Re UMUTESI
The appellate court held that the lower courts properly imposed joint and several liability on Umutesi Placidie and Tesinga Company Ltd, allowing Ntwamarcelna Ltd to recover the full debt from either party. The court found no error or ambiguity in the original judgment requiring clarification, as the reasoning for...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- RSA/RECT/RCOM 00001/2023/CA
- Parties
- Appellant: Umutesi Placidie; Respondent: Tesinga Company Ltd; Interested Party: Ntwamarcelna Ltd
- Court
- Court of Appeal
- Jurisdiction
- Rwanda
- Judgment Date
- 24 March 2023
- Case Number
- RSA/RECT/RCOM 00001/2023/CA
- Procedural Posture
- Commercial Appeal / Final Appellate Judgment
- Outcome
- appeal dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Company Liability, Clarification of Judgment, Joint and Several Liability
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Umutesi Placidie
Appellant
Tesinga Company Ltd
Respondent
Ntwamarcelna Ltd
Interested Party
Procedural Posture
Commercial Appeal / Final Appellate Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the lower court erred in holding Umutesi Placidie and Tesinga Company Ltd jointly and severally liable for the debt to Ntwamarcelna Ltd without specifying individual shares
- 2 Whether the judgment required clarification regarding the apportionment of liability between the company and its director
Ratio Decidendi
The appellate court held that the lower courts properly imposed joint and several liability on Umutesi Placidie and Tesinga Company Ltd, allowing Ntwamarcelna Ltd to recover the full debt from either party. The court found no error or ambiguity in the original judgment requiring clarification, as the reasoning for joint liability was clearly explained and justified by the conduct of Umutesi Placidie in relation to the company. The appeal was dismissed as unfounded.
Court Disposition
appeal dismissed
Orders
- No change to the judgment of the High Commercial Court dated 02/12/2022 in RS/INTERT/RCOM 00007/2022/HCC.
- Court fees to remain with the State treasury.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
14 paragraphs
# Re UMUTESI
- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2023-03-24 - Case/document no.: RSA/RECT/RCOM 00001/2023/CA - Collection: Court of Appeal
## Text
## Page 1
Re. UMUTESI [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’UBUJURIRE – RSA/RECT/RCOM 00001/2023/CA (Kamere, P.J.,) 24 Werurwe 2023] Amategeko agenga imiburanishirize y’ imanza z’ ubucuruzi – Gusobanura urubanza – Ikirego gisaba gusobanura urubanza – Urubanza rusobanura urundi ruba rugomba kurwuzuza aho kuruvuguruza cyangwa se kuruhindura iyo nta nenge zagaragajwe n’uwatanze ikirego mu rubanza rusabirwa gukosorwa cyangwa amakosa yakozwe n’uburyo agomba gukosorwa – Itegeko No 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi iteganya, ingingo ya 140 n iya 150. Incamake y’ ikibazo: Sosiyete Ntwamarcelna Ltd yareze Sosiyete Tesinga Company mu Rukiko rw Ubucuruzi isaba kwishyurwa umwenda yari iyifitiye, maze igobokeshamo umuyobozi wa sosiyeti iregwa ari we Umutesi Placidie, kuko hari sheki yagiye ayiha ziri mu mazina ye bwite. Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi rwaciye urubanza, maze rwemeza ko Umutesi Placidie agomba gufatanya na sosiyete Tesinga Company Ltd kwishyura Ntwamarcelna Ltd umwenda wa 6.920.000Frw, hamwe n inyungu ziwukomokaho. Tesinga Company Ltd ntiyishimiye imikirize y’urubanza ijurira mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi ivuga ko Urukiko rubanza rwirengagije ibimenyetso byatanzwe na Tesinga company Ltd na Umutesi Placidie rwemeza umwenda wose uko waregewe hiyongereyeho n’inyungu, bityo ko ibyo abisabira indishyi z’akababaro. Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwaciye urubanza maze rwemeza ko ubujurire bwa sosiyete Tesinga Company Ltd na Umutesi Placidie butakiriwe kuko bwatanzwe ibihe biteganywa n’itegeko byararenze. Nyuma yaho, umuyobozi wa sosiyete Tesinga Company Ltd yatanze ikirego cyo gusobanuza urubanza RCOMA 00538/2021/HCC rwaciwe n Urukiko Rukuru rw Ubucuruzi, avuga ko inkiko zabanje zategetse ko we na sosiyete abereye umuyobozi bishyura sosiyete Ntwamarcelina amafaranga angana na 9.433.867 Frw kandi ari abantu 2 batandukanye, bityo ko asaba Urukiko gusobanura urwo rubanza rukagena uruhare rwa buri muntu agomba kwishyura ku giti cye kuko mu guca urubanza umucamanza ntiyagaragaje uruhare rwa buri muntu. Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rusanga nta busobanuro bwakabaye butangwa kuko ibyategetswe n’Urukiko bisobanutse kuko rwasobanuye impamvu n’ibyo rwashingiyeho. Urukiko rwasanze kandi kuba rwarategetse ko sosiyete n umuyobozi wayo bafatanya kwishyura bivuze ko aho sosiyete yishyuza yabona hari ubwishyu hose hagati yabo ari we yakwishyuza. Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwaciye urubanza maze rwemeza ko ikirego RS/INTERT/RCOM 00007/2022/HCC gisobanuza urubanza RCOMA 00538/2021/HCC nta shingiro gifite, bityo ko nta gihindutse ku rubanza rwasabiwe gusobanuza.
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Umutesi Placidie yajuririye icyo cyemezo mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire avuga ko sosiyete abereye umuyobozi nawe ari abantu 2 batandukanye hashingiwe ku ngingo y’Itegeko rigenga ama sosiyete, bityo ko asaba Urukiko gusobanura uru rubanza rukagena uruhare rwa buri wese kuko buri wese yarezwe ku ruhare rwe n’undi agobokeshwa ku ruhare rwe. Incamake y icyemezo: 1. Urubanza rusobanura urundi ruba rugomba kurwuzuza aho kuruvuguruza cyangwa se kuruhindura iyo nta nenge zagaragajwe n’uwatanze ikirego mu rubanza rusabirwa gukosorwa cyangwa amakosa yakozwe n’uburyo agomba gukosorwa. 2. Ubwishyu bushakirwa aho bwaboneka mbere hose ku batsinzwe bagomba gufatanya kwishyura nubwo ari abantu babiri batandukanye . Ubujurire nta shingiro. Amagarama y urubanza aherereye mu isanduku ya Leta. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko No 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi iteganya, ingingo ya 140 niya 150. Nta manza zifashishijwe. Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Ntwamarcelna Ltd yareze Tesinga Company Ltd ikirego cyavuzwe haruguru, mu rubanza RCOM 01893/2020/TC igobokeshamo umuyobozi wa sosiyeti iregwa ari we Umutesi Placidie, kuko hari sheki yagiye ayiha ziri mu mazina ye bwite. Ku wa 27/04/2021, Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi rwaciye urubanza, rwemeza ko Umutesi Placidie agomba gufatanya na sosiyete Tesinga Company Ltd kwishyura Ntwamarcelna Ltd umwenda wa 6.920.000Frw, inyungu ziwukomokaho zingana na 993.867 Frw na 700. 000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cya Avoka. [2] Tesinga Company Ltd ntiyishimiye imikirize y’urubanza ijurira mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi ivuga ko Urukiko rubanza rwirengagije ibimenyetso byatanzwe na Tesinga company Ltd na Umutesi Placidie rwemeza umwenda wose uko waregewe hiyongereyeho n’inyungu. Asoza asaba indishyi z’akababaro, igihembo cya Avoka n’amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza. [3] Ku wa 01/11/2022, Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwaciye urubanza RCOMA 00538/2021/HCC, rwemeza ko ubujurire bwa Tesinga Company Ltd na Umutesi Placidie butakiriwe kuko bwatanzwe ibihe biteganywa n’itegeko byararenze, rwemeza ko ntagihindutse ku mikirize y’urubanza RCOM 01893/2020/TC, ibyarwemejwemo bikaba bigomba gushyirwa mu bikorwa.
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[4] Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwashimangiye ibyategetswe n’Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi ari byo: “Rutegetse Tesinga Company Ltd na Umutesi Placidie kwishyura Ntwamarcelna Ltd amafaranga miriyoni esheshatu n’ibihumbi magana acyenda na makumyabiri (6,920,000Frw) y’umwenda iberewemo, ko rutegetse Tesinga Company Ltd na Umutesi Placidie kwishyura Ntwamarcelna Ltd amafaranga ibihumbi magana acyenda mirongo icyenda na bitatu, magana inani mirongo itandatu n’arindwi (993,867Frw) y’inyungu z’umwenda, ko rutegetse Tesinga Company Ltd na Umutesi Placidie kwishyura Ntwamarcelna Ltd amafaranga ibihumbi magana arindwi (700,000Frw) y’indishyi z’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cya avoka ndetse ko rutegetse Tesinga Company Ltd na Umutesi Placidie gusubiza Ntwamarcelna Ltd amafaranga ibihumbi makumyabiri (20,000Frw) y’amagarama y’urubanza”. [5] Nyuma y’uko urubanza ruciwe, Umutesi Placidie mu mwanya we yatanze ikirego cyo gusobanuza urubanza RCOMA 00538/2021/HCC, aho Urukiko rwategetse ko Tesinga Company Ltd na Umutesi Placidie bishyura Ntwamarcelina 9.433.867 Frw kandi hashingiwe ku ngingo ya 24 y’Itegeko N° 007/2021 ryo ku wa 05/02/2021 rigenga amasosiyete y’ubucuruzi1, ko uwarezwe muri uru rubanza ari Tesinga Company Ltd, naho Umutesi Placidie akaba yaragobokeshejwe ngo na we agire ibyo acibwa ku giti cye. Kuba umucamanza yarafashe icyemezo ko Tesinga Company Ltd na Umutesi Placidie bishyura Ntwamarcelina 9.433.67 Frw, kandi Tesinga Company Ltd na Umutesi Placidie ari abantu 2 batandukanye hashingiwe ku ngingo y’itegeko yagaragaje, asaba Urukiko gusobanura urwo rubanza rukagena uruhare rwa buri muntu agomba kwishyura ku giti cye, kuko mu guca urubanza umucamanza yabibumbiye hamwe ntiyagaragaza uruhare rwa buri muntu. [6] Mu rubanza RS/INTERT/RCOM 00007/2022/HCC, Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi, rumaze kubona ko kuba ubujurire bwa Tesinga Company Ltd na Umutesi Placidie butakiriwe ahubwo Urukiko rwari rwajuririrwe rukemeza ko ntagihindutse ku mikirize y’urubanza RCOM 01893/2020/TC, kuba muri urwo rubanza Urukiko rwarategetse Tesinga Company Ltd na Umutesi Placidie kwishyura Ntwamarcelna Ltd ayo mafaranga, rusanga nta n’ubusobanuro bwakabaye butangwa kuri iyi ngingo kuko ibyategetswe n’Urukiko bisobanutse na cyane ko kuba Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi mu gutegeka Umutesi Placidie gufatanya na sosiyete abereye umuyobozi rwasobanuye impamvu n’ibyo rwashingiyeho, bivuze ko icyo gihe rwakuyeho agakingirizo k’uko sosiyete itandukanye n’abanyamigabane cyangwa abayobozi bayo nk’uko bigaragara mu gika cya 26 n’icya 27 by’urubanza RCOM 01893/2020/TC. Urukiko rwasanze kandi kuba Urukiko rwarategetse ko bafatanya kwishyura bivuze ko Ntwamarcelna Ltd aho yabona hari ubwishyu hose hagati ya Tesinga Company Ltd na Umutesi Placidie ari we yakwishyuza. [7] Ku wa 02/12/2022, Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwaciye urwo rubanza, rwemeza ko ikirego RS/INTERT/RCOM 00007/2022/HCC gisobanuza urubanza RCOMA 00538/2021/HCC nta shingiro gifite, rwemeza kandi rutegeka ko nta gihindutse k’urubanza RCOMA 00538/2021/HCC. 1 Iyo ngingo iteganya ibi bikurikira: “Isosiyete ishinzwe hakurikijwe iri tegeko igira ubuzima gatozi butandukanye n’ubw’abanyamigabane bayo. Isosiyete ishinzwe hakurikijwe iri tegeko iba yihariye ku giti cyayo kandi ikagira uburenganzira n’inshingano bitandukanye n’iby’abanyamigabane cyangwa abanyamuryango bayo. Isosiyete ikomeza kubaho kugeza igihe ivaniwe mu gitabo cy’amasosiyete”.
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[8] Umutesi Placidie yajuririye icyo cyemezo mu rukiko rw’ubujurire. mu myanzuro yatanze, umutesi placidie avuga ko Tesinga Company Ltd na Umutesi Placidie ari abantu 2 batandukanye hashingiwe ku ngingo y’Itegeko yagaragaje asaba Urukiko gusobanura uru rubanza rukagena umubare umubare w’amafaranga Tesinga Company Ltd igomba kwishyura n’uwo Umutesi Placidie agomba kwishyura kuko buri wese yarezwe ku ruhare rwe n’undi agobokeshwa ku ruhare rwe. Kuba rero umucamanza mu rubanza RS/INTERT/RCOM 00007/2022/HCC ataremeje ko urubanza rusobanurwa akaba ari cyo ngo yajuririye. [9] Iburanisha ry’urubanza mu cyumba cy’abacamanza (chamber du conseil) ryabaye ku wa 10/03/2023 nta muburanyi byabaye ngombwa ko Urukiko ruhamagaza, ikibazo kirasuzumwa, iburanisha rirapfundikirwa, kandi Urukiko rutangaza ko urubanza ruzasomerwa mu ruhame aho Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rukorera, ku wa 24/03/2023, i saa 11h00 ari na cyo gihe rusomeweho. II.IKIBAZO KIGIZE URU RUBANZA N’ISESENGURA RYACYO Gusuzuma niba hari ikosa ryakozwe mu kuba Urukiko rwarasobanuye ko Ntwamarcelina Ltd ishobora guhitamo uwo yishyuza umwenda wose, inyungu n’indishyi yatsindiye, hagati ya Tesinga Company Ltd na Umutesi Placidie bitewe n’aho ibona biyoroheye kubona ubwishyu. [10] Umutesi Placidie avuga ko yajuririye urubanza RS/INTERT/RCOM 00007/2022/HCC kuko umucamanza atemeje uruhare rwihariye we na Tesinga Company Ltd bagomba kwishyura kuri buri wese ku bireba amafaranga abumbiye hamwe yategetswe n’Urukiko mu rubanza RCOMA 00538/2021/HCC aho rwemeje ko afatanya na sosiyete Tesinga Company Ltd kwishyura Ntwamarcelna Ltd umwenda imubereyemo. Asobanura ko bitewe n’uko we na Tesinga Company Ltd ari abantu 2 batandukanye mu rwego rw’amategeko, ngo buri wese buri wese akwiye kumenyeshwa uruhare rwe ku bwishyu bwategetswe n’Urukiko ko bugomba guhabwa Ntwamarcelna Ltd. UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [11] Ingingo ya 140, igika cya 2 y’Itegeko No 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi iteganya ibikurikira: “Urubanza rusobanura cyangwa rukosora urundi rwuzuza urubanza rwasabiwe gusobanurwa cyangwa gukosorwa”. [12] Ingingo ya 150, igika cya 1, agace ka 50 na 60 y’Itegeko ryavuzwe haruguru, iteganya ko mu bisabwa bigomba kugaragazwa n’umwanzuro utanga ikirego cy’ubujurire harimo urutonde rw’inenge z’urubanza ujurira asabira gukosorwa n’ibindi bibazo bisabirwa gusuzumwa, ndetse n’ibisobanuro kuri buri nenge cyangwa kuri buri kibazo bigaragaza amakosa yakozwe n’uburyo agomba gukosorwa hashingiwe ku mategeko n’ibimenyetso n’igisabwa urukiko. [13] Dosiye y’urubanza igaragaza ko Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi rwasanze Umutesi Placidie nk’umuyobozi wa Tesinga Company Ltd yarishe amategeko agenga amasosiyete, akaba yararenze ku ihame ry’uko atandukanye na sosiyete ye, ibi urwo Rukiko rukaba rwarasobanuye
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ko bigaragazwa n’ibikorwa byo kuba iyo sosiyete yarahabwaga ibicuruzwa, byajya kwishyurwa bikishyurwa mu mazina bwite ya Umutesi Placidie ndetse na sheki yatanzwe n’iyo sosiyete ku wa 15/07/2019 ya Access Bank (Rwanda) Ltd ikaba yarasanze itazigamiwe, ngo bisobanuye ko yanafashe nabi umutungo wayo nk’aho ari umutungo we ku giti cye ku buryo byatumye itabasha kwishyura umwenda ifitiye Ntwamarcelna Ltd, bityo Inkiko zombi zabanje uru rubanza rwanyuzemo zikaba ari iyo mpamavu zashingiyeho zemeza ko Umutesi Placidie agomba gufatanya na Tesinga Company Ltd kwishyura uwo mwenda2. [14] Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rurasanga uretse gusa gutsimbarara ku cyifuzo cye cyo gusaba Urukiko gusobanura ubufatanye mu kwishyura umwenda, inyungu n’indishyi zategetswe nk’uburyo bwo kugabanya umwenda mu buryo bungana hagati y’abawutsindiwe bombi, ibi Urukiko rwaciye urubanza rwajuririwe rukaba rwarabisobanuye ko atari ko bikwiye kumvikana. Ko ahubwo bikwiye kumvikana mu buryo bwo gushakira ubwishyu aho bwaboneka mbere hose ku batsinzwe bombi, nta nemge cyangwa se ikosa Umutesi Placidie yabashije kugaragariza uru Rukiko byaba barakozwe n’Urukiko rwaciye urubanza rwajuririwe. Bityo, uru Rukiko rushingiye ku kuba urubanza rusobanura urundi ruba rugomba kurwuzuza aho kuruvuguruza cyangwa se kuruhindura hashingiwe ku ngingo ya 140, igika cya 2 y’Itegeko ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi yibukijwe haruguru, ndetse no ku ngingo ya 150, igika cya 1, agace ka 5 n’aka 6 y’iryo tegeko nayo yibukijwe haruguru, rurasanga ibyo Umutesi Placidie asaba bigamije guhindura imyumvire y’ubufatanye mu kwishyura bwategetswe n’Urukiko rwaciye urubanza rusabirwa gusobanurwa, bikaba nta shingiro bigomba guhabwa. [15] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwatanzwe na Umutesi Placidie nta shingiro bufite; [16] Rwemeje ko nta gihindutse ku mikirize y’urubanza RS/INTERT/RCOM 00007/2022/HCC rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi ku wa 02/12/2022; [17] Ruvuze ko amagarama y’urubanza aherera ku Isanduku ya Leta.
2 Reba ibika bya 26, 27 & 33 by’urubanza RCOM 01893/2020/TC, igika cya 23 cy’urubanza RCOMA 00538/2021/HCC n’igika cya 5 cy’urubanza rujuririrwa.