UBUSHINJACYAHA v. MBYARIYEHE N’UNDI
The Court held that the sentences of 15 years’ imprisonment and a fine of 5,000,000 Frw imposed by the High Court were already the minimum possible for the offences proved, and therefore could not be further reduced or отменed on the basis of mitigating circumstances.
Source-derived case information.
- Parties
- Appellant/respondent: Ubushinjacyaha; Appellant/respondent: Mbyariyehe Modeste; Appellant/respondent: Nagaba Liliane
- Jurisdiction
- Rwanda
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Appeal From the High Court, Rwamagana Chamber
- Outcome
- Appeal dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Drug Offences, Cannabis, Sentencing, Mitigating Circumstances, Appeal
- Source Language
- rw
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Ubushinjacyaha
Appellant/respondent
Mbyariyehe Modeste
Appellant/respondent
Nagaba Liliane
Appellant/respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Appeal From the High Court, Rwamagana Chamber
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the appellants could be granted a further reduction of sentence below the minimum provided by law on grounds of mitigating circumstances.
- 2 Whether the fine imposed could be reduced below the statutory minimum applicable to the offence.
Ratio Decidendi
The Court held that the sentences of 15 years’ imprisonment and a fine of 5,000,000 Frw imposed by the High Court were already the minimum possible for the offences proved, and therefore could not be further reduced or отменed on the basis of mitigating circumstances.
Court Disposition
Appeal dismissed
Orders
- The appeal by Mbyariyehe Modeste and Nagaba Liliane is dismissed as unfounded.
- The judgment RPA00660/2021/HC/RWG of the High Court, Rwamagana Chamber, dated 27/03/2024, is upheld.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
4 paragraphs
UBUSHINJACYAHA v. MBYARIYEHE N’UNDI [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’UBUJURIRE – RPAA00242/2024/CA-CMB RPAA00270/2024/CA (Nyirandabaruta, J.) 26 Gashyantare 2026] Amategeko agenga imanza nshinjabyaha – Igabanyagihano – Icyaha gihanishwa igifungo cya burundu ntigishobora kugabanyirizwa igihano hashingiwe ku mpamvu nyoroshyacyaha ku buryo kijya munsi y’igifungo cy’imyaka 15; kandi n’ihazabu iteganyijwe ntishobora kugabanywa ngo ibe yajya munsi ya kimwe cya kane cy’ihazabu nto iteganyirijwe icyaha cyakozwe. Incamake y’ikibazo: Mbyariyehe yafatanywe ibiti 4 by’urumogi yari yarahinze mu ifamu hamwe n’udupfunyika 21, avuga ko arirwo acuruza aruranguriye Nagaba bita Ruth nawe bamusangana udupfunyika 130 tw’urumogi avuga ko arucuruza aruzaniwe n’uwitwa Gakuba. Ubushinjacyaha bwabareze mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyagatare, Mbyariyehe akurikiranyweho icyaha cyo guhinga no gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge by’urumogi, naho Nagaba icyaha cyo gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge by’urumogi, bahamwa n’ibyo byaha, Urukiko rubahanisha buri wese igifungo cy’imyaka 25 n’ihazabu ya 21.000.000 Frw. Abaregwa bombi bajuririye Urukiko Rukuru, urugereko rwa Rwamagana, narwo rubahamya ibyaha baregwa, ariko mu kubahana rubagabanyiriza ibihano rushingiye ku mpamvu nyoroshyacyaha, maze buri wese ahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw. Abaregwa bongeye kujuririra uru Rukiko rw’Ubujurire, Mbyariyehe asaba kongera kugabanyirizwa igihano ngo kuko yemera icyaha, acyicuza, agisabira imbabazi kandi ko yamaze kugororoka, maze agahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 5 kugira ngo asubire mu rugo kurera abana be bavuye mu ishuri. Asobanura ko umucamanza afite uburenganzira bwo kugabanya igihano kugeza ku kiri munsi y’icyo Itegeko riteganya, nk’uko byatanzweho umurongo mu rubanza RS/INCONST/SPEC00003/2019/SC rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga. Mu bujurire bwe, Nagaba nawe asaba kongera kugabanyirizwa igihano, agahabwa igihano gito gishoboka, kandi akanakurirwaho ihazabu, akagira amahirwe n’umwanya wo kwikosora. kuko yemera icyaha, acyicuza, agisabira imbabazi kandi ko yamaze kugororoka. Muri uru rubanza, Ubushinjacyaha buvuga ko ubujurire bw’Abaregwa nta shingiro bufite, kuko igihano bahawe aricyo gihano gito giteganywa n’Itegeko ku byaha baregwa, bityo ko batakongera kugabanyirizwa. Incamake y’icyemezo: Icyaha gihanishwa igifungo cya burundu ntigishobora kugabanyirizwa igihano hashingiwe ku mpamvu nyoroshyacyaha ku buryo kijya munsi y’igifungo cy’imyaka 15; kandi n’ihazabu iteganyijwe ntishobora kugabanywa ngo ibe yajya munsi ya kimwe cya kane cy’ihazabu nto iteganyirijwe icyaha cyakozwe. Ubujurire nta shingiro bufite. 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. Imanza zifashishijwe: RS/INCONST/SPEC00003/2019/SC, Re Kabasinga rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 04/12/2019. RPAA00688/2024/CA, Ubushinjacyaha v. Bazizane Rosette, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 18/11/2025.
RPAA01273/2024/CA, Ubushinjacyaha v. Ndikubwimana Jean Damascene, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 18/07/2025. RPAA00769/2024/CA, Ubushinjacyaha v. Bizabarimana Cléophas rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 27/05/2025. RPAA00538/2024/CA, 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 ku wa 26/05/2022. RPAA00406/2020/CA, Ubushinjacyaha v. Nahayo Ignace rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 22/10/2021. Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Ku wa 14/04/2021 Mbyariyehe Modeste yafashwe yarahinze ibiti 4 by’urumogi mu ifamu akoramo iherereye mu Mudugudu wa Kamigiri, Akagari ka Kamigiri, Umurenge wa Nyagatare, Akarere ka Nyagatare, Intara y’Iburasirazuba. Yafatanwe kandi udupfunyika 21 tw’urumogi, avuga ko ari urwo acuruza, arurangura kwa Nagaba Liliane bita Ruth, ajya kumwerekana nawe bamusangana udupfunyika 130 tw’urumogi, ababwira ko aruzanirwa n’uwitwa Gakuba, ko amaze amezi ane (4) arucuruza. [2] Ubushinjacyaha bwareze Mbyariyehe Modeste na Nagaba Liliane mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyagatare bukurikiranye kuri Mbyariyehe Modeste icyaha cyo guhinga no gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge by’urumogi no kuri Nagaba Liliane icyaha cyo gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge by’urumogi. [3] Urwo Rukiko rubanza rwaciwe urubanza RP00529/2021/TGI/NYG ku wa 18/05/2021, rwemeza ko Mbyariyehe Modeste na Nagaba Liliane bahamwa n’ibyo byaha, rubahanisha buri wese igifungo cy’imyaka 25 n’ihazabu ya 21.000.000Frw. [4] Bombi bajuririye Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Rwamagana mu rubanza RPA00660/2021/HC/RWG rwaciwe ku wa 27/03/2024, narwo rubahamya ibyaha baregwa, ariko rushingiye ko baraburanye bemera ibyaha baregwa, kuba aribwo bwa mbere bakurikiranweho icyaha no ku ngano y’urumogi bafatanwe, rwabagabanyirije igihano ruhanisha buri wese igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw. [5] Bongeye kujuririra Urukiko rw’Ubujurire, ubujurire bwabo bwandikwa kuri RPAA00242/2024/CA- CMB RPAA00270/2024/CA, urubanza ruburanishwa ku wa 23/02/2026, Mbyariyehe Modeste yunganiwe na Me Sebazungu Cathérine; Nagaba Liliane yunganiwe na Me Remezo Bisamaza naho Ubushinjacyaha buhagarariwe na Sibomana, Umushinjacyaha ku rwego rw’Igihugu. [6] Mu myanzuro y’ubujurire no mu miburanire ye Mbyariyehe Modeste avuga ko yemera icyaha, acyicuza, agisabira imbabazi kandi ko yamaze kugororoka. Asaba kongera kugabanyirizwa igihano kuko nta gihano ntayegayezwa, ko igihano cyose gishobora kugabanywa nk’uko byatanzweho murongo mu rubanza RS/INCONST/SPEC00003/2019/SC rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 04/12/2019 rwemeje ko umucamanza afite uburenganzira bwo kuganya igihano kugeza ku kiri munsi Itegeko riteganya. Asaba ko yahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 5 agasubira mu rugo rwe kurera abana be kuko bataye ishuri. [7] Umwunganira avuga ko igihano Mbyariyehe Modeste yahanishijwe n’Urukiko Rukuru ari cyo gito itegeko riteganya kikaba gikurikije amategeko. [8] Mu myanzuro y’ubujurire bwa Nagaba Liliane no mu miburanire ye n’umwunganira bavuga ko yemera icyaha, acyicuza, agisabira imbabazi kandi ko yamaze kugororoka, bityo bagasaba uru Rukiko
kongera kumugabanyirizwa igihano nk’uko byatanzweho umurongo mu rubanza RPAA00406/2020/CA rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 22/10/2021, haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Nahayo Ignace, Nagaba Liliane nawe agahabwa igihano gito gishoboka kandi akanakurirwaho ihazabu, akagira amahirwe n’umwanya wo kwikosora. [9] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko igihano Mbyariyehe Modeste na Nagaba Liliane bahawe aricyo gito gishoboka, hakurikijwe 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 rusange1, bityo ko ubujurire bwabo nta shingiro bufite. UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [10] Ikibazo cyo kugabanya igihano kubera impamvu nyoroshyacyaha mu gihe igihano cyatanzwe aricyo gito gishoboka, cyatanzweho umurongo mu rubanza RPAA00538/2024/CA rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 21/01/2025 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Cyuzuzo Jean Claude. Muri urwo rubanza Cyuzuzo Jean Claude wahanishijwe n’Urukiko Rukuru igihano igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5,000,000Frw kubera icyaha cyamuhamye cyo gucuruza iby’urumogi; yajuririye Urukiko rw’Ubujurire asaba kongera kugabanyirizwa igihano. Uru Rukiko rwemeje (mu gika cya 12 cy’urwo rubanza) ko mu manza zitandukanye zaciwe ku bahamijwe icyaha cyo gucuruza urumogi bahanishijwe n’Urukiko Rukuru igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw hashingiwe ku mpamvu nyoroshyacyaha, bakajurira basaba kongera kugabanyirizwa igihano, uru Rukiko rwifashishije ibyemejwe mu rubanza RPAA00048/2020/CA rwaciye ku wa 26/05/2022 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Bimenyimana Jean Paul2, rwemeje ko imanza zose zaciwe mbere y’uko Itegeko Nº 59/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 rihindura ingingo ya 60 y’Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange yateganyaga uburyo bwo kugabanya ibihano risohoka, zitagikoreshwa, maze rwemeza ko icyaha gihanishwa igifungo cya burundu kidashobora kugabanyirizwa igihano hashingiwe ku mpamvu nyoroshyacyaha ku buryo kijya munsi y’igifungo cy’imyaka 15; kandi ko n’ihazabu iteganyijwe idashobora kugabanywa ngo ibe yajya munsi ya kimwe cya kane cy’ihazabu nto iteganyirijwe icyaha. Uyu murongo wakoreshejwe mu zindi manza nyinshi zaciwe n’uru Rukiko3. [11] Kubera izo mpamvu, uru Rukiko rurasanga urubanza RS/INCONST/SPEC00003/2019/SC rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 04/12/2019 n’urubanza RPAA00406/2020/CA rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 22/10/2021, Mbyariyehe Modeste n’umwunganizi we bashingiraho basaba ko agabanyirizwa igihano kugeza munsi y’igihano gito giteganywa n’itegeko, izo manza zose zitagikoreshwa kuko zinyuranya n’ibiteganywa n’Itegeko Nº 59/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, mu ngingo yaryo ya 2. [12] Rurasanga rero ubujurire bwa Mbyariyehe Modeste na Nagaba Liliane nta shingiro bufite kubera ko igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw, bahanishijwe n’Urukiko Rukuru aricyo gito gishoboka ku byaha bahamijwe, bityo icyo gihano kikaba kidashobora kongera kugabanywa ndetse n’ihazabu baciwe ikaba idashobora kuvanwaho. 1 Ingingo ya 2, (a) na (d) y’Itegeko Nº 59/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 rihindura ingingo ya 60 y’Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, iteganya ko “(a) Iyo umucamanza yemeje impamvu nyoroshyacyaha, igifungo cya burundu gishobora kugabanywa ariko ntikijye munsi y’igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 15”. Iyi ngingo agace ka (d) iteganya ko igihano cy’ihazabu gishobora kugabanywa kugeza kuri kimwe cya kane cy’igihano cy’ihazabu gito giteganyirijwe icyaha cyakozwe. 2 Uru rubanza mu gika cyarwo cya 26 rwasobanuye ibijyanye n’uko Umurongo wari uriho udashobora gukurikizwa mu gihe itegeko wari ushingiyeho ryavuyeho cyangwa ryahinduwe. 3 Urugero: Urubanza RPAA00769/2024/CA, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 27/05/2025, haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Bizabarimana Cléophas (igika cya 30); urubanza RPAA01273/2024/CA, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 18/07/2025, Ubushinjacyaha buburana na Ndikubwimana Jean Damascene (igika cya 10); urubanza RPAA00688/2024/CA, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 18/11/2025, haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Bazizane Rosette (igika cya 15) n’izindi.
III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [13] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwa Mbyariyehe Modeste na Nagaba Liliane nta shingiro bufite. [14] Rwemeje ko nta gihindutse ku mikirize y’urubanza RPA00660/2021/HC/RWG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Rwamagana ku wa 27/03/2024. [15] Rutegetse ko igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka icumi n’itanu (15) n’ihazabu ya miliyoni eshanu (5.000.000Frw) Mbyariyehe Modeste na Nagaba Liliane bahanishijwe kuri buri wese kigumyeho.