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Rwanda Case Law

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Criminal law RPAA 00125/2023/CA

KARENZO v. UBUSHINJACYAHA

The Court of Appeal upheld Karenzo’s conviction for defilement of an 11-year-old child, found the evidence reliable, and reduced the sentence from 25 to 15 years.

  • Defilement of a minor
  • Assessment of evidence
  • Testimony of related witnesses
  • Reduction of sentence for first offenders
  • Defilement-of-a-minor
  • Evaluation-of-evidence
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Criminal law RPAA 01340/2024/CA

UBUSHINJACYAHA v BIZIMANA

The Court of Appeal quashed Bizimana Aloys’s conviction for defilement, finding the evidence inconsistent and insufficient to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

  • Standard of proof
  • Sexual offences
  • Appeals
  • Assessment of evidence
  • Benefit of doubt
  • Criminal-appeal
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Criminal law RPAA01124/2024/CA

UBUSHINJACYAHA v. IYAMUNGU

The Court of Appeal held that witness testimony and a medical report, taken together, proved defilement of a minor and dismissed the appeal.

  • Sexual offences against minors
  • Standard of proof in criminal cases
  • Assessment of evidence
  • Appeals procedure
  • Criminal-law
  • Evidence-law
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Criminal law RPAA01329/2024/CA

UBUSHINJACYAHA v. NSHIMIYIMANA

The conviction was upheld because the evidence from the accused's own statements, the victim's mother, an eyewitness, and the medical report collectively established beyond reasonable doubt that Nshimiyimana Jacques committed the offence of defilement. The court found the defence arguments unconvincing and the evidence consistent with the legal definition of the crime. However, the sentence was reduced to 18 years' imprisonment due to mitigating factors, including it being the accused's first offence and his young age at the time.

  • Sexual offences against children
  • Assessment of evidence
  • Appeals
  • Sentencing
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Criminal law RPAA01316/2024/CA

UBUSHINJACYAHA v. BIBAMBISI

The Court of Appeal dismissed the accused’s appeal, upheld his conviction for drug possession, and held that related witnesses’ testimony may be relied on if assessed by the court.

  • Drug offences
  • Assessment of evidence
  • Witness credibility
  • Procedural errors
  • Criminal-law
  • Drug-offences
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Criminal law RPAA 00866/2024/CA

UBUSHINJACYAHA v KAMBARI

The Court of Appeal found that the testimonies of the victim and witness were consistent and corroborated by the medical report, which showed physical signs of sexual assault. The defense’s alternative explanations were unsupported and contradicted by the evidence. The court held that the conviction was based on reliable, corroborated evidence and that the sentence imposed was appropriate given the gravity of the offence.

  • Sexual offences against children
  • Assessment of evidence
  • Standard of proof in criminal cases
  • Appeals procedure
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Criminal law RPAA 01352/2024/CA

UBUSHINJACYAHA v. NDWANIYE

The Court of Appeal dismissed Ndwaniye Damascène’s challenge to his 15-year sentence for defilement of a minor, holding the conviction was supported by evidence.

  • Sexual offences
  • Appeals
  • Burden of proof
  • Assessment of evidence
  • Criminal-law
  • Sexual-offences
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Criminal law RPAA 01424/2024/CA

UBUSHINJACYAHA v. KWIHANGANA

The appeal was dismissed because the evidence from the victim, her mother, grandmother, and the medical report was consistent and sufficient to prove defilement beyond reasonable doubt. No credible evidence of family disputes or fabrication was presented. However, the sentence was reduced due to mitigating factors: the accused was a first-time offender and was 18 at the time of the offence.

  • Sexual offences against minors
  • Assessment of evidence
  • Appeals procedure
  • Sentencing
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Criminal law RPAA 00389/2023/CA

UBUSHINJACYAHA vs NSENGIYUMVA

The Court of Appeal acquitted Nsengiyumva Sam, finding the evidence insufficient and contradictory to prove defilement beyond reasonable doubt.

  • Standard of proof
  • Sexual offences against minors
  • Assessment of evidence
  • Presumption of innocence
  • Appeals
  • Criminal-appeal
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Criminal law RPAA 00234/2022/CA

UBUSHINJACYAHA v MUGABO

The Court of Appeal upheld Mugabo Faustin’s conviction for defilement, but reduced his sentence from life imprisonment to 14 years for proportionality.

  • Defilement
  • Sentencing
  • Appeal
  • Assessment of evidence
  • Criminal-law
  • Evidence-assessment
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Rwanda decisions are organised by court, judge, legal area and indexed issue so a practitioner can move from a proposition to a citable authority with the surrounding context intact.