The High Council Court of Huye has sentenced a 26-year-old man, Nzayisenga Joël, to 15 years in prison after finding him guilty of abusing a minor, a case that resulted in pregnancy.
The incident occurred on March 30, 2021, in Karambi Village, Mpanga Cell, Mukingo Sector in Nyanza District, though legal proceedings began in 2025 following investigations and his subsequent arrest.
According to the Prosecution, the accused regularly visited the victim’s home for routine activities, during which he built familiarity with her. It is alleged that he later took advantage of this situation and engaged in unlawful conduct that led to the minor becoming pregnant.
The victim gave birth in December 2021. After inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy, she identified Nzayisenga as responsible, which led to his arrest in November 2025.
During the trial, prosecutors requested a 20-year sentence, emphasizing the seriousness of the offense and the need to protect minors from exploitation and abuse.
In his defense, Nzayisenga acknowledged responsibility for the pregnancy and admitted to having a relationship with the victim. He asked the court for leniency, stating that he had been supporting the child. He also argued that the relationship had been consensual, a claim the court dismissed based on the law.
In its ruling, the court stressed that any involvement of this nature with a minor is a criminal offense under Rwandan law, regardless of claims of consent. It further noted that minors are legally incapable of giving consent in such cases.
The court considered his admission of guilt and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors, which contributed to reducing the sentence from what had been requested by the prosecution.
Nzayisenga was ultimately sentenced to 15 years in prison and will serve his sentence in a correctional facility. The court also waived legal fees of 20,000 Rwandan francs due to his detention status.
The ruling serves as a reminder of the country’s strict legal stance on protecting minors and holding offenders accountable for such crimes.