The Supreme Court held that daughters had equal inheritance rights and that the disputed land remained family property of Ruhabura Jean, not Baganizi François.
The court held that, for successions opened before the 1999 inheritance law, courts must apply prior judicial decisions that recognized equal inheritance rights for women, based on constitutional and international equality principles. Customary law excluding women from inheritance is invalid where it conflicts with these principles. Therefore, both families (Kabera Charles and Usabuwera) are entitled to equal shares (50% each) of the estate. Damages claimed by Mukagasana were denied for lack of demonstrated harm.