Rwanda Case Law

UBUSHINJACYAHA v MUKANTWARI

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPAA 00448/2025/CA

The appellate court held that the appellant's confession during investigation, corroborated by evidence, established her guilt for trafficking and selling cannabis. Her subsequent denial in court did not outweigh the probative value of her earlier statements. The court found no basis to reclassify the offence or further reduce the sentence, as the lower court had already applied mitigating circumstances appropriately. The appeal was dismissed and the prior judgment affirmed.

Source excerpt

• Drug trafficking
• Burden of proof
• Evidentiary value of confessions
• Judicial discretion in sentencing

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UBUSHINJACYAHA v HATEGEKIMANA

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPAA 00389/2024/CA

The Court of Appeal held that a recanted confession can still be believed if the judge finds it credible. It dismissed Hategekimana Daniel’s appeal and upheld his drug-trafficking conviction and sentence.

• Drug trafficking
• Accomplice liability
• Evidentiary value of confessions
• Mitigating circumstances
• Criminal-law
• Drug-trafficking

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UBUSHINJACYAHA v. NYIRANSABIMANA

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPAA00195/2025/CA

The Court of Appeal upheld Nyiransabimana Zawadi’s drug-trafficking conviction, relying on seized cannabis, witness testimony, and his investigative confession.

• Drug trafficking
• Sentencing
• Appeal procedure
• Evidentiary value of confessions
• Mitigating circumstances
• Drug-trafficking

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UBUSHINJACYAHA v. NDUNGUTSE

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPAA 00762/2024/CA

The court found that Ndungutse Djihad's confession, corroborated by witness testimony and physical evidence, established his guilt for both consumption and trafficking of cannabis. The request to reclassify the offence was unsupported by contrary evidence. The minimum sentence prescribed by law applies and cannot be further reduced.

Source excerpt

• Drug offences
• Appeal procedure
• Sentencing
• Evidentiary value of confessions

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UBUSHINJACYAHA v. MUKAGATARE

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPAA 00437/2023/CA

Mukagatare Annonciatha's conviction was based on credible evidence including her own confessions during investigation, corroborated by co-accused and witness statements. Her claims of coercion and witness bias were unsupported by evidence. The sentence reduction already granted was adequate given the seriousness of the offence and the quantity of drugs involved; no further reduction was warranted.

Source excerpt

• Drug trafficking
• Evidentiary value of confessions
• Sentencing reduction
• Appeal procedure

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UBUSHINJACYAHA vs MASHIMANGO

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPA 00018/2024/CA

The Court of Appeal dismissed Mashimango’s appeal, upheld his conviction for membership in a terrorist organization, and confirmed the eight-year prison sentence.

• Membership in a terrorist organization
• Evidentiary value of confessions
• Assessment of witness testimony
• Right to interpretation and fair trial
• Appeal procedure
• Criminal-appeal

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UBUSHINJACYAHA v. MBARUSHIMANA

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPAA 00349/2023/CA 01

The Court of Appeal upheld a conviction for cannabis trafficking, finding the quantity and investigative confession showed intent to sell. It reduced only the fine.

• Drug offences
• Sentencing
• Appeals
• Evidentiary value of confessions
• Drug-offences
• Criminal-appeals

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UBUSHINJACYAHA v SINKURIRYAYO

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPAA 00083/2024/CA

The appellate court found that the confession made by Sinkuriryayo Steven before the prosecution was credible and consistent with the facts, and there was no evidence of coercion. The large quantity of drugs (3000 packages) justified the conviction for trafficking rather than mere possession. However, considering it was his first offense and for proportionality with similar cases, the sentence was reduced from life imprisonment to 25 years' imprisonment and a fine of 5,000,000 Frw.

Source excerpt

• Drug trafficking
• Evidentiary value of confessions
• Sentencing guidelines

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UBUSHINJACYAHA vs BARIGIZE

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPAA 00508/2024/CA

The appellant's confession during investigation and prosecution, corroborated by witness testimony, established beyond doubt that he was trafficking cannabis. Retraction at trial did not undermine the probative value of his earlier admissions. The sentence imposed by the High Court was the minimum allowed by law for the offence proven.

Source excerpt

• Drug offences
• Appeal procedure
• Evidentiary value of confessions

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IMIRONGO CoA March 2023 Bookllet no 6

Court

Court of Appeal

The Court of Appeal held that a confession made during investigation, even if later retracted at trial, does not automatically lose its evidentiary value. The trial judge has the authority to evaluate the credibility and weight of such a confession, considering all the circumstances and corroborating evidence. In this case, the confession was consistent with other testimonies and facts, and thus was given probative value.

Source excerpt

• Sexual offences against minors
• Evidentiary value of confessions
• Appeals procedure

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