The 2018 penal code contains some provisions with mandatory minimum penalties. Though the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional some mandatory minimum sentence provisions, other similar provisions have not been challenged as unconstitutional. This paper examines whether mandatory minimum penalty provisions under Rwandan law are still applicable and evaluates the effect of the lack of clear guidance on mandatory minimum sentences on fair and equitable justice for all under Rwandan law. This paper outlines the current legislative and judicial positions and various arguments from a review of relevant literature. It discusses the stands of the mandatory minimum penalty with the judge's discretion in sentencing. This paper examines what should be done in Rwanda towards consistent and predictable sentences under Rwandan law.

            Legal texts and regulations

1.        The Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda of 2003 revised in 2015, Official Gazette n° Special of 24/12/2015.

2.       Organic Law n° 01/2012/OL of 02/05/2012 instituting the penal code Official Gazette nº Special of 14 June 2012.”

3.         Law nº 69/2019 of 08/11/2019 amending law nº 68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offences and penalties in general, Official Gazette n° Special of 29/11/2019

4.       Law nº68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offences and penalties in general, Official Gazette nº Special of 27/09/2018.

5.       Law nº 30/2013 of 24/5/2013 relating to the code of criminal procedure, Official Gazette nº 27 of 08/07/2013. 

6.       Décret-loi N° 21/77 code pénal, 18 août 1977.

7.       Chief Justice instruction n^o 001/2021 of 15 mars 2021 regulating the publication of cases law in Rwanda law report, ˂ https://www.judiciary.gov.rw/fileadmin/Publications/Laws/3_-_Amabwiriza_CJ_-_Ibyegeranyo.pdf ˃, accessed on 19/10/2022 

         Articles, policies, and other publications

1.                 CANDACE Mccoy, Sentencing: Mandatory and Mandatory Minimum Sentences, ˂https://www.encyclopedia.com/law/legal-and-political-magazines/sentencing-mandatory-and-mandatory-minimum-sentences, ˃, accessed on 22/06/2022.

2.       Erik Luna, Mandatory Minimums,˂https://law.asu.edu/sites/default/files/pdf/academy_for_justice/7_Criminal_Justice_Reform_Vol_4_Mandatory-Minimums.pdf, ˃accessed on 21/10/2022.

3.       Explanatory note on draft law determining offences and penalties in general, 05 0ctobre 2018.

4.      Kieran Riley, Trial by the legislature: why statutory mandatory minimum sentences violate the separation of powers doctrine, Public Interest Law Journal, [Vol. 19:285 2010]. ˂https://www.bu.edu/pilj/files/2015/09/19-2RileyNote.pdf,˃ accessed 19/10/2022.

5.       Leslie T. Wilkins and others, sentencing 'guideline structuring, judicial discretion report on the feasibility study, ˂https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/38269NCJRS.pdf,˃ accessed on 20/10/2022.

6.       Lincoln Caylor and Gannon G. Beaulne, A Defence of Mandatory Minimum Sentences, May 2014, ˂https://www.macdonaldlaurier.ca/files/pdf/MLIMandatoryMinimumSentences-final.pdf, ˃accessed 19/10/2022.

7.       Lincoln Caylor and Gannon G. Beaulne, A Defence of Mandatory Minimum Sentences, May 2014. ˂https://www.macdonaldlaurier.ca/files/pdf/MLIMandatoryMinimumSentences-final.pdf˃ , accessed 19/10/2022.

8.       MBARAGA Robert, Courts plan new sentencing guidelines for uniformity, EAST AFRICAN, ˂ https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/rwanda-today/news/courts-plan-new-sentencing-guidelines-for-uniformity-1374532, ˃ accessed on 20/10/2022.

9.       MINIJUST, Criminal Justice Policy, September 2022

10.    Neser JJ, Reformation of Sentencing in South Africa (2001), ˂https://journals.co.za/doi/epdf/10.10520/EJC28681˃, accessed on 21/10/2022.

11.     NPPA, National Public Prosecution Authority annual report 2019 – 2020.

12.    Primature, Cabinet resolution of September 08^th 2022, ˂https://www.primature.gov.rw/index.php?eID=dumpFile&t=f&f=53347&token=1ddf897755c0a44075b8fe3688e839b5de40eb48˃, accessed on 20/10/2022.

13.    Sentencing guidelines for Kenya, ˂http://kenyalaw.org/kl/fileadmin/pdfdownloads/SentencingGuidelines.pdf ˃, accessed on 21/06/2021. Tanzania Sentencing manual for judicial officers, ˂ https://media.tanzlii.org/files/guidelines/2021-12/tanzania-sentencing-manual-final_0.pdf ˃, accessed on 21/06/2022.

14.   Terblanche SS, and Mackenzie G, “Mandatory Sentences in South Africa: Lessons for Australia?” 2008,  Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology 41(3).

15.    The constitution (sentencing guidelines for courts of Judicature) (Practice) directions, 2013 from Uganda, ˂https://www.jlos.go.ug/index.php/Document-centre/sentencing-guidelines/264-sentencing-guidelines/file ˃, accessed on 21/06/2022.

16.    The Judiciary of Rwanda, The Court of Appeal compilation of precedent, Vol 2, September 2022.

          Case laws

1.        MP v Bahati Francoise, RPAA 00031/2021/CA, 28/10/2021.

2.       MP V BENIMANA Jean Pierre, RPAA 00038/2021/CA, 23/09/2022.

3.       MP V BENIMANA Jean Pierre, RPAA 00038/2021/CA, 23/09/2022.

            4.      MP v. AKAYEZU, RPAA 00111/2021/CA, 22/07/2022.

5.       MP v. RWATAMBUGA, RPAA 00018/2020/CA, 20 /05/2022.

6.       MPV UWAMAHORO Françoise, RPAA 00029/2021/CA, 5/11/2021.

7.       Re. Kabasinga and others, RS/INCONST/SPEC 00005/2020/CS-RS/INCONST/SPEC 00006/2020/CS, of 12 February 2020.

8.       Re. KABASINGA, RS/IN CONST/SPEC 00003/2019/SC, D