UWANYIRIGIRA v BRITAM

UWANYIRIGIRA v BRITAM

- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2023-06-30 - Case/document no.: RCA 00045/2022/HC/KIG - Collection: High Court

Text

Page 1

UWANYIRIGIRA v BRITAM INSURANCE COMPANY [Rwanda URUKIKO RUKURU - RCA 00045/2022/HC/KIG (Harerimana, J.P.) 30 Kamena 2023] Amategeko y’imanza mbonezamubano – Imanza zikomoka ku masezerano y’ubwishingizi – Ingaruka yo kutubahiriza amasezerano y’ubwishingizi - Ingaruka zo kuba nyir’imodoka yarakoze amakosa yo kutubahiriza inshingano afite mu masezerano y’ubwishingizi abizi kandi abishaka ni uko ayo makosa adashobora kurengerwa n’amasezerano y’ubwishingizi haba ku bimureba cyangwa abangirijwe n’ikinyabiziga cyishingiwe. Incamake y’ikibazo: Uru rubanza rwatangiriye mu Rukiko rwisumbuye rwa NyarugengeUwanyirigira arega BRITAM Insurance Company Rwanda Ltd (BRITAM) asaba indishyi zikomoka ku mpanuka yabaye ku wa 02/12/2016 maze ku makosa y'ikinyabiziga Camionnettee FUSO RAB 864L BRITAM yishingiye ndetse n’ay’umuyobozi wacyo wari watwayemo abantu benshi kidafitiye ubushobozi bwo gutwara, arakomereka. Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge rwaciye urubanza rwemeza ko ikirego cye nta shingiro gifite. Uwanyirigira yajuririye mu Rukiko Rukuru avuga ko impanuka ye yatewe n’ikosa ry’ikinyabiziga gifte ubwishingizi butegetswe muri BRITAM akaba ariyo mpamvu ariyo asaba indishyi. Urukiko Rukuru mu guca uru rubanza rwasuzumye ikibazo cyo kumenya niba BRITAM yaryozwa indishyi zikomoka kuri iyo mpanuka. Urega avuga ko indishyi asaba azishingira ku ikosa ryakozwe n’ikinyabiziga yarimo hanyuma kigakora

impanuka yaje gukomerekeramo biturutse ku makossa y’icyo kinyabiziga n’umushoferi wacyo ko atazishingira ku masezerano y’ubwishingizi kandi ko umwishingizi ategetswe kwishingira amakosa yose. BRITAM yiregura ivuga ko impanuka yatewe n’umuyobozi w’ikinyabiziga wapakiye abantu mu modoka bikabije ku bushake kandi mu buryo bunyuranyije n’amategeko bikaza gutera impanuka. Ko umwishingizi ataryozwa amakosa yakozwe ku bushake n’umufatabwishingizi, uwishingiwe cyangwa umugenerwabwishingizi kandi uwishingira ntashobora kwishingira ibyaha byatewe n’ikosa rikozwe nkana n’uwishingiwe. Incamake y’icyemezo: Ingaruka zo kuba nyir’imodoka yarakoze amakosa yo kutubahiriza inshingano afite mu masezerano y’ubwishingizi abizi kandi abishaka ni uko ayo makosa adashobora kurengerwa n’amasezerano y’ubwishingizi haba ku bimureba cyangwa abangirijwe n’ikinyabiziga cyishingiwe bityo BRITAM ntiyaryozwa amakosa yakozwe n’umushoferi w’imodoka aho yapakiye imodoka abantu barenga kubo yagenewe bikamuviramo gukora impanuka yakomerekeyemo Uwanyigirira. Ubujurire bwatanzwe nta shingiro bufite. Imikirize y’ urubanza RC 00955/2020/TGI/NYGE ntihindutse. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko N° 030/2021 ryo ku wa 30/06/2021 rigenga imitunganyirize y’umurimo w’ubwishingizi, ingingo ya 124;

Page 2

Itegeko No 22/2018 ryo kuwa 29/4/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza mbonezamubano, iz’ ubucuruzi, umurimo n’ ubutegetsi, ingingo ya 111; Iteka rya Perezida N° 85/01 ryo kuwa 02/09/2002, rishyiraho amabwiriza rusange agenga imihanda n'uburyo bwo kuyigendamo, ingingo ya 66. Amategeko yifashishijwe atagikoreshwa: Itegeko-Teka N° 20/75 ryo ku wa 20/06/1975 rigena ubwishingire, ingingo ya 11. Imanza zifashishijwe: RS/INJUST/RC 00002/2021/SC rwaciwe n’ Urukiko rw’ikirenga rwaciwe kuwa 18/2/2021, haburana Akarere ka Kirehe na Societé d’assurance SAHAM n’ abandi; RS/INCONST/SPEC 00002/2019/SC rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 4/12/2019 Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’ URUBANZA [1] Uru rubanza rwatangiriye mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge, Uwanyirigira Donatha arega BRITAM Insurance Company Rwanda LTD asobanura ku wa 02/12/2016 habayeho impanuka maze ku makosa y'ikinyabiziga Camionnettee FUSO RAB 864L BRITAM yishingiye, arakomereka. Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge rwaciye urubanza rwemeza ko ikirego cye nta shingiro gifite arajurira. [2] Mu mpamvu z’ubujurire ze ahagarariwe na Me Komezusenge Jacques avuga ko impanuka yo ku wa 2/12/2016 yatewe n'ikosa ry'ikinyabiziga RAB 864 L kishingiwe na BRITAM. Iki kinyabiziga cyari gifite ubwishingizi butegetswe (assurance responabilite alors obligatoire) kandi impanuka yatewe n'ikosa cyakoreshejwe ndetse nacyo ubwacyo: gupakira birenze

ubushobozi cyangwa gupakira nabi bihanwa n'amategeko y'umuhanda. Ibi rero ni nabyo biha Uwanyirigira Donatha ikirego kitaziguye (action directe contre l'assureur) kuri BRITAM. Akomeza avuga ko nubwo BRITAM yagiye yitwaza amasezerano yagiranye na nyir'ikinyabiziga, ngo yumvikanywemo ko yagombaga gutwara abantui 3 gusa, ngo ibindi bikaba amakosa ye: ni aho nyine ikosa rishingiye. Ntabwo Uwanyirigira Donatha ashingira ku masezerano kuko atanayagizemo uruhare, ahubwo arashingira ku ikosa (responsabilite civile delictuelle/Tort liability). avuga kandi ko nubwo BRITAM yitwaza imanza zaburanwe muri Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Ngoma n’ Urukiko Rukuru urugereko rwa Rwamagana kuri iki kibazo, ntabwo ari urugero rwiza mu kibazo Urukiko rwashyikirijwe kuko hari imanza nyinshi Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge rwaciye kandi zigahabwa ishingiro, abaregaga ni abantu bari kumwe na Uwanyirigira Donatha muri iki kinyabiziga . ko Urukiko Rukuru rwa Kigali narwo rwasuzumye urubanza rw'uwitwa Butomo Jacqueline wari muri iki kinyabiziga, kandi rwasanze afite ishingiro . Hari kandi na Transactions zakozwe na BRITAM isaba bamwe muri aba barega kuza kumvikana ku ndishyi: ibi bigaragaza ko yanageze aho ikemera uburyozwe ( responsabilite).

Page 3

[3] Mu iburanisha, |Me Komezusenge Jacques avuga ko umwishingizi agomba kwishyura ikosa ryakozwe. Muri note de plaidorie avuga ko uwo ahagarariye arega mu buryo butaziguye BRITAM ashingiye ku ngingo ya 37 y’ itegeko nomero 20/75 ryerekeranye n’ ubwishingizi. Agasaba indishyi indishyi zitandukanye zirimo igihembo cy’avoka , gusubizwa igarama n’ingendo. [4] Uhagarariye BRITAM avuga ko Uwanyirigira Donatha yiyemerera ko impanuka yatewe n’umuyobozi w’ikinyabiziga wapakiye abantu mu modoka bikabije ku bushake kandi mu buryo bunyuranyije n’amategeko bikaza gutera impanuka. Ko umwishingizi ataryozwa amakosa yakozwe ku bushake n’umufatabwishingizi, uwishingiwe cyangwa umugenerwabwishingizi kandi uwishingira ntashobora kwishingira ibyaha byatewe n’ikosa rikozwe nkana n’uwishingiwe. Agasaba indishyi zingana na 1500 000 frw harimo igihembo cy’avoka. [5] Ibibazo bigomba gusuzumwa muri uru rubanza ni ibi bikurikira: A. Kumenya niba BRITAM Insurance Company Rwanda LTD yaryozwa indishyi zikomoka ku mpanuka. B. kumenya niba indishyi zisabwa zatangwa zose. II. ISESENGURA RY’ IBIBAZO BIGIZE URUBANZA A. Kumenya niba BRITAM yaryozwa indishyi zikomoka ku mpanuka [6] Mu rubanza RS/INJUST/RC 00002/2021/SC rwaciwe n’ Urukiko rw’ikirenga rwaciwe kuwa 18/2/2021 hemejwe ko Iyo nyir’imodoka ariwe wakoze amakosa yo kutubahiriza inshingano afite mu masezerano y’ubwishingizi abizi kandi abishaka, ayo makosa

aba adashobora kurengerwa n’amasezerano y’ubwishingizi haba ku bimureba cyangwa abangirijwe n’ikinyabiziga cyishingiwe. [7] Ingingo ya 66, igika cya 4, y'Iteka rya Perezida N° 85/01 ryo kuwa 02/09/2002, rishyiraho amabwiriza rusange agenga imihanda n'uburyo bwo kuyigendamo, ivuga ko “Umuyobozi wa kimwe mu binyabiziga byavuzwe ku gika cya mbere abujijwe gutwara abantu mu bice by'inyuma bya karisoro y'icyo kinyabiziga cyangwa ya romoruki yacyo...” Ingingo ya 124 y’Itegeko n° 030/2021 ryo ku wa 30/06/2021 rigenga imitunganyirize y’umurimo w’ubwishingizi iteganya ko ikigo cy’ubwishingizi gifite uburenganzira bwo kutishyura indishyi iyo: 1° igikorwa cyateje cyangwa cyagize uruhare mu kubaho kw’impamvu y’icyishingiwe cyakozwe ku bushake n’umufatabwishingizi, uwishingiwe cyangwa umugenerwabwishingizi. Naho Ingingo ya 11, igika cya 3, y’Itegeko-Teka N° 20/75 ryo ku wa 20/06/1975 rigena ubwishingire ryakoreshwaga igihe impanuka yabaga, iteganya ko “Nubwo nta ngingo yaba ibivuguruza, uwishingira ntashobora kwishingira ibyaha byatewe n’ikosa rikozwe nkana n’uwishingiwe. [8] Uwanyirigira Donatha avuga ko indishyi asaba azishingira ku ikosa ryakozwe n’ikinyabiziga ko atazishingira ku masezerano y’ubwishingizi kandi ko umwishingizi ategetswe kwishingira amakosa yose. [9] BRITAM ivuga ko umwishingizi ataryozwa amakosa yakozwe nkana n’uwishingiwe.

Page 4

[10] Urukiko rusanga ikitagibwaho impaka ari uko mpanuka yo kuwa 02/12/2016 yabereye mu Kagari ka Rwatampama, Akagali ka Rubumba, Umurenge wa Kabare, Akarere ka Kayonza, Intara y’Iburasirazuba, yatewe n’imodoka Camioneti Plaque 864 L yari itwawe na Jyamubandi Vedaste, iyi modoka ikaba yari ihetse abantu 78, bamwe bakaba barakomeretse barimo n’urega abandi barapfa, ikaba yari ifite ubwishingizi muri BRITAM. Urukiko rusanga nanone nta mpaka zihari ku bijyanye no kuba abantu bari muri iyo modoka bari barenze umubare w’ abantu bafatiwe ubwishingizi. [11] Impaka zikaba zikaba zishingiye no kumenya niba sosiyete y’ubwishingizi yaryozwa ikosa ryakozwe n’ umushoferi w’ imodoka. Urukiko rusanga ikibazo gisa nk’iki cyaracyemuwe mu rubanza rwaciwe n’ Urukiko rw’ikirenga rwavuzwe haruguru aho Akarere ka Kirehe kaburanaga na societe d’assurance Saham n’ abandi bantu; aho muri urwo rubanza Uwitwa Mbonyinshuti n’abandi baregaga Saham Assurance Rwanda Ltd (yahindutse Sanlam Assurances Générales Plc) mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Ngoma bayisaba kwishyura indishyi zikomoka ku mpanuka yakozwe n’imodoka yo mu bwoko bwa Fuso igahitana Sinzabakwira mu bantu 52 yari itwaye inyuma. Sanlam Assurances Générales Plc yireguye ivuga ko nta ndishyi igomba kuryozwa kuko imodoka yahitanye Sinzabakwira yari yafashwe n'Akarere ka Kirehe, ipakiye abantu barenga umubare w’abo yishingiye, ndetse itwawe n’umuntu udafite

uruhushya rwo kuyitwara. Urukiko rw’ikirenga mu rubanza rwasabarwaga gusubirwamo rwanzuye ko Urukiko rurasanga Gatashya Ezra yaremeye gutwara abagenzi ahapakirwa imizigo, atwara abantu 52 kandi azi ko afite ubwishingizi bw’abantu batatu gusa, yemera kandi ko imodoka ye y’ikamyo itwarwa n’umushoferi udafite uruhushya rwo kuyitwara, ibi rero ntabwo ari uburangare busanzwe (négligence ordinaire) ubundi butaganisha ku guteganya cyangwa gushaka impanuka, nta n’ikigaragaza ko yari agambiriye indonke (risques calculés), ahubwo ni amakosa yo kutubahiriza inshingano yari afite mu masezerano y’ubwishingizi, ayo makosa akaba yarayakoze abizi kandi abishaka kuko kugeza ubu abazungura be batabasha kugaragaza impamvu ikomeye yatumye ayakora. Urukiko rurasanga, nk’uko abahanga mu mategeko y’ubwishingizi babivuga, ingaruka zo kuba nyir’imodoka yarakoze amakosa yo kutubahiriza inshingano afite mu masezerano y’ubwishingizi abizi kandi abishaka ni uko ayo makosa adashobora kurengerwa n’amasezerano y’ubwishingizi haba ku bimureba cyangwa abangirijwe n’ikinyabiziga cyishingiwe, ariyo mpamvu ku bijyanye n’uru rubanza indishyi zigomba gucibwa abazungura ba Gatashya Ezra bonyine kuko ari we utarubahirije inshingano yari afite mu masezerano y’ubwishingizi. [12] Hashingiwe kuri ibyo bimaze gusobanurwa haruguru, Urukiko Rukuru rusanga ntaho rwahera ruvuga ko BRITAM yaryozwa amakosa yakozwe n’umushoferi

w’imodoka aho yapakiye imodoka abantu barenga kubo yagenwe bikamuviramo impanuka yakomerekeyemo Uwanyirigira Donatha. Naho kuba umwunganira avuga ko uburyozwe batabushingira ku masezerano ko babushingira ku ikosa, ruhereye ko busobanuro bw’ijambo (tort liability) uburyozwe buturuka ku ikosa bwatanzwe na Ministeri y’ubutabera, mu nyandiko yayo yiswe “Glossary on legal terms”, basobanura ko ari uburyozwe butegeka uwakoze ikosa kuriha ibyangiritse biturutse kuri iryo kosa rye. Bityo Uwanyirigira akaba atagaragaza ko hari ikosa BRITAM yamukoreye ku buryo Urukiko rwaheraho ruyitegeka kwishyura indishyi zikomoka kuri ryo kosa avuga ko ryakozwe ritakozwe na sosiyete y’ubwishingizi ryakozwe na shoferi w’ikinyabiziga; rusanga ntaho rwahera rutegeka sosiyete y’ubwishingizi kwishyura indishyi zikomoka ku makosa yakozwe na shoferi kandi ayo makosa akaba atari mu yishingiwe

Page 5

n’umwishingizi. Bityo rugasanga nta kosa Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge rwakoze rwanga guha indishyi Uwanyirigira. [13] Ibijyanye n’ imanza zaciwe harimo n’urw’ Urukiko Rukuru rusanga rutagenderwaho muri uru rubanza hagendewe ko rwaciwe n’ Urukiko ruri ku rwego rumwe n’ uru byongeye ihame rya stare decisis1 rikaba rirebana n’ ibyemezo by’inkiko bikuriye Urukiko kandi nkuko byagaragajwe haruguru , hakaba hari urubanza rwaciwe n’ Urukiko rw’ikirenga rutanga umurongo ku bibazo bisa nk’ibi. Mu rubanza RS/INCONST/SPEC 00002/2019/SC,Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rukaba rwaremeje ko ‘’Mu rwego rwo kubahiriza amahame ashingiye ku kubahiriza umurongo wafashwe (stare decisis), buri Rukiko rugomba kubahiriza umurongo rwafashe ku kibazo runaka cyangwa umurongo wafashwe kuri icyo kibazo n’urukiko rurukuriye’’.2 Bityo akaba atagaragaza ko urwo rubanza avuga ibiruvugwamo ari umurongo wafashwe n’ Urukiko ku buryo muri uru rubanza wagenderwaho. B. Kumenya niba indishyi zisabwa zatangwa zose. [14] Ingingo ya 111 y’ itegeko nomero 22/2018 ryo kuwa 29/4/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza mbonezamubano, iz’ ubucuruzi, umurimo n’ ubutegetsi ivuga ko Ikirego cy’amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza ni ikirego gishamikira ku kirego cy’iremezo kigamije kwishyuza ibyakoreshejwe mu rubanza. Ikirego cy’amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza kiburanishirizwa rimwe n’ikirego cy’iremezo. Gishobora kandi kwakirwa

kikanaburanishwa n’iyo ikirego cy’iremezo cyaba kitakiriwe. [15] Urukiko rusanga indishyi zisabwa na Uwanyirigira Donath nta shingiro zifite kuko ubujurire bwe nta shingiro bwahawe. [16] Ku bijyanye n’indishyi zisabwa na BRITAM rusanga yahabwa 100 000 frw y’ikurikiranarubanza n’ igihembo cy’ avoka cya 250 000 frw. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [17] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwa Uwanyirigira Donatha nta shingiro bufite. [18] Rwemeje ko imikirize y’ urubanza RC 00955/2020/TGI/NYGE rwaciwe n’ Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge kuwa 21/1/2022 idahindutse. [19] Rutegetse Uwanyirigira Donatha guha BRITAM indishyi za 100 000 frw z’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cy’avoka cya 250 000 frw ku rwego rw’ ubujurire. [20] Rwemeje ko ingwate y’igarama urega yatanze ahwana n’ibyakozwe mu rubanza. 1 Abahanga mu mategeko bavuga ko Stare decisis, meaning in Latin “to stand by things decided,” is a legal principle that directs courts to adhere to previous judgments (or judgments of higher tribunals) while resolving a case with allegedly comparable facts. Tugenekereje mu Kinyarwanda bishatse kuvuga ko kugendera ku murongo w’ibyemezo byafashwe n’inkiko ari ihame risobanuye ko inkiko zisabwa kubahiriza ibyemezo by’inkiko byafashwe n’inkiko zizikuriye ( https://legal.thomsonreuters.com/blog/the-doctrine-of-stare-decisis/). 2 Reba urubanza N°RS/INCONST/SPEC 00002/2019/SCrwo ku wa 4/Ukuboza 2019.