Rwanda Case Law

IRIBAGIZA v. MUKANYONGA

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RCAA 00018/2023/CA

The court held that Mukanyonga Félicité did not prove she was the sole heir of her late mother and therefore lacked standing and legal capacity to sue for the estate in her own name. Consequently, the lower courts erred in accepting her claim. All related judgments were set aside, and the matter reverted to its prior status.

Source excerpt

• Standing to sue
• Succession rights
• Burden of proof in inheritance
• Jurisdiction of courts
• Effect of prior judgments
• Procedural requirements for inheritance claims

Read case analysis

AIFAYI NABANDI v BIZIMANA

Court

High Court

Case number

RS/INJUST/RC 00014/2020/HC/KIG

The court held that only Ruticumugambi Innocent, who received the sale proceeds, is liable to reimburse the buyers for the purchase price; the other heirs are only jointly liable for the value of improvements made to the property. Restitution orders against respondents for properties no longer in their possession or acquired from third parties are invalid. No party is entitled to damages as each prevailed on some claims.

Source excerpt

• Inheritance dispute
• Restitution of property
• Liability for proceeds of sale
• Effect of prior judgments
• Expropriation
• Standing in rehearing for injustice

Read case analysis

RUSANGANWA v MUSABYIMANA N’ABANDI

Court

High Court

Case number

RS/INJUST/RC 00002/2020/HC/RWG

The High Court found that Rusanganwa Frederic was unjustly deprived of his inheritance rights in the prior judgment, as he was entitled to inherit his late father's share of the estate left by Ngirumpatse Paul. The court held that while he was not entitled to inherit as a child of Ngirumpatse Paul, he was entitled to his father's share by representation. The estate should be redistributed so that Rusanganwa receives his father's share, and the remaining portions are divided equally among Musabyimana Rebecca and Gihana Benjamin, representing their late father Nkerabigwi John. No damages were a…

Source excerpt

• Inheritance rights
• Distribution of estate
• Standing of grandchildren in succession
• Effect of prior judgments
• Legal status of adopted children

Read case analysis

NIRAGIRE N’UNDI V NTAGANZWA

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RS/INJUST/RC 00001/2022/CA

The Court of Appeal dismissed Niragire Mélanie’s review application, holding that prior judgments did not give her ownership of the land and the 2007 settlement must be enforced.

• Enforcement of settlement agreements
• Inheritance rights
• Standing in succession cases
• Effect of prior judgments
• Burden of proof
• Settlement-agreements

Read case analysis