UBUSHINJACYAHA v. HABAMUNGU N’UNDI
Habamungu's sentence could not be reduced further because the High Court had already imposed the minimum sentence allowed by law after mitigating circumstances were accepted. Nziragira's first admission of guilt during the second appeal did not entitle him to benefit on that basis, but the court exercised its power...
Source-derived case information.
- Parties
- Appellant/respondent: Ubushinjacyaha; Appellant/respondent: Habamungu Jean Marie Vianney; Appellant/respondent: Nziragira Providence
- Jurisdiction
- Rwanda
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Second Appeal
- Outcome
- Appeal upheld in part; judgment varied only as to Nziragira Providence's sentence.
- Legal Topics
- Drug Trafficking, Sentence Reduction, Mitigating Circumstances, Acceptance of Guilt, Appeal Against Sentence
- Source Language
- rw
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Ubushinjacyaha
Appellant/respondent
Habamungu Jean Marie Vianney
Appellant/respondent
Nziragira Providence
Appellant/respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Second Appeal
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether Habamungu Jean Marie Vianney could obtain a further reduction of sentence where the High Court sentence was already the minimum allowed by law after mitigating circumstances were found.
- 2 Whether Nziragira Providence could benefit from acceptance of guilt first raised during the second appeal.
- 3 Whether the appellate court could reduce Nziragira Providence's sentence to align punishment with the gravity of the offence even though the appeal grounds were not fully upheld.
Ratio Decidendi
Habamungu's sentence could not be reduced further because the High Court had already imposed the minimum sentence allowed by law after mitigating circumstances were accepted. Nziragira's first admission of guilt during the second appeal did not entitle him to benefit on that basis, but the court exercised its power to adjust the sentence to better reflect the gravity of the offence and his personal circumstances, reducing the imprisonment term from 17 to 16 years while maintaining the fine at 5,000,000 Frw.
Court Disposition
Appeal upheld in part; judgment varied only as to Nziragira Providence's sentence.
Orders
- Habamungu Jean Marie Vianney remains sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment and a fine of 5,000,000 Frw.
- Nziragira Providence is sentenced to 16 years' imprisonment and a fine of 5,000,000 Frw.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
5 paragraphs
UBUSHINJACYAHA v. HABAMUNGU N’UNDI [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’UBUJURIRE – RPAA00343/2024/CA -CMB RPAA00372/2024/CA (Kaliwabo, J. P.) 19 Gashyantare 2026] Amategeko agenga imanza nshinjabyaha – Igabanyagihano – Iyo hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha zemejwe n’umucamanza, icyaha gihanishwa igihano cy’igifungo cya burundu n’ihazabu, icyo gihano gishobora kugabanywa ariko ntikijye munsi y’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) n’ihazabu ikaba yagabanywa ariko ntijye munsi ya kimwe cya kane cy’ihazabu nto iteganyirijwe icyaha cyakozwe. Amategeko agenga imanza nshinjabyaha – Impamvu nyoroshyacyaha – Ukwemera icyaha – Ukwemera icyaha gushobora kugirira ushinjwa akamaro ni ugukozwe nibura igihe iburanisha ku rwego rwa mbere ritarapfundikirwa. Amategeko agenga imanza nshinjabyaha – Igabanyagihano – Urukiko rushobora kugabanyiriza ushinjwa ibihano hagamijwe guhuza uburemere bw’icyaha n’ibihano byatanzwe, kabone n’iyo impamvu z’ubujurire zaba zitahawe ishingiro. Incamake y’ikibazo: Habamungu na Nziragira bakurikiranweho icyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge bihambaye byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi, baregwa mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Musanze rubahamya icyo cyaha, Habamungu ahanshwa igifungo cy’imyaka 20 naho Nziragira ahabwa icy’imyaka 25 kuko yaburanye ahakana icyaha, ariko bose bacibwa ihazabu ya 15.000.000Frw. Abaregwa bombi bajuririye mu Rukiko Rukuru narwo rubahamya icyo cyaha, ariko rubagabanyiriza ibihano aho Habamungu yahanishijwe igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw, naho Nziragira ahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 17 n’ihazabu ya 7.000.000Frw. Abaregwa bongeye kujuririra bwa kabiri muri uru Rukiko rw’Ubujurire, Habamungu asaba kongera kugabanyirizwa no gusubukirwa ibihano yahawe, ngo kuko yaburanye yemera icyaha akanagisabira imbabazi no kuba ari ubwa mbere yari aguye mu cyaha. Nziragira nawe yaje kuburana yemera icyaha avuga ko yahanirwa ubufatanyacyaha, agahanishwa igihano kiri munsi y’icyo yahawe kugeza ku gifungo cy’imyaka 5, ngo kuko atari asanzwe acuruza urumogi uretse akazi yari ahawe ko gutwaza Habamungu urumogi bari bajyaniye Nsanzumuhire wari wigize umuguzi. Muri uru rubanza Ubushinjacyaha bwasubije ubujurire bwa Habamungu buvuga ko ibyo asaba atabihabwa kuko ibihano yahanishijwe aribyo bihano bito ntarengwa biteganyirizwa icyaha ashinjwa. Kuri Nziragira buvuga ko yaburanye ahakana icyaha ashinjwa, ko kwemera icyaha bwa mbere mu bujurire bwa kabiri ntacyo byamumarira, dore ko ntacyo anenga urubanza ajuririra bityo nawe akaba agomba guhanishwa ibihano yahawe. Incamake y’icyemezo: Iyo hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha zemejwe n’umucamanza, icyaha gihanishwa igihano cy’igifungo cya burundu n’ihazabu, icyo gihano gishobora kugabanywa ariko ntikijye munsi y’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) n’ihazabu ikaba yagabanywa ariko ntijye munsi ya kimwe cya kane cy’ihazabu nto iteganyirijwe icyaha cyakozwe. 2. Ukwemera icyaha gushobora kugirira ushinjwa akamaro ni ugukozwe nibura igihe iburanisha ku rwego rwa mbere ritarapfundikirwa.
3. Urukiko rushobora kugabanyiriza ushinjwa ibihano hagamijwe guhuza uburemere bw’icyaha n’ibihano byatanzwe, kabone n’iyo impamvu z’ubujurire zaba zitahawe ishingiro. Ubujurire bufite ishingiro kuri bimwe. Urubanza rujuririrwa ruhindutse kuri bimwe. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko Nº 059/2023 ryo ku wa 4/12/2023 rihindura Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/8/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, ingingo 2. Itegeko Nº 69/2019 ryo kuwa 08/11/2019 rihindura ingingo ya 263 y’Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, ingingo ya 11. Imanza zifashishijwe: RPAA00623/2025/CA, Ubushinjacyaha v. Niragire Cyprien rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 6/2/2026. RPAA 01400/2024/CA, Ubushinjacyaha v. Twagirayezu Aimable rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 23/10/2025. RPAA00538/2024, Ubushinjacyaha v. Cyuzuzo Jean Claude rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 21/01/2025. RPAA00048/2020/CA, Ubushinjacyaha v. Bimenyimana Jean Paul rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 26/05/2022. RPAA00039/2021/CA, Ubushinjacyaha v. Shakabatenda rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 02/07/2021. Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Habamungu Jean Marie Vianney na Nziragira Providence bakurikiranweho kuba ku wa 09/08/2021 barakoze icyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge bihambaye byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi, baregerwa Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Musanze mu rubanza RP00943/2021/TGI/ MUS rwaciwe ku wa 04/11/2021. [2] Muri urwo rubanza Habamungu Jean Marie Vianney na Nziragira Providence bahamijwe icyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge bihambaye byo mu bwoko bw‘urumogi, Habamungu Jean Marie Vianney ahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 20 n’ihazabu ya 15.000.000Frw, naho Nziragira Providence waburanye ahakana ahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 25 n’ihazabu ya 15.000.000Frw. Aba bombi bajuririye Urukiko Rukuru, narwo rubahamya icyaha ariko rubagabanyiriza ibihano, ruhanisha Habamungu Jean Marie Vianney gufungwa imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw, naho Nziragira Providence ahanishwa gufungwa imyaka 17 n’ihazabu ya 7.000.000Frw. [3] Habamungu Jean Marie Vianney na Nziragira Providence bajuririye Urukiko rw’Ubujurire, ubujurire bwabo bwandikwa kuri RPAA00343/2024/CA - CMB RPAA00372/2024/CA, iburanishwa riba ku wa 11/2/2026, Habamungu Jean Marie Vianney yitaba yunganiwe na Me Shema T. Gerard, Nziragira Providence yunganiwe Me Mukansanga Amina Gisèle naho Ubushinjacyaha buhagarariwe na Dr Bideri Diogène.
[4] Mu mwanzuro w’ubujurire no mu miburanire ye, Habamungu Jean Marie Vianney nta kindi yasabye uretse kongera kugabanyirizwa igihano no kugisubikirwa kuko yaburanye yemera icyaha akanagisabira imbabazi no kuba ari ubwa mbere yari aguye mu cyaha. Me Shema T. Gerard avuga ko, nubwo igihano Habamungu yahanishijwe gikabije nyamara kandi nicyo gito giteganywa n’itegeko ku cyaha Habamungu ashinjwa, avuga ko ku bindi abihariye ubushishozi bw’Urukiko. [5] Mu mwanzuro w’ubujurire Nziragira Providence yavuze ko ibiyobyabwenge yafatanwe ari ibya Habamungu wamutumye kubishyira umuguzi kandi ko yafashwe kubera ko Habamungu yari azwiho kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge. Mu iburanisha ryo ku wa 11/02/2026, Nziragira yaburanye yemera icyaha anagisabira imbabazi, avuga ko byari inshuro ya 3 atwaza Habamungu urumogi rwo kugurisha, ko nawe adahakana ko ari umufatanyacyaha, asaba kugabanyirizwa ibihano kugeza ku gifungo cy’imyaka 5 kuko atari asanzwe acuruza urumogi uretse akazi yari ahawe ko gutwaza Habamungu urumogi bari bajyaniye Nsanzumuhire wari wigize umuguzi. [6] Me Munyansanga Amina Gisèle avuga ko kuri ubu Nziragira yemera icyaha ashinjwa, ko yagabanyirizwa ibihano hakurikijwe ingingo ya 2 (a) y’Itegeko Nº 059/2023 ryo ku wa 4/12/2023 rihindura Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/8/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange. [7] Ubushinjacyaha bwasubije ingingo y’ubujurire bwa Habamungu buvuga ko igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw yahanishijwe aribyo bihano bito ntarengwa biteganyirizwa icyaha ashinjwa, bityo ko nta rindi gabanya gihano rishoboka kubimureba. [8] Ku birebana na Nziragira, Ubushinjacyaha buvuga ko yahisemo kuburana ahakana icyaha cyamaze gutangirwa ibimenyetso, ko kwemera icyaha bwa mbere mu bujurire bwa kabiri bivuze ko ntacyo anenga urubanza rwajuririwe bityo nawe akaba agomba guhamishwa ku bihano yahawe. UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA A. Ku birebana na Habamungu [9] Ikibazo cyo kugabanya igihano kubera impamvu nyoroshyacyaha mu gihe igihano cyatanzwe aricyo gito gishoboka, cyatanzweho umurongo mu rubanza RPAA00538/2024 rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 21/01/2025 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Cyuzuzo Jean Claude, aho rwemeje ko, iyo hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha zemejwe n’umucamanza icyaha gihanishwa igihano cy’igifungo cya burundu n’ihazabu, icyo gihano gishobora kugabanywa ariko ntikijye munsi y’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) n’ihazabu ikaba yagabanywa ariko ntijye munsi ya kimwe cya kane cy’ihazabu nto iteganyirijwe icyaha cyakozwe; uyu murongo ukaba ushingiye ku ngingo 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. Uyu murongo niwo wakomeje gukurikizwa mu manza zaciwe n’uru Rukiko, rumwe mu ziheruka akaba ari urubanza RPAA00623/2025/CA1. [10] Kubera izo mpamvu, uru Rukiko rurasanga ubujurire bwa Habamungu Jean Marie Vianney nta shingiro bufite kuko igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw yahawe n’Urukiko Rukuru aricyo gito gishoboka ku cyaha yahamijwe, bityo kikaba kidashobora kongera kugabanywa. 1 RPAA00623/2025/CA rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire kuwa 6/2/2026 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Niragire Cyprien.
B. Ku birebana na Nziragira [11] Ku kibazo cyo kumenya agaciro gahabwa ingingo yo kwemera icyaha bwa mbere mu bujurire, uru Rukiko rwagitanzeho umurongo mu rubanza RPAA00048/2020/CA rw’Ubushinjacyaha na Bimenyimana Jean Paul rwaciwe ku wa 26/05/2022, aho rwemeje ko ukwemera icyaha gushobora kugirira ushinjwa akamaro ari ugukozwe nibura igihe iburanisha ku rwego rwa mbere ritarapfundikirwa2; bityo Nziragira waburanye mu nzego zibanza ahakana icyaha, akaba adashobora gushingira ku ngingo yo kwemera icyaha akoreye bwa mbere mu bujurire bwa kabiri, asaba kugabanyirizwa ibihano. [12] Nubwo ingingo yo kwemera icyaha bwa mbere mu bujurire nta shingiro ihawe, nyamara kandi, ntacyabuza Urukiko gusuzuma ubusabe bwa Nziragira bwo kugabanyirizwa ibihano, nk’uko byatanzweho umurongo n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire mu rubanza RPAA 00039/2021/CA rwaciwe ku wa 02/07/2021 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Shakabatenda, aho rwemeje ko Urukiko rushobora kugabanyiriza ushinjwa ibihano hagamijwe guhuza uburemere bw’icyaha n’ibihano byatanzwe, kabone n’iyo impamvu z’ubujurire zaba zitahawe ishingiro. [13] Urukiko rurasanga, mu rubanza RPAA01400/2024/CA rwaciwe ku wa 23/10/2025, rusa n’urwo Nziragira aburana, uru Rukiko rwaragabanyirije ibihano uwitwa Twagirayezu Aimable wahamwe no kugurisha udupfunyika 83 tw’urumogi, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 16 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw mu mwanya w’igifungo cy’imyaka 17 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw, ibi rukaba rwarabishingiye ku ngano ntoya y’ibiyobyabwenge yafatanwe no kuba ari ubwa mbere aguye mu cyaha. [14] Rurasanga, ibihano bivuzwe mu gika kibanziriza iki aribyo Nziragira nawe akwiye guhanishwa kuko nawe ahamwa no kugurisha ingano ntoya y’ibiyobyabwenge (udupfunyika 70 tw’urumogi) kandi bikaba ari ubwa mbere akurikiranywe mu nkiko ku buryo buzwi. Rurasanga Nziragira atagomba guhanishwa ibihano bito ntarengwa3 biteganyirizwa icyaha ashinjwa nk’uko byakorewe Habamungu bashinjwa hamwe, kuko Urukiko rushyira mu gaciro amahitamo ya Nziragira yo kuburana ahakana icyaha cyamaze gutangirwa ibimenyetso ndetse nawe kuri ubu yemera. II. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [15] Rwemeje ko imikirize y’urubanza RPA00029/2022/HC/MUS rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Musanze ku wa 29/04/2024, ihindutse gusa ku birebana n’ibihano Nziragira Providence yahanishijwe. [16] Rutegetse ko Habamungu Jean Marie Vianney ahamishwa ku gifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu y’amafaranga 5.000.000 kubw’icyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge bihambaye yahamijwe. 2 Reba igika cya 24 cy’urubanza RPAA00048/2020/CA rwaciwe ku wa 26/05/2022 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Bimenyimana Jean Paul. 3 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, iteganya ko mu gihe umucamanza amaze kwemeza impamvu nyoroshayacyaha, ashobora kugabanyiriza ibihano uwakoze icyaha (a) igifungo cya burundu kikaba gishobora kugabanywa ariko ntikijye munsi y’igifungo cy’imyaka 15, (d) naho ihazabu ikaba ishobora kugabanywa ariko ntijye munsi ya ¼ cy’ihazabu ntoya iteganyirijwe icyaha cyakozwe.
[17] Rutegetse ko Nziragira Providence ahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 16 n’ihazabu y’amafaranga 5.000.000 ku bw’icyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge bihambaye yahamijwe.