Rwanda Case Law

HAKIZIMANA v. UBUSHINJACYAHA

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPAA 00120/2025/CA

The appellate court held that the confession of the accused, made in the presence of counsel and corroborated by witness testimony and physical evidence, was sufficient to uphold the conviction for defilement of a minor. The court found no credible evidence of coercion and determined that the lack of forensic testing did not undermine the sufficiency of the evidence. The sentence of 15 years' imprisonment was affirmed.

Source excerpt

• Defilement of a minor
• Admissibility of confessions
• Weight of evidence
• Criminal procedure

Read case analysis

UBUSHINJACYAHA v NIYONSENGA

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPAA 00287/2025/CA

The Court of Appeal upheld Niyonsenga Bosco’s conviction for defilement, holding that his investigative confession was reliable and the medical report did not negate the offence.

• Rape of a minor
• Admissibility of confessions
• Value of medical evidence
• Child witness testimony
• Criminal-law
• Evidence-law

Read case analysis

UBUSHINJACYAHA vs MURWANASHYAKA

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPAA01444/2024/CA

The Court of Appeal found that there was no sufficient and credible evidence, beyond reasonable doubt, to convict Murwanashyaka Asmani Appolinaire of defilement of a minor. The confession was not corroborated by other evidence, the child’s testimony was not supported as required by law, and the prosecution failed to provide conclusive proof. Therefore, the conviction was overturned and the accused acquitted.

Source excerpt

• Sexual offences against children
• Standard of proof
• Admissibility of confessions
• Weight of child testimony
• Appeal procedure

Read case analysis

UBUSHINJACYAHA v. MUHIMPUNDU

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RPAA00188/2024/CA

The Court of Appeal upheld Muhimpundu’s conviction for defilement, finding the evidence reliable, but reduced his sentence from 25 to 15 years.

• Evidence in criminal cases
• Child sexual abuse
• Mitigation of sentence
• Admissibility of confessions
• Criminal-evidence
• Confession-admissibility

Read case analysis