UMUJYI WA KIGALI v. MUKARUGWIZA
The minimum sentence for drug trafficking with mitigating circumstances is 15 years imprisonment and a fine of 5,000,000 Frw, as mandated by Article 2(a) of Law No 059/2023. The applicant has already received the minimum possible sentence, and no further reduction is legally permissible.
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- RADAA00002/2025/CA
- Parties
- Applicant: Uwamahoro Nadia; Respondent: Ubushinjacyaha (Prosecution)
- Court
- Court of Appeal
- Jurisdiction
- Rwanda
- Judgment Date
- 24 December 2025
- Case Number
- RADAA00002/2025/CA
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Final Appellate Judgment
- Outcome
- appeal dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Drug Trafficking, Sentencing, Mitigating Circumstances
- Source Language
- rw
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.
Parties
Uwamahoro Nadia
Applicant
Ubushinjacyaha (Prosecution)
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Final Appellate Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether Uwamahoro Nadia should receive a further reduction in sentence based on mitigating circumstances
- 2 Whether the minimum sentence for drug trafficking can be reduced below 15 years imprisonment under current law
Ratio Decidendi
The minimum sentence for drug trafficking with mitigating circumstances is 15 years imprisonment and a fine of 5,000,000 Frw, as mandated by Article 2(a) of Law No 059/2023. The applicant has already received the minimum possible sentence, and no further reduction is legally permissible.
Court Disposition
appeal dismissed
Orders
- The appeal by Uwamahoro Nadia is dismissed as lacking merit.
- The conviction for drug trafficking is affirmed.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
15 paragraphs
# UMUJYI WA KIGALI v. MUKARUGWIZA
- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2025-12-24 - Case/document no.: RADAA00002/2025/CA - Collection: Court of Appeal
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UBUSHINJACYAHA v. UWAMAHORO [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’UBUJURIRE – RPAA00515/2024/CA (Umugwaneza, J. P.) 23 Ukwakira 2025] Amategeko agenga imanza nshinjabyaha – Igabanyagihano – Mu gihe hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha, igihano cy’igifungo cya burundu gishobora kugabanywa ariko ntikijye munsi y’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15), kuko aricyo gito giteganywa n’itegeko ku cyaha cyose gihanishwa igifungo cya burundu. Incamake y’ikibazo: Uwamahoro yafatanywe udufunyika 21 tw’urumogi, arafatwa ashyikirizwa Ubugenzacyaha, maze nyuma y’iperereza Ubushinjacyaha bumurega mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo bumukurikiranyeho icyaha cyo gucuruza urumogi, bumusabira guhamwa n’icyo cyaha, agahanishwa igifungo cya burundu n’ihazabu ya miliyoni 25,000,000Frw. Uwamahoro yaburanye yemera icyaha avuga ko yabitewe no kuba arera wenyine umwana we ufite ubumuga, ndetse akaba ari ubwa mbere aguye mu ri icyo cyaha, akaba yarabisabiye imbabazi. Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwaramuburanishije, ruca urubanza rwemeza ko Uregwa ahamwa n’icyaha cyo gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge, rumuhanisha igifungo cya burundu n’ihazabu ya milioni makumyabiri (20.000.000Frw), rutegeka ko urumogi rwafatiriwe rutwikwa. Uregwa yajuririye mu Rukiko Rukuru asaba kugabanyirizwa ibihano no kubisubikirwa, asobanura ko kuva yafatwa yemera icyaha aregwa akanagisabira imbabazi, akaba ari n’ubwa mbere aguye mu cyaha. Ubushinjacyaha buvuga ko impamvu ze z’ubujurire zifite ishingiro gusa ku bijyanye no kugabanyirizwa ibihano, bumusabira guhanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw. Urukiko Rukuru rwaciye urubanza rusanga Uregwa akwiriye kugabanyirizwa ibihano kuko yemera icyaha aregwa cyo gucuruza urumogi, akaba aribwo bwa mbere aguye mu cyaha ndetse no kuba yarafatanwe ingano nto y’urumogi. Ariko ku kijayanye no gusubikirwa, Urukiko Rukuru rwasanze atasubikirwa igihano kuko atujuje ibisabwa biteganywa n’Itegeko riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, maze rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw. Uregwa yongeye ajuririra muri uru Rukiko rw’Ubujurire asaba kugabanyirizwa agahabwa ibihano bito, aho avuga ko atigeze arushya ubutabera, kuva yafatwa yemera icyaha akanagisabira imbabazi, akaba yarafatanwe ingano nto y’ibiyobyabwenge, ubu akaba amaze kugororoka, ndetse akaba yarasize umwana ufite ubumuga kandi nta wundi muntu afite wo kumurera. Ubushinjacyaha bwasubije ubwo bujurire bw’Uregwa, buvuga ko Uregwa yagabanyirijwe igihano hashingiye kukuba yaremeye icyaha mu nzego zose z’ubutabera. Ariko, busanga Uregwa yarakoze icyaha afite imyaka 28 y’amavuko, akaba atakwitwaza ko udupfunyika 21 yasanganywe acuruza ari ingano ntoya byatuma ahanishwa igihano kiri munsi y’icyo yahanishijwe, kuko hari abasanganwe udupfunyika ducye kutwe barimo bacuruza kandi bahawe igihano nk’icye. Bityo, bukaba busaba uru Rukiko kwemeza ko impamvu z’ubujurire bw’Uregwa nta shingiro zifite, maze rukemeza ko urubanza rujuririrwa rudahindutse. Incamake y’icyemezo: Mu gihe hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha, igihano cy’igifungo cya burundu gishobora kugabanywa ariko ntikijye munsi y’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15), kuko aricyo gito giteganywa n’itegeko ku cyaha cyose gihanishwa igifungo cya burundu. Bityo, igihano Uwamahoro Nadia yahanishijwe n’Urukiko Rukuru, cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu y’amafaranga milioni eshanu (5.000.000Frw) nicyo gito gishoboka ku cyaha yahamijwe cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge, kikaba kidakwiye kugabanywa. Ubujurire nta shingiro bufite.
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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 n’iya 3. Itegeko N° 69/2019 ryo ku wa 08/11/2019, rihindura ingingo ya 263 y’Itegeko N° 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018, riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, ingingo ya 11. Imanza zifashishijwe: RPAA00391/2023/CA, Ubushinjacyaha na Ntamakiriro Ezechiel, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 17/04/2025. RPAA00124/2023/CA, Ubushinjacyaha na Barampama Joseph, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 19/12/2024. RPAA00113/2020/CA, Ubushinjacyaha na Ndengeyabagabo Jean Pierre, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 28/12/2023. Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Uwamahoro Nadia yaketsweho gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi, ku wa 12/11/2020, Polisi ishami rishinzwe kurwanya ibiyobyabwenge (ANU) imufatana udupfunyika makumyabiri na kamwe (21) tw’urumogi, yabanje kumufatana agapfunyika kamwe (1), urundi yamaze kurucuruza, aho akorera akazi k’isuku kuri Guest House Dream, bamujyana murugo iwe bamusangana urundi, udupfunyika makumyabiri (20), ashyikirizwa Ubugenzacyaha. [2] Nyuma y’iperereza, Ubushinjacyaha bwamureze mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo, icyaha cyo gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi, busaba ko cyamuhama, agahanishwa igifungo cya burundu n’ihazabu ya 25.000.000Frw. [3] Uwamahoro Nadia, yaburanye yemera icyaha cyo gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi anagisabira imbabazi, avuga ko yabitewe no kuba arera umwana ufite ubumuga, uwo yabiganirije amubwira ko yamufasha, akamuha urumogi agacuruza. Akomeza asobanura ko ubwa mbere yamuhaye udupfunyika tune (4) tw’urumogi, acuruzamo dutatu (3) kubakiriya babiri yabonye, arongera amuha utundi dupfunyika 20 ntiyabona abakiriya, akaba ari nabwo baje kumufata. Asaba kugabanyirizwa ibihano. [4] Mu rubanza RP01451/2020/TGI/GSBO, rwaciwe ku wa 08/04/2021, Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Gasabo, rwasanze ukwemera icyaha kwa Uwamahoro Nadia mu Rukiko no muzindi nzego zose zamukurikiranye kumuhamya icyaha aregwa, rwemeza ko Uwamahoro Nadia ahamwe n’icyaha cyo gutunda no gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi. Rumuhanisha igifungo cya burundu n’ihazabu ya milioni makumyabiri (20.000.000Frw). Rutegeka ko urumogi rwafatiriwe rutwikwa. [5] Uwamahoro Nadia yajuririye urwo rubanza mu Rukiko Rukuru, asaba kugabanyirizwa ibihano no kubisubikirwa, asobanura ko kuva yafatwa yemera icyaha aregwa akanagisabira imbabazi, akaba ari n’ubwa mbere aguye mu cyaha. [6] Ubushinjacyaha buvuga ko impamvu ze z’ubujurire zifite ishingiro gusa ku bijyanye no kugabanyirizwa ibihano. Bumusabira kubigabanyirizwa, agahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw. [7] Mu rubanza RPA00719/2021/HC/KIG, rwaciwe ku wa 05/06/2024, Urukiko Rukuru, nyuma yo gusuzuma impamvu z’ubujurire za Uwamahoro Nadia, rugasanga, akwiriye kugabanyirizwa ibihano kuko
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yemera icyaha aregwa cyo gucuruza urumogi, akaba aribwo bwa mbere aguye mu cyaha ndetse no kuba yarafatanwe ingano nto y’urumogi. Rusanga ariko adakwiriye gusubikirwa ibihano kuko atujuje ibisabwa n’ingingo ya 3 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. Rwemeza ko imikirize y’urubanza rwajuririwe ihindutse ku bijyanye n’ibihano. Rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw. [8] Uwamahoro Nadia yajuririye Urukiko rw’Ubujurire, urubanza ruhabwa RPAA00515/2024/CA, ruburanishwa mu ruhame ku wa 09/10/2025, Uwamahoro Nadia yunganiwe na Me Musasangohe Illumineé, Ubushinjacyaha buhagarariwe na Rukaka Gallican, Umushinjacyaha ku rwego rw’igihugu. [9] Mu mwanzuro w’ubujurire, Uwamahoro Nadia na Me Musasangohe Illumineé umwunganira, basaba ko yagabanyirizwa igihano, basobanura ko icyo yahawe ari kirekire kandi afite impamvu nyoroshyacyaha ndetse akaba amaze kugororoka. [10] Ubushinjacyaha buvuga ko impamvu z’ubujurire za Uwamahoro Nadia zidafite ishingiro kuko yagabanyirijwe igihano ku buryo buhagije kandi bukurikije amategeko, bukaba busanga yakomeza guhanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw. [11] Hakurikijwe izo mpaka, muri uru rubanza harasuzumwa ikibazo cyo kumenya niba Uwamahoro Nadia akwiriye kugabanyirizwa ibihano. II. ISESENGURA RY’IKIBAZO KIGIZE URUBANZA Kumenya niba Uwamahoro Nadia akwiriye kugabanyirizwa ibihano [12] Uwamahoro Nadia na Me Musasangohe Illumineé umwunganira, basaba ko yagabanyirizwa ibihano, bavuga ko atigeze arushya ubutabera, kuva yafatwa yemera icyaha akanagisabira imbabazi, akaba yarafatanwe ingano nto y’ibiyobyabwenge, ndetse ubu akaba amaze kugororoka. Bavuga kandi ko yasize umwana ufite ubumuga kandi ntawundi muntu afite wo kumurera. Basaba kugabanyirizwa ibihano, agahabwa bito, bashingiye ku murongo watanzwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire mu rubanza RPAA00124/2023/CA, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 19/12/2024, haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Barampama Joseph (igika cya 19-20)1, kuko yafatanwe ingano nto y’ibiyobyabwenge (udupfunyika 21 tw’urumogi). [13] Mu miburanire yabo kandi, Uwamahoro Nadia n’umwunganira, bagaragaje kandi ko n’ubwo Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwamuhamije icyaha cyo gutunda no gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi, akaba ari nacyo Urukiko Rukuru rwemeje, nta cyaha cyo gutunda ibiyobyabwenge yakoze. [14] Ubushinjacyaha buvuga ko Urukiko Rukuru mu rubanza rujuririrwa mu gika cya 14, rwagabanyirije Uwamahoro Nadia igihano rushingiye kukuba yaremeye icyaha mu nzego zose z’ubutabera. Bukaba busanga Uwamahoro Nadia wakoze icyaha afite imyaka 28 y’amavuko atakwitwaza ko udupfunyika 21 yasanganywe acuruza ari ingano ntoya byatuma ahanishwa igihano kiri munsi y’icyo yahanishijwe kuko hari abasanganwe udupfunyika ducye kutwe barimo bacuruza kandi bahawe igihano nk’icye. [15] Bukomeza butanga urugero rw’urubanza RPAA00113/2020/CA, rwaciwe ku wa 28/12/2023, Ubushinjacyaha buburana na Ndengeyabagabo Jean Pierre, uyu akaba yarafatanwe udupfunyika 11 tw’urumogi yacuruzaga, ahabwa igifungo cy’imyaka 15 aho kuba 25 yahanishijwe mbere. Busaba
1 Basobanura ko muri urwo rubanza Urukiko rwatanze umurongo uvuga ko iyo nta bimenyetso bigaragaza ko uregwa yarafatanwe ingano nto y’ibiyobyabwenge yarahinze, yatunze cyangwa yabitse yari agamije kubikwirakwiza no kubigurisha, afatwa nk’uwari agamije kubyikoreshereza (simple drug possession) aho kubicuruza no kubikwirakwiza (drug trafficking/drug distribution), agahabwa ibihano bito.
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Urukiko rw’Ubujurire kwemeza ko impamvu z’ubujurire za Uwamahoro Nadia zidafite ishingiro, no kwemeza ko imikirize y’urubanza rwajuririwe idahindutse mu ngingo zayo zose. [16] Ku bijyanye no kuba Uwamahoro Nadia yarahamijwe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye icyaha cyo gutunda no gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi, Ubushinjacyaha busanga iyo burebye ibikorwa Uwamahoro Nadia yakoze bihura no gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi. Bukaba busanga ibyo gutunda ibiyobyabwenge Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwarabikoze rwibeshye. UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA Impaka kuri iyi ngingo, zishingiye kukumenya niba Uwamahoro Nadia akwiriye kugabanyirizwa igihano kuri uru rwego kubera impamvu nyoroshyacyaha yagaragaje, kuburyo yahanishwa igifungo kiri munsi y’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) n’ihazabu ya 5.000.000Frw yahanishijwe n’Urukiko Rukuru. [17] Ku birebana no kugabanya igihano mu gihe hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha, ingingo ya 2 y’Itegeko N° 059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 rihindura Itegeko N° 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: …; (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. [18] Ku kibazo kijyanye no kumenya niba umuntu wahamijwe icyaha cyo kugurisha ibiyobyabwenge ashobora kugabanyirizwa igihano ku buryo kijya munsi y’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) hashingiwe ku mpamvu nyoroshyacyaha, cyakemuwe mu manza zitandukanye zaciwe n’uru Rukiko, kuva aho 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 risohokeye, aho Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwemeje ko icyo gihano kidashobora kugabanywa kuko aricyo gito giteganywa n’itegeko kuri icyo cyaha ndetse no ku kindi cyaha cyose gihanishwa igifungo cya burundu. Muri izo manza harimo n’urubanza RPAA00391/2023/CA rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 17/04/2025, Ubushinjacyaha buburana na Ntamakiriro Ezechiel2. [19] Nk’uko bigaragara mu gika cya 143, Urukiko Rukuru, rwagabanyirije Uwamahoro Nadia ibihano rushingiye ku mpamvu nyoroshyacyaha z’uko yemeye icyaha aregwa cyo gucuruza urumogi, akaba ari ubwa mbere aguye mu cyaha ndetse no kuba yarafatanwe ingano nto y’urumogi, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) n’ihazabu y’amafaranga y’u Rwanda miliyoni eshanu (5.000.000Frw) aho kuba igifungo cya burundu n’ihazabu y’amafaranga milioni makumyabiri (20.000.000Frw) yahanishijwe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye. [20] Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rushingiye ku ngingo ya 2 agace ka (a) n’aka (d), y’Itegeko N° 059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 ryagarutsweho mu gika cya 16 cy’uru rubanza ndetse no ku murongo wafashwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rugendeye kuri iyo ngingo nk’uko byasobanuwe haruguru mugika cya 17, rurasanga igihano Uwamahoro Nadia yahanishijwe n’Urukiko Rukuru, cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 15 n’ihazabu y’amafaranga milioni eshanu (5.000.000Frw) aricyo gito gishoboka ku cyaha yahamijwe mu gihe hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha, bityo kikaba kidakwiye kugabanywa. [21] Hashingiwe kubimaze kuvugwa byose, Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rurasanga ibyasabwe na Uwamahoro Nadia n’umwunganizi we, ko yagabanyirizwa igihano yahawe cy’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15), agahabwa gito, hashingiwe ku mpamvu nyoroshyacyaha ze, ndetse no kuba yarafatanwe ingano nto y’ibiyobyabwenge, bashingira kumurongo watanzwe mu rubanza RPAA00124/2023/CA,
2 Reba igika cyarwo cya 14. 3 Reba urubanza RPA 00719/2021/HC/KIG, rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru ku wa 05/06/2024.
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rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 19/12/2024, haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Barampama Joseph, nta shingiro bifite, kuko Urukiko Rukuru, rwamugabanyirije igihano rushingiye ku mpamvu nyoroshyacyaha ze, nk’uko byasobanuwe haruguru mu gika cya 18, ahabwa igihano gito gishoboka, kitajya munsi y’icyo yahanishijwe. [22] Byongeye kandi n’ubwo Uwamahoro Nadia yafatanwe ingano nto y’ibiyobyabwenge, rusanga, ibimenyetso byashingiweho ahamwa n’icyaha, bigaragaza ko yakoze icyaha cyo gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi ndetse ibyo yafatanwe bikaba bitari ibyo kwikoreshereza (simple drug possession) nk’uko umurongo watanzwe mu rubanza bagaragaje ubisobanura, bityo ubusabe bwabo bwo kugabanyirizwa ibihano bashingiye kumurongo watanzwe muri urwo rubanza, nta shingiro bufite. [23] N’aho ku bijyanye no kuba Uwamahoro Nadia yarahamijwe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye icyaha cyo gutunda no gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi kandi nta gutunda kwabayeho, rurasanga, icyaha Uwamahoro Nadia yarezwe mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye nk’uko dosiye ibigaragaza ari icyo gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi. Rurasanga kandi hakurikijwe ibikorwa Uwamahoro Nadia yakoze ari nabyo yabajijweho, bihuye n’icyaha cyo gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi aho kuba gutunda no gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi yahamijwe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye, bikemezwa n’Urukiko Rukuru. Bityo akaba ahamijwe icyaha cyo gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [24] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwatanzwe na Uwamahoro Nadia nta shingiro bufite. [25] Rwemeje ko Uwamahoro Nadia ahamwe n’icyaha cyo gucuruza ibiyobyabwenge byo mu bwoko bw’urumogi. [26] Rwemeje ko urubanza RPA00719/2021/HC/KIG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru, ku wa 05/06/2024, rudahindutse ku bijyanye n’igihano Uwamahoro Nadia yahanishijwe cy’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) n’ihazabu y’amafaranga y’u Rwanda miliyoni eshanu (5.000.000Frw).