UBUSHINJACYAHA v NKUNDIMANA
The Court held that the sentence imposed by the High Court (15 years imprisonment and a fine of 2,000,000 Frw) is the minimum allowed by the current law for the crime of drug trafficking, and cannot be further reduced, regardless of mitigating circumstances. Previous precedents cited by the respondent are not...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- RPAA 01188/2024/CA
- Parties
- Applicant: Ubushinjacyaha; Respondent: Nkundimana Epimaque
- Court
- Court of Appeal
- Jurisdiction
- Rwanda
- Judgment Date
- 15 December 2025
- Case Number
- RPAA 01188/2024/CA
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Final Appellate Judgment
- Outcome
- appeal dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Drug Trafficking, Sentencing, Mitigation, Appeal Procedure
- Source Language
- rw
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Ubushinjacyaha
Applicant
Nkundimana Epimaque
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Final Appellate Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the sentence imposed on Nkundimana Epimaque can be further reduced below the statutory minimum due to mitigating circumstances
Ratio Decidendi
The Court held that the sentence imposed by the High Court (15 years imprisonment and a fine of 2,000,000 Frw) is the minimum allowed by the current law for the crime of drug trafficking, and cannot be further reduced, regardless of mitigating circumstances. Previous precedents cited by the respondent are not applicable due to legislative changes.
Court Disposition
appeal dismissed
Orders
- The judgment of the High Court (RPA 01345/2021/HC/KIG) is upheld.
- The sentence of 15 years imprisonment and a fine of 2,000,000 Frw remains.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
26 paragraphs
# UBUSHINJACYAHA v NKUNDIMANA
- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2025-12-15 - Case/document no.: RPAA 01188/2024/CA - Collection: Court of Appeal
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UBUSHINJACYAHA v NKUNDIMANA [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’UBUJURIRE - RPAA 01188/2024/CA (Nyirandabaruta, P.J.) 15 Ukuboza 2025] Amategeko agenga imiburanishirize y’imanza - Imanza z’inshinjabyaha - Ikoreshwa ry’imirongo – Ihinduka ry’itegeko - Umurongo wari uriho ntushobora gukurikizwa mu gihe itegeko wari ushingiyeho ryavuyeho cyangwa ryahinduwe. Amategeko agenga imanza z’inshinjabyaha – 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. Incamake y’ikibazo: Nkundimana yafashwe n’abapolisi agiye kugurisha ikilo (1kg) cy’urumogi, hanyuma bajya iwe naho bahasanga udupfunyika twarwo 100. Abajijwe yemeye ko arucuruza, Ubushinjacyaha bumurega mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge icyaha cyo gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi. Urukiko rwasanze uregwa ahamwa n’icyaha aregwa rumuhanisha igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 25 n’ihazabu ya 20.000.000 Frw. Uregwa yajuririye icyo cyemzo mu Rukiko Rukuru asaba kugabanyrizwa igihano kuko yemera icyaha, Urukiko Rukuru rumugabanyiriza igihano, ahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000 Frw. Abonye atanyuzwe, uregwa yongeye kujuririra icyo cyemezo mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire asaba kongera kugabanyirizwa igihano, urukiko rusuma ikibazo cyo kumenya niba yakongera kugabanyirizwa igihano. Nkundimana asobanura ko atigeze agora ubutabera kuko yemera icyaha yakoze kandi akagisabira imbabazi, akabiheraho asaba ko yagabanyirizwa igihano agahabwa ikiri munsi y’icyo yahawe nk’uko byagiye bigenda mu manza zitandukanye zo hambere. Ubushinjacyaha buvuga ko uregwa atakongera kugabanyrizwa igihano kuko icyo yahawe ari cyo gito giteganywa n’itegeko. Bwongeraho ko imanza uregwa avuga zashingirwaho zitagikoreshwa kuko itegeko zari zishingiyeho ryahindutse. Incamake y’ikibazo: 1. Umurongo wari uriho ntushobora gukurikizwa mu gihe itegeko wari ushingiyeho ryavuyeho cyangwa ryahinduwe; 2. 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. Ubujurire, nta shingiro bufite. Nta mategeko yashingiweho:
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Imanza zifashishijwe: RPAA 00538/2024/CA, Ubushinjacyaha na Cyuzuzo Jean Claude rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 21/01/2025; RPAA 00048/2020/CA, Ubushinjacyaha na Bimenyimana Jean Paul, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 26/05/2022; RPAA 00769/2024/CA, Ubushinjacyaha na Bizabarimana Cléophas, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 27/05/2025; RPAA 01273/2024/CA, Ubushinjacyaha na Ndikubwimana Jean Damascene, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 18/07/2025. Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA
[1] Ku wa 10/07/2021, Nkundimana Epimaque yafashwe n'itsinda ry’abapolisi rishinzwe kurwanya ibiyobyabwenge (ANU) bamufatana urumogi rungana n'ikiro (1kg) bajya iwe bahageze bamusangana “boules” (100). Ubushinjacyaha bwamuregeye Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge, ku cyaha cyo gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi, bumusabira igihano cy’igifungo cya burundu n’ihazabu ya 25.000.000 Frw. [2] Nkundimana Epimaque yaburanye avuga ko urumogi yafatanywe ari urw’umugabo witwa Fils yari atwaye kuri moto, ko rwari mu gakapu kikubita hasi ahita yiruka abapolisi aba ariwe bafata, ko ibyo yemeye mbere yabyemejwe n’inkoni n’igitutu yashyizweho. [3] Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge rwaciye urubanza No RP 01034/2021/TGI/NYGE ku wa 20/08/2021, ruhamya Nkundimana Epimaque icyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi, rushingiye ku mvugo z’abatangabuhamya barimo Batamuriza Alphonsine wavuze ko ari umuturanyi wa Nkundimana, ko abapolisi na RIB bagiye mu nzu ya Nkundimana bagasangamo urumogi rufunze mu masashi rungana n’ikilo; iy’umutangabuhamya witwa NDABIKUNZE Jean de la Croix uvuga ko anywa urumogi, ko Nkundimana ari we urumugurisha, akaba yarakoreshejwe na polisi kugira ngo afatwe, ko yamutumye ikiro cy’urumogi arumuzaniye bahita bamufata; imvugo za Nkundimana Epimaque mu Bugenzacyaha no mu Bushinjacyaha yemera ko urumogi yafatanywe ari urwe ko asanzwe arucuruza; inyandikomvugo y’ifatira na raporo y’inzego z’ibanze yemeza ko urumogi rwafatiwe mu nzu kwa Nkundimana Epimaque; rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka makumyabiri n’itanu (25) n’ihazabu ya 20.000.000 Frw. [4] Nkundimana Epimaque yajuriye mu Rukiko Rukuru avuga ko yahawe ibihano birebire kandi yaremeraga icyaha; asobanura ko yishoye mu gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge kubera ko nyirakuru yari yararwaye Covid n’umugore we akaba yari yabyaye adafite ubushobozi bwo kumwitaho, asaba kugabanyirizwa igihano ndetse akanagisubikirwa akajya kwita kumuryango we. [5] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko Nkundimana Epimaque yagabanyirizwa igihano hashingiwe ku ngingo ya 2 y’Itegeko n° 59/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 rihindura Itegeko n°
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68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 rigena ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange1, agahabwa igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15). [6] Urukiko Rukuru rwaciye urubanza No RPA 01345/2021/HC/KIG ku wa 11/10/2024, rushingiye ku mpamvu y’uko ari ubwa mbere Nkundimana Epimaque akoze icyaha, kuba nta yindi raporo yigeze akorerwa igaragaza ko asanzwe agira ingeso mbi zo kwishora mu byaha no kuba ari umusore ukiri kubyiruka kandi ibiyobyabwenge yafatanywe bikaba byarafatiriwe bigatwikwa ntawe byagizeho ingaruka, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) n’ihazabu ya 2.000.000 Frw. [7] Nkundimana Epimaque yajuririye imikirize y’urwo rubanza mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire, urubanza ruhabwa No RPAA 01188/2024/CA, ruburanishwa mu ruhame ku wa 02/12/2025, Nkundimana Epimaque yunganiwe na Me Musasangohe Illuminée naho Ubushinjacyaha buhagarariwe na Rudatinya Nyangezi Gaspard, Umushinjacyaha ku rwego rw’Igihugu. [8] Mu myanzuro y’ubujurire bwe yo ku wa 01/11/2024 no mu miburanire ye, Nkundimana Epimaque avuga ko Urukiko Rukuru rwamugabanyirije igihano rukigeza ku gihano gito giteganywa n’Itegeko, ariko ko icyo gihano n’ubundi kikiri kirekire ugereranije n’icyaha yakoze, kandi ko nta gihano ntayegayezwa, asaba Urukiko rw’Ubujurire kumugabanyiriza igihano kugeza munsi y’icyo itegeko riteganya. [9] Avoka umwunganira avuga ko nk’uko yanabiganirije uwo yunganira, igihano Nkundimana Epimaque yahawe ari cyo gito giteganywa n’itegeko ko kubwe amategeko yubahirijwe. [10] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko nta handi Urukiko rwahera rumugabanyiriza kuko Urukiko Rukuru rwamugabanyirije rugeza ku gihano gito giteganywa n’Itegeko. [11] Urukiko rurasuzuma niba Nkundimana Epimaque yakongera kugabanyirizwa igihano.
II. ISESENGURA RY’IKIBAZO KIGIZE URUBANZA
Kumenya niba Nkundimana Epimaque yakongera kugabanyirizwa igihano.
[12] Nkundimana Epimaque avuga ko Urukiko Rukuru rwamugabanyirije igihano rukigeza ku gihano gito giteganywa n’Itegeko, ariko ko icyo gihano yahawe n’ubundi ari kirekire ugereranije n’icyaha yakoze, bikaba binyuranyije n’amahame avugwa mu ngingo ya 49 igika cya mbere y’Itegeko No 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 nk’uko ryahinduwe kugeza ubu kuko nta gihano ntayegayezwa kibaho.
1 iteganya ko: “Iyo umucamanza yemeje impamvu nyoroshyacyaha, ashobora kugabanya igihano ku buryo bukurikira: …;(a) igifungo cya burundu gishobora kugabanywa ariko ntikijye munsi y’igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 15.” … (d)igihano cy’ihazabu gishobora kugabanywa kugeza kuri kimwe cya kane cy’igihano cy’ihazabu gito giteganyirijwe icyaha cyakozwe
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[13] Nkundimana Epimaque asaba Urukiko rw’Ubujurire gushingira ku rubanza RS/REV/INJUST/PEN 00001/2017/CS rwaciwe ku wa 13/04/2017 n’urubanza RPAA 00012/2019/CA rw’Ubushinjacyaha na Lt. Mutabazi Joel na bagenzi be rukamugabanyiriza igihano kugeza munsi y’igihano gito Itegeko riteganya, ko muri izo manza hatanzwe umurongo uvuga ko akamaro k’igihano katareberwa gusa ku buremere bw’icyaha cyakozwe ahubwo hakwiye no kwitabwa ku nyungu za rubanda harimo n’uwahohotewe mu gukumira ko icyo cyaha cyazasubira hakanitabwa ku nyungu z’uregwa hagendewe ku mwihariko wa buri rubanza, bityo urukiko rukaba rwagabanyiriza uregwa igihano iyo rusanga kwemera igihano giteganywa n’itegeko cyangwa cyatanzwe n’urukiko rubanza byaba bitari mu nyungu z’ubutabera. [14] Me Musasangohe Illuminée wunganira Nkundimana Epimaque avuga ko igihano uyu yahawe aricyo gito giteganywa n’Itegeko kandi ko yabimuganirijeho, bityo ko we asanga amategeko yarubahirijwe. [15] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko Urukiko Rukuru rwagabanyirije Nkundimana Epimaque igihano rukigeza ku gihano gito giteganywa n’Itegeko, ko rero ntaho Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwahera rwongera kumugabanyiriza.
UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA
[16] Impaka muri uru rubanza zijyanye no kumenya niba igihano Nkundimana Epimaque yahawe cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 2.000.000 Frw gishobora kugabanywa, agahabwa igihano kiri munsi y’igihano gito giteganywa n’Itegeko. [17] Ibyerekeranye no kongera kugabanyiriza igihano umuburanyi wahanishijwwe igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu, ku cyaha yahamijwe gihanishwa igifungo cya burundu n’ihazabu mu gihe hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha, byatanzweho umurongo mu rubanza Nº RPAA 00538/2024/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 5,000,000 Frw ku icyaha yahamijwe cyo gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge by’urumogi, yajuririye Urukiko rw’Ubujurire asaba kongera kugabanyirizwa igihano. Urukiko rw’Ubujurire 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 5.000.000 Frw hashingiwe ku mpamvu nyoroshyacyaha, bakajurira basaba kongera kugabanyirizwa igihano, uru Rukiko rwifashishije ibyemejwe mu rubanza nº RPAA 00048/2020/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
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.
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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. [18] Mu rubanza rujuririrwa (ibika bya 10, 11 na 12), Urukiko Rukuru rushingiye ku mpamvu y’uko ari ubwa mbere Nkundimana Epimaque akoze icyaha, kuba nta yindi raporo yigeze akorerwa igaragaza ko asanzwe agira ingeso yo kwishora mu byaha, kuba ari umusore ukibyiruka no kuba ibiyobyabwenge yafatanywe byarafatiriwe bigatwikwa bikaba ntawe byagizeho ingaruka, rushingiye kandi ku biteganywa mu ngingo ya 2 (a)4 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, rwamugabanyirije igihano igifungo cy’imyaka makumyabiri n’itanu (25) n’ihazabu ya 20.000.000 Frw yari yahawe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) n’ihazabu ya 2.000.000 Frw. [19] Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rushingiye ku murongo wavuzwe haruguru watanzwe mu rubanza Nº RPAA 00538/2024/CA rw’Ubushinjacyaha na Cyuzuzo Jean Claude wanatanzwe kubw’ibanze mu rubanza Nº RPAA 00048/2020/CA rwaciye ku wa 26/05/2022 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Bimenyimana Jean Paul nk’uko byagaragajwe haruguru, rurasanga urubanza No RS/REV/INJUST/PEN 00001/2017/CS rwaciwe ku wa 13/04/2017 n’urubanza No RPAA 00012/2019/CA rw’Ubushinjacyaha na Lt. Mutabazi Joel na bagenzi be Nkundimana Epimaque asaba uru Rukiko gushingiraho kugira ngo rumugabanyirize ibihano bityo rumuhe igihano kiri munsi y’igiteganywa n’itegeko, zaraciwe 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, zikaba zitagishingirwaho ahubwo hubahirizwa ibiteganywa n’iryo Tegeko rimze kuvugwa. [20] Rurasanga rero ibyo Nkundimana Epimaque yajuriye asaba uru Rukiko ko yakongera akagabanyirizwa igihano, nta shingiro bifite kuko igihano yahawe cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 15 kidashobora kongera kugabanywa kubera ko ari cyo gihano gito 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 riteganya kidashobora kujyibwa munsi, ndetse n’ihazabu ya 2.000.000Frw Urukiko Rukuru rwamutegetse kwishyura iri munsi ya ¼ cya 20.000.000 Frw iteganywa n’iryo Tegeko, yagombaga guhanishwa mu gihe hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha.
[21] Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rushingiye kuri ibyo bisobanuro rurasanga ubujurire bwa Nkundimana Epimaque nta shingiro bufite, hakaba hagomba kugumaho imikirize y’urubanza No RPAA 01345/2021/HC/KIG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru ku wa 11/10/2024.
3 Urugero: Urubanza Nº RPAA 00769/2024/CA, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 27/05/2025, haburana Ubushinjacyaha na BIZABARIMANA Cléophas (igika cya 30); Urubanza Nº RPAA 01273/2024/CA, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 18/07/2025, Ubushinjacyaha buburana na Ndikubwimana Jean Damascene (igika cya 10); n’izindi. 4 Ingingo ya 2, agace ka (a) 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 iyo umucamanza yemeje impamvu nyoroshyacyaha, ashobora kugabanya igihano, igifungo cya burundu kikaba gishobora kugabanywa ariko ntikijye munsi y’igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 15, n’agace ka (d) gateganya ko igihano cy’ihazabu gishobora kugabanywa kugeza kuri kimwe cya kane cy’igihano cy’ihazabu gito giteganyirijwe icyaha cyakozwe .
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III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO
[22] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwa Nkundimana Epimaque nta shingiro bufite; [23] Rwemeje ko imikirize y’urubanza No RPA 01345/2021/HC/KIG, rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru ku wa 11/10/2024, idahindutse, igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15 ans) n’ihazabu ya 2.000.000 Frw Nkundimana Epimaque yahanishijwe kigumyeho; [24] Ruvuze ko Nkundimana Epimaque asonewe amagarama y’urubanza kuko aburana afunze.