Rwanda Case Law

KAMIZIKUNZE N’UNDI v. UBUSHINJACYAHA

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPAA 00254/2023/CA

The Court of Appeal found that both Kamizikunze Emmanuel and Ufitimana Jacques had not previously benefited from sentence reduction despite admitting guilt and being first-time offenders for the sexual offences. The court held these as mitigating factors warranting a reduction of their sentences to 17 years each, combining 13 years for the sexual offence and 4 years for theft, with a fine for Kamizikunze.

Source excerpt

• Rape
• Defilement
• Theft
• Sentencing
• Mitigating circumstances
• Appeal procedure

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UBUSHINJACYAHA v. HABARUREMA

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPAA 00403/2025/CA

The Court of Appeal upheld Habarurema’s conviction for rape of a mentally disabled person, but reduced his sentence to 9 years and a 500,000 Frw fine.

• Rape
• Sexual violence
• Disability
• Evidence
• Sentencing
• Mitigating circumstances

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UBUSHINJACYAHA v UWIMANA

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPAA 00433/2023/CA

The appeal was not admitted because it was filed after the statutory 30-day period from the date of judgment delivery, and the appellant failed to provide evidence that the delay was caused by circumstances beyond his control attributable to the prison administration.

Source excerpt

• Appeal deadlines
• Murder
• Rape
• Procedural default

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UBUSHINJACYAHA v. NAHIMANA

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPAA 00510/2021/CA

The conviction for defilement of a minor was improper due to insufficient admissible evidence of the complainant's age. However, the evidence established that Nahimana Muhamadi engaged in non-consensual sexual intercourse with the complainant, constituting rape under Article 134 of Law No. 68/2018. The sentence was reduced to 10 years' imprisonment and a fine of 1,000,000 RWF, considering mitigating factors.

Source excerpt

• Sexual offences
• Rape
• Appeal
• Evidentiary requirements

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UBUSHINJACYAHA v NIYONIZEYE

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPAA 00441/2020/CA

The Court of Appeal upheld a rape conviction, finding the victim’s and witnesses’ testimony reliable and corroborated, but reduced the sentence to 10 years.

• Rape
• Sexual violence
• Evidence assessment
• Disability in criminal proceedings
• Criminal-law
• Criminal-procedure

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UBUSHINJACYAHA vs. NTAGANZWA Ladislas

Court

High Court

Case number

RP/GEN 00001/2016/HC/HCCI

The court found that Ntaganzwa Ladislas, as Bourgmestre and MDR leader, intentionally organized, ordered, and participated in attacks against Tutsi civilians in Nyakizu, including at Cyahinda parish and surrounding areas, resulting in mass killings and sexual violence. The court held that minor inconsistencies in witness testimony did not undermine the core facts, and that documentary evidence and international jurisprudence supported the prosecution's case. The court rejected the defense's arguments on lack of intent, authority, and retroactivity, holding that genocide and crimes against hum…

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• Genocide
• Crimes against humanity
• Extermination
• Rape
• Command responsibility
• Incitement to genocide

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PROSECUTOR v. NDAGIJIMANA

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

RPAA 0149/12/CS

The Supreme Court upheld Ndagijimana’s conviction for child defilement, relying on his pre-trial admissions and corroborating evidence, but reduced the sentence to 20 years.

• Child defilement
• Rape
• Evidence assessment
• Confession retraction
• Mitigating circumstances
• Penalty reduction

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PROSECUTION v. MANIRAGABA_180827_en

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

RPAA0257/10/CS

The Supreme Court of Rwanda upheld a child defilement conviction, finding documentary evidence proved the complainant was under 18 and that consent was legally irrelevant.

• Child defilement
• Rape
• Evidence admissibility
• Age determination
• Damages
• Child-defilement

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KAREMERA et al. JUDGEMENT AND SENTENCE

Court

International Tribunal for Rwanda

Case number

ICTR-98-44-T

Trial Chamber III of the ICTR delivered judgment and sentence in Karemera and Ngirumpatse on 2 February 2012.

• Genocide
• Crimes against humanity
• War crimes
• Command responsibility
• Joint criminal enterprise
• Rape

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THE PROSECUTOR v. JEAN-BAPTISTE GATETE (TRIAL JUDGMENT)

Court

International Tribunal for Rwanda

Case number

ICTR-2000-61-T

The Chamber found beyond reasonable doubt that Gatete planned, instigated, ordered, committed through joint criminal enterprise, and aided and abetted the killing of Tutsis in Rwankuba sector, and at Kiziguro and Mukarange parishes, with genocidal intent. The evidence established his central role in planning and directing large-scale massacres, and that his authority and orders were a substantial factor in the commission of the crimes. The Chamber held that cumulative convictions for genocide and extermination as a crime against humanity were permissible, but not for both genocide and conspir…

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• Genocide
• Crimes against humanity
• Extermination
• Murder
• Rape
• Conspiracy to commit genocide

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