Rwanda Case Law

DUSHIMIMANA v ASA MICROFINANCE Plc

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RS/INJUST/RSOC 00001/2024/CA

ASA MICROFINANCE Plc unlawfully terminated Dushimimana Jonathan’s fixed-term employment contract without notice and without serious misconduct, contrary to the applicable labour law. The respondent failed to provide notice or pay in lieu thereof, and the applicant is entitled to damages equal to the net salary for the remaining contract period, notice pay, and damages for lack of work certificate. Claims for overtime, severance, and additional damages were denied due to lack of evidence or statutory basis.

Source excerpt

• Unlawful dismissal
• Notice of termination
• Employment contract
• Damages for wrongful termination
• Final payment
• Legal costs

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GROUPE SCOLAIRE ADB-NYARUTARAMA v. IBYIMANABIRIZANA

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RS/INJUST/RSOC00014/2022/CA

The Court of Appeal rejected a review-for-injustice request, upheld prior rulings, and found the employer unlawfully dismissed the employee without following required procedures.

• Unfair dismissal
• Employment contract termination
• Jurisdiction
• Damages for wrongful termination
• Unfair-dismissal
• Employment-contract-termination

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KAYITABA vs. WOMEN FOR WOMEN INTERNATIONAL

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RS/INJUST/RSOC 00003/2022/CA

The applicant was not dismissed for gross misconduct as defined by law; the employer failed to prove the alleged misconduct met the legal threshold and did not follow proper procedures. Therefore, the dismissal was unlawful, entitling the applicant to damages, severance, notice pay, and partial salary for February 2012.

Source excerpt

• Unlawful dismissal
• Summary dismissal
• Severance pay
• Notice period
• Employment contract
• Damages for wrongful termination

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NIYONAGIZE v. DUHUZUMURIMO WA KAROTI

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

RS/INJUST/RSOC 00012/2022/SC

The Supreme Court held that the employer failed to prove misconduct and unlawfully dismissed the worker, awarding damages and rejecting new claims on review.

• Unlawful dismissal
• Burden of proof in employment termination
• Damages for wrongful termination
• Procedural objections in review
• Employment contract interpretation
• Unlawful-dismissal

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SONARWA LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD v RUGINA

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

RS/INJUST/RSOC 00001/2022/SC

The Supreme Court held that the application for review due to injustice lacked merit because the applicant failed to appeal certain grounds within the legal time limit and did not demonstrate any injustice in the Court of Appeal's judgment. The Court confirmed that the respondent was entitled to equal pay for equal work as Branch Manager, that his salary claims were not prescribed due to continuous claims, and that damages and other awards were properly calculated based on net salary. The employer failed to justify salary disparities among employees at the same level.

Source excerpt

• Equal pay for equal work
• Unlawful dismissal
• Salary discrimination
• Prescription of salary claims
• Damages for wrongful termination
• Procedural requirements for review

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BAKHRESA GRAIN MILLING RWANDA LTD v. RUTIKANGA

Court

High Court

Case number

RSOCA 0135/14/HC/KIG

The High Court held that a Human Resource Manager with delegated authority could dismiss the employee, but the employer failed to prove the dismissal reason stated in the letter.

• Unlawful dismissal
• Authority to dismiss
• Admissibility of new evidence on appeal
• Damages for wrongful termination
• Wrongful-dismissal
• Delegated-authority

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SEBERA v. RWANDA DEVELOPMENT BOARD (RDB)

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

RADA 0024/13/CS

The Supreme Court held that Sebera’s dismissal by RDB was unlawful because the employer did not properly evaluate him and exceeded the six-month suspension period.

• Unlawful dismissal
• Public service employment
• Damages for wrongful termination
• Performance evaluation procedures
• Unlawful-dismissal
• Public-service-employment

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NSENGIYUMVA v. KIBIRIRA CHILDREN CENTER

Court

High Court

Case number

RSOCA 002613HC

The High Court held that NSENGIYUMVA was unfairly dismissed without proper notice or grounds, rejected prescription, and awarded damages and costs.

• Unfair dismissal
• Labour contract
• Prescription of labour claims
• Damages for wrongful termination
• Unfair-dismissal
• Labour-claims-prescription

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ZIRAMUKWIYE v. BANKI Y’ABATURAGE Y’URWANDA

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

RSOCAA 0013/11/CS

The Supreme Court found that the dismissal was not based on valid reasons as required by law, as the evidence did not support the Bank's claims of misconduct or negligence. The Court held that damages for wrongful dismissal were due, but the Ministerial Order on severance pay was inconsistent with the Labour Law and thus not applicable. Only damages and legal fees awarded at first instance were upheld.

Source excerpt

• Unlawful dismissal
• Employment contracts
• Severance pay
• Damages for wrongful termination

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ZIRAMUKWIYE V. BANQUE POPULAIRE DU RWANDA SA

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

RSOCAA 0013/11/CS

The Supreme Court found that Ziramukwiye was unfairly dismissed as the evidence did not support the allegations of negligence or mismanagement, and the loan approvals followed proper procedures. The Court held that the Ministerial Order on accompanying allowance was inconsistent with the Labour Law and could not be the basis for such an award. Damages for unfair dismissal were upheld, but the accompanying allowance was disallowed.

Source excerpt

• Unfair dismissal
• Employment contract termination
• Damages for wrongful termination
• Ministerial orders vs statutes
• Accompanying allowance
• Court fees

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