBAZO KIGIZE URUBANZA Kumenya niba Twizerane Alphonse akwiye kugabanyirizwa igihano hashingiwe ku kwemera icyaha akoze bwa mbere kuri uru rwego rw’ubujurire. [10] Twizerane Alphonse na Me Sebazungu

Cathérine umwunganira bavuga ko mu nkiko zabanje yaburanaga ahakana icyaha ashinjwa kuko yagikoze afatanyije n’umubyeyi we (Se), hanyuma bamaze gufungwa uyu mubyeyi we amusaba kugihakana kugira ngo badafungwa bombi bityo hazabashe kuboneka uzajya agemurira undi; ko ariko ubu acyemera akanagisabira imbabazi. Twizerane Alphonse asobanura ko bakubise nyakwigendera ubwo bari bamusanze mu rugo kwa nyirakuru bagakeka ko yari aje kuroga inkono kuko ubuyobozi bwari bwaramubujije kujya mu ngo z’abaturage ngo kuko yarogaga. [11] Twizerane Alphonse n’umwunganira basaba urukiko gushingira ku kuba noneho yemera icyaha no kuba ari ubwa mbere akurikiranywe mu nkiko mu buryo buzwi, rukamugabanyirizwa igihano, agahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 10 bityo akazashobora gusubira mu muryango no kugira icyo yimarira. [12] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko ukwemera icyaha Twizerane Alphonse akoze bwa mbere ku rwego rw’ubujurire kutashingirwaho agabanyirizwa igihano hashingiwe ku murongo watanzwe mu manza zinyuranye zaciwe n’uru Rukiko. Avuga kandi ko igihano yahanishijwe kiri mu mbizi z’ibiteganywa n’ingingo ya 11 y’Itegeko Nº 059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 rihindura Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, kikaba kidakwiriye kogera kugabanywa.

UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA

Page 4

[13] Ingingo ya 2 y’Itegeko Nº 059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 rihindura Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange (iyi ngingo ihindura iya 60 y’Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange) iteganya ko “Iyo umucamanza yemeje impamvu nyoroshyacyaha, ashobora kugabanya igihano ku buryo bukurikira: (b) igifungo kimara igihe kizwi kiva ku mezi 6 kuzamura gishobora kugabanywa, ariko ntikijye munsi ya kimwe cya kabiri cy’igihano gito giteganyirijwe icyaha cyakozwe”; ….(d) igihano cy’ihazabu gishobora kugabanywa kugeza kuri kimwe cya kane cy’igihano cy’ihazabu gito giteganyirijwe icyaha cyakozwe…..” [14] Ibijyanye no kwemera icyaha gushobora gushingirwaho uregwa agabanyirizwa igihano byatanzweho umurongo mu rubanza RPA 00060/2021/CA rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 04/04/2022 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Nsabimana Callixte Alias Sankara n’abandi, aho rwasobanuye ko “ukwemera icyaha kugira agaciro gashobora gutuma uregwa agabanyirizwa igihano iyo gukozwe byibura mbere y’uko iburanisha ku rwego rwa mbere ripfundikirwa, kudashidikanywaho, kuba uwemera agaragaza ko yumva uburemere bw’ibikorwa yemera n’ingaruka zabyo,….”1. Uyu murongo kandi waje ushimangira ibyari byaremejwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga mu rubanza RPA 0343/10/CS2 rwaciwe ku wa 27/02/2015 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Mpiranya Boniface (igika cya 13).

Wanakomeje gushingirwaho mu manza zaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire, mu ziheruka gucibwa harimo nk’urubanza RPAA 00234/2024/CA rwaciwe ku wa 20/01/2025 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Hatungimana Jean Claude & Rucogoza Donath (ibika bya 26-27), n’urubanza RPAA 00312/2023/CA rwaciwe ku wa 18/03/2025 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Biziyaremye Faustin (igika cya 22). [15] Ku birebana n’uru rubanza, dosiye igaragaza ko mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Muhanga no mu Rukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Nyanza Twizerane Alphonse yaburanye avuga ko icyaha ashinjwa cyo gukubita Nyirampumbya Généreuse bikamuviramo urupfu atacyemera, ariko izo nkiko zombi zishingiye ku bimenyetso bitandukanye byatanzwe n’Ubushinjacyaha (byavuzwe haruguru mu gika cya 4 cy’uru rubanza) zemeza ko icyo cyaha kimuhama; kuba rero kuri uru rwego rw’ubujurire bwa kabiri yarajuriye avuga ko noneho aje kucyemera bikaba bitamubera impamvu yashingirwaho agabanyirizwa igihano hashingiwe ku murongo wagaragajwe mu gika kibanziriza iki, kuko atigeze acyemera ku buryo budashidikanywaho mbere y’uko iburanisha ku rwego rwa mbere ripfundikirwa; bityo ubujurire bwe kuri iyi ngigo bukaba nta shingiro bufite. [16] Urukiko rurasanga ariko nta kirubuza gusuzuma niba igihano yahanishijwe gihuye n’uburemere bw’icyaha yahamijwe, hashingiwe ku murongo watanzwe mu rubanza RPAA 00039/2021/CA rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 02/07/2021 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Shakabatenda Jean de Dieu, aho rwasobanuye ko “Ntacyabuza Urukiko kugabanyiriza igihano uregwa, hagamije gutanga igihano gihwanye n’uburemere bw’icyaha kabone n’ubwo impamvu z’ubujurire zaba zitahawe ishingiro.”

1 Reba igika cya 136 cy’urubanza Nº RPA 00060/2021/CA rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 04/04/2022 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na NSABIMANA Callixte alias Sankara n’abandi. 2 Muri urwo rubanza Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rwasobanuye ko ukwemera icyaha gushobora kugirira inyungu uwagukoze ku buryo ashobora kugabanyirizwa igihano yari guhabwa, ari ugukozwe ku buryo budashidikanywaho, ntacyo ashaka gukinga Urukiko cyangwa ngo agire icyo agoreka ku bwende.

Page 5

[17] Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rurasanga hatirengagijwe ko icyaha Twizerane Alphonse yakoze kiremereye kuko yakubise umuntu bikamuvutsa ubuzima, kuba nta kindi cyaha yahamijwe n’inkiko mu buryo buzwi byamubera impamvu nyoroshyacyaha, agahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 12 n’ihazabu ingana na 3.000.000 FRW hashingiwe ku biteganywa mu ngingo ya 2 y’Itegeko Nº 059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 ryavuzwe haruguru. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [18] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwa Twizerane Alphonse nta shingiro bufite. [19] Rwemeje ko urubanza RPA 00902/2020/HC/NYZ rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Nyanza ku wa 31/01/2024 ruhindutse gusa ku bijyanye n’igihano Twizerane Alphonse ahanishijwe. [20] Ruhanishije Twizerane Alphonse igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’ibiri (12) n’ihazabu ingana n’amafaranga y’u Rwanda miliyoni eshatu (3.000.000 FRW). [21] Rutegetse ko Twizerane Alphonse asonewe amagarama y’urubanza kuko aburana afunze.

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Authorities

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RPA 0343/10/CS

Case cited

RPA 00060/2021/CA

Case cited

RPAA 00039/2021/CA

Case cited

RPAA 00234/2024/CA

Case cited

RPAA 00312/2023/CA

Case cited

Law Nº 059/2023 of 04/12/2023 amending Law Nº 68/2018 of 30/08/2018 on offences and penalties, Article 2

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