Rwanda Case Law

UBUSHINJACYAHA vs HAKIZIMANA

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPAA00265/2023/CA

The appellate court found that the evidence relied upon by the lower courts—including the victim's testimony, corroborating witness statements, and the medical report—was consistent and credible. The appellant's alibi was not sufficiently substantiated, and discrepancies in timing or minor inconsistencies in witness accounts did not undermine the prosecution's case. The court held that the prosecution proved the offence beyond reasonable doubt and upheld the conviction and sentence.

Source excerpt

• Defilement of a minor
• Alibi defence
• Evidentiary standards
• Assessment of witness credibility
• Medical evidence in sexual offences

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UBUSHINJACYAHA v. UWIMPUHWE

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPAA 00525/2023/CA

The Court of Appeal upheld Uwimpuhwe Claude’s conviction for defilement of a minor, holding that a medical report is not conclusive where other evidence proves the offence.

• Defilement of a minor
• Evidentiary value of medical reports
• Confession in criminal proceedings
• Assessment of witness credibility
• Criminal-law
• Defilement-of-a-minor

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UBUSHINJACYAHA v. NTIBIBUKA

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPA 00018/2022/CA

The Court of Appeal upheld Ntibibuka Olivier’s conviction, finding witness testimony credible and reclassifying the offence under Article 204 rather than Article 194.

• Spreading false information
• Incitement to public disorder
• Assessment of witness credibility
• Burden of proof
• Interpretation of criminal statutes
• Criminal-law

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UBUSHINJACYAHA v TWAGIRAYEZU

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPA/GEN 00001/2024/CA

The Court of Appeal found that the High Court erred in its assessment of the alibi and witness credibility. The prosecution met its burden to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Twagirayezu Wenceslas was present in Rwanda and participated in multiple attacks constituting genocide and crimes against humanity. Minor inconsistencies in witness testimony did not undermine the core evidence. The absence of his name in Gacaca records was not determinative. The Court convicted Twagirayezu of genocide and crimes against humanity and imposed a 20-year prison sentence, finding no sufficient aggravating…

Source excerpt

• Genocide
• Crimes against humanity
• Evidentiary law
• Alibi defence
• Assessment of witness credibility
• Appeal procedure

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UBUSHINJACYAHA v. MUGENZI

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPAA 00009/2021/CA

The court found that Mugenzi Samuel's confession during investigation, corroborated by the child's testimony, medical report, and other witness statements, constituted reliable evidence. Allegations of coercion and conflicts were unsupported by any proof. The law does not require confessions to be made only in court to have evidentiary value. The appeal lacked merit and the conviction and sentence were upheld.

Source excerpt

• Child sexual abuse
• Evidentiary value of confession
• Assessment of witness credibility

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UBUSHINJACYAHA v KABILIMA

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPAA/GEN00009/2019/CA

The Court of Appeal found Kabilima Jean Damascène’s alibi unsupported, upheld key witness evidence and CNLG records, and convicted him of genocide and complicity.

• Genocide
• Alibi defence
• Assessment of witness credibility
• Complicity in genocide
• Sentencing principles
• Alibi-defence

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PROSECUTION v. NIYOMURAGIJE

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPAA 00475/2018/CA

The Court of Appeal acquitted Niyomuragije of murdering his parent, holding that conflict, contradictions, and untested blood evidence did not prove guilt.

• Murder
• Standard of proof
• Circumstantial evidence
• Self-incrimination
• Assessment of witness credibility
• Criminal-law

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MUTUYEYEZU v. FONDS DE GARANTIE AUTOMOBILE (Fonds Spécial de Garantie)ion

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

RCAA 0037/11/CS

The Supreme Court held that the accident was caused by the appellant’s excessive speed, not an unidentified vehicle, and dismissed the appeal.

• Motor vehicle accident compensation
• Reopening of criminal investigation
• Assessment of witness credibility
• Administrative vs judicial decisions
• Damages and costs
• Motor-vehicle-accident-compensation

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UBUSHINJACYAHA v. MVUKIYEHE

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

RPAA 0195/09/CS

The Supreme Court upheld a rape conviction, accepted witness and medical evidence, and reduced the sentence to 12 years and a 100,000 RWF fine.

• Rape of a minor
• Assessment of witness credibility
• Medical evidence admissibility
• Mitigation of sentence
• Criminal-law
• Evidence-law

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