Rwanda Case Law

BK GENERAL INSURANCE Co Ltd v IRAGUHA

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

RS/INJUST/RC 00016/2024/SC

The Supreme Court held that the correct daily income for a motorcycle taxi operator is 6,444 Frw/day, the disability percentage is 56% as per the state hospital report, and the deposit rate to be used is 10.10% as published by BNR on the date of the High Court judgment. Only the calculation of economic damages was adjusted; all other awards from the High Court were upheld. Legal fees and follow-up costs were denied as the respondent was not entirely successful.

Source excerpt

• Calculation of damages
• Personal injury compensation
• Deposit rate application
• Assessment of disability
• Motorcycle taxi income estimation

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PRIME INSURANCE COMPANY Ltd v SHUMBUSHO

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

RS/INJUST/RC00027/2024/SC

Shumbusho Dan complied with statutory requirements by submitting a complete dossier including the police accident report and seeking settlement in good faith. Prime Insurance Company Ltd failed to demonstrate procedural irregularity or lack of evidence. Damages were correctly calculated based on Supreme Court precedent for professional motorcycle taxi drivers. The request for review based on alleged injustice was unfounded.

Source excerpt

• Motor vehicle accident compensation
• Procedural requirements for claims
• Quantification of damages
• Burden of proof

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SONARWA GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY Ltd v NDIZEYE

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

RS/INJUST/RC 00018/2024/SC

The Supreme Court rejected SONARWA’s revision for injustice, holding it could not raise new claims absent from the earlier proceedings, and affirmed the damages award.

• Revision for injustice
• Motor vehicle insurance
• Cross-border accidents
• Damages calculation
• Revision-for-injustice
• Civil-procedure

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SANLAM ALLIANZ GI Plc v. UWAMBAJIMANA N’ABANDI

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RCAA 00003/2025/CA

The Court of Appeal dismissed SANLAM ALLIANZ GI Plc’s appeal, holding that its third-party opposition was filed out of time and could not be admitted.

• Third party opposition
• Limitation periods
• Motor accident liability
• Compensation
• Procedural bars
• Third-party-opposition

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NSENGIYUMVA vs PRIME INSURANCE LTD

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

RS/INJUST/RC 00025/2024/SC

The Supreme Court held that a passenger injured in an insured vehicle was a third party entitled to statutory compensation, and awarded damages based on minimum-wage rules.

• Compulsory motor vehicle insurance
• Third party compensation
• Calculation of damages
• Standing of passenger
• Application of presidential decree
• Burden of proof for income

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NIKUZE N’ABANDI v. RADIANT INSURANCE COMPANY N’UNDI

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RCAA 00031/2024/CA

The Court of Appeal declined second-appeal jurisdiction, holding that only damages awarded in the appealed judgment count toward the statutory threshold.

• Jurisdiction
• Damages
• Appeal
• Repealed law
• Appellate-jurisdiction
• Civil-procedure

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RADIANT vs CWINYAAI [

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

RS/INJUST/RC 00024/2024/SC

The Supreme Court held that compensation for permanent disability below 30% must be calculated using the statutory minimum wage (SMIG) as per Presidential Order No. 31/01, Article 17. For loss of earning capacity, the Court found that Cwinyaai provided sufficient evidence of employment through a salary certificate, and that damages should be calculated based on his net salary. The lower court's awards were adjusted accordingly.

Source excerpt

• Personal injury compensation
• Permanent disability
• Loss of earning capacity
• Calculation of damages
• Burden of proof for employment
• Application of minimum wage (smig)

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SANLAM AG Plc vs TURYASINGURA

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

RS/INJUST/RC 00012/2024/SC

The Supreme Court partly granted SANLAM AG Plc’s review, upheld most of the damages analysis, and ordered Turyasingura Victor to refund overpaid expenses.

• Compensation for motor vehicle accident
• Medical expenses reimbursement
• Cross-border medical treatment
• Burden of proof for damages
• Review on grounds of injustice
• Motor-vehicle-accident-compensation

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IMIRONGO SC FEBUARY – JULY 2025

Court

Supreme Court

There was no valid settlement agreement between the applicants and SONARWA as required by law, and the limitation period was suspended due to ongoing negotiations. Therefore, the claim was not time-barred and applicants were entitled to pursue compensation.

Source excerpt

• Authority and rights of representatives in settlement agreements
• Limitation period for compensation claims
• Compensation for road accident damages

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IMANZA Z'UBWISHINGIZI ZACIWE N'URUKIKO RW'IKIRENGA (Insurance digest Supreme Court 2025)

Court

Supreme Court

Permanent disability from a traffic accident entitles the victim to economic loss and career prejudice compensation regardless of whether employment or income was lost, provided the disability is medically certified. Career prejudice compensation is not limited to those who lost jobs but extends to anyone whose professional prospects are diminished by the injury. Dependency claims by adults require proof of actual support and need. For self-employed or informal workers, damages are calculated on net income or sector benchmarks. Compulsory motor insurance does not cover workplace accidents, wh…

Source excerpt

• Personal injury compensation
• Permanent disability
• Economic loss
• Career prejudice
• Funeral expenses
• Dependency claims

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