According to a statement issued by the Ministry of ICT and Innovation on July 27, 2026, the nationwide switch-off of 3G services is scheduled for June 30, 2027, while the retirement of 2G services will follow after an assessment of network coverage, service continuity and the adoption of compatible devices.
The transition is being coordinated by the Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT) and the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) in collaboration with mobile network operators, government institutions, the private sector and the public.
“This transition will free up network capacity currently used to run two generations of aging technology, allowing mobile operators to invest fully in expanding and strengthening 4G and, over time, 5G coverage across the country,” the statement reads.
For consumers, the change is expected to translate into faster internet speeds, clearer voice calls, fewer dropped connections and improved access to services that increasingly rely on modern mobile networks, including mobile banking, government e-services, education and digital health platforms.
The implementation will be guided by several readiness indicators before the shutdown is completed.
These include ensuring reliable nationwide 4G coverage and quality of service, maintaining uninterrupted voice calls, text messaging, mobile money and emergency services, migrating services that still depend on USSD, 2G or 3G technologies, ensuring the availability of affordable compatible devices, and conducting extensive public awareness campaigns and customer support.
As part of the transition, pilot shutdowns of older networks will be carried out during 2026 while authorities continue expanding 4G coverage and monitoring the country’s readiness for the nationwide 3G switch-off.
MINICT has urged mobile phone users to verify whether their devices and SIM cards support 4G technology. MTN Rwanda customers can check their SIM compatibility by dialing 4561#, while Airtel Rwanda customers can dial 2555*4#. Mobile operators will also notify customers who need to upgrade their devices or SIM cards.
Businesses and public institutions operating equipment or services that still rely on 2G or 3G; including systems used for mobile money, payment platforms, utilities, transport, healthcare, public safety and government services, have also been advised to begin planning for upgrades or replacements.
MINICT and RURA said additional guidance will be issued to service providers and the public as the migration progresses.
The move comes just over a year after MTN Rwanda officially launched its 5G network in June 2025, describing the technology as a key driver of innovation and digital transformation.
At the time, the operator said 5G would deliver significantly higher speeds, lower latency and greater network capacity, with initial deployment focusing on Kigali and selected high-demand locations before wider expansion.
Rwanda is among Africa’s leading countries for internet speed and also ranks among the world’s top-performing nations for internet connectivity.
The latest government roadmap is expected to further support the country’s long-term transition toward advanced mobile connectivity.
The nationwide switch-off of 3G services is scheduled for June 30, 2027, while the retirement of 2G services will follow after an assessment of network coverage.
At the centre of this transformation is the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA), which is helping build the knowledge and skills needed to move the approach from research and demonstration plots into farming communities across the country.
Through its role in a four-year Conservation Agriculture (CA) mainstreaming and scaling-up project worth $5 million, RICA is training agricultural professionals who will support farmers in adopting practices designed to protect soil while improving yields.
The project, implemented jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) and RICA, aims to integrate conservation agriculture into Rwanda’s agricultural extension system ahead of a nationwide rollout starting with the 2027A agricultural season.
Rather than training every farmer directly, RICA is focusing on strengthening the capacity of the people who work closest with farmers, including district agronomists, agricultural extension officers, environmental officers, Crop Intensification Programme focal persons and young agricultural professionals.
So far, 168 agricultural officers have been trained, while 889 technicians are expected to receive training before the start of the 2027A season.
On July 22, 2026, RICA hosted a two-day training session for 52 young agricultural professionals from districts across the country at its campus in Bugesera, equipping them with practical knowledge they will later transfer to farming communities.
Learning before teaching
At RICA, conservation agriculture training goes beyond classroom lessons.
Trainees are taken through demonstration plots where they observe the difference between conventional farming methods and conservation agriculture practices.
Plots managed through conventional tillage show how repeated soil disturbance can contribute to erosion and nutrient loss, while conservation agriculture plots demonstrate how minimum tillage, soil cover and crop diversification help restore soil health over time.
For RICA, the goal is not only to introduce new farming techniques but also to change long-established perceptions among farmers about what makes a productive field.
For generations, many farmers have considered a well-prepared field to be one that is deeply tilled, free of weeds and cleared of all crop residues after harvest.
However, agricultural experts warn that such practices can gradually damage soil quality, reduce moisture retention and lower productivity.
Heavy rains can wash away exposed topsoil, while uncovered land loses moisture quickly under intense sunlight. Over time, farmers may be forced to invest more in fertilisers and other inputs while getting lower returns.
Dr. Léonce Harerimana, Director of Extension and Irrigation and Water Management Lecturer at RICA, said the institution’s mission is to promote farming methods that protect Rwanda’s limited agricultural land while increasing production.
“As an institution dedicated to conservation agriculture, climate resilience and sustainable farming on small pieces of land, we promote minimum tillage, permanent soil cover, crop rotation, quality seed use, efficient irrigation and fertiliser management,” he said.
“Our mission is to ensure these practices go beyond the campus. We want farmers across Rwanda to embrace conservation agriculture because it protects the soil while improving productivity.”
Changing farming mindsets
Harerimana said one of the biggest challenges is changing traditional beliefs around farming practices.
He explained that excessive ploughing and removing crop residues from fields can negatively affect soil health.
“Sometimes we dig too deeply because that is what we have always done. But excessive tillage makes the soil more vulnerable to erosion. Many farmers also believe that a clean field is a good field, so they remove every residue after harvesting. Yet those residues are exactly what help protect the soil and improve its fertility as they decompose into organic matter with time,” he said.
Under conservation agriculture, farmers are encouraged to leave crop residues on the soil surface, where they act as natural mulch, helping retain moisture, reduce weed growth and restore organic matter.
The approach also promotes efficient use of fertilisers instead of simply increasing the quantity applied.
“Sometimes farmers apply more fertiliser thinking it will increase production. But what matters is applying the right quantity in the right way while maintaining healthy soils,” Harerimana said.
Protecting soil, increasing yields
According to Dr. Christian Nkurunziza, Conservation Agriculture Promotion Project Manager at MINAGRI, the approach is built around three main principles: minimum soil disturbance, permanent soil cover and crop diversification.
“Conservation agriculture is a type of farming that protects the soil through minimum tillage, recycles nutrients through crop residues, and protects crops by maintaining soil cover. As a result, plants grow under more favourable conditions, and agricultural production naturally increases,” he said.
The benefits of conservation agriculture are already reflected in research findings.
Nkurunziza said maize yields under conservation agriculture can increase by about 40 per cent, while bean production can rise by approximately 70 per cent.
RICA also highlights that maize production can reach up to seven tonnes per hectare when farmers combine conservation agriculture practices with quality seeds, compared with less than two tonnes on degraded soils.
For beans, conserved land can produce more than 1.6 tonnes per hectare, while poorly managed soils may produce below 500 kilogrammes per hectare.
Nkurunziza said protecting soil is becoming increasingly important because Rwanda’s available agricultural land is limited.
“Today, the amount of land available for farming is not increasing, but we want the same land to produce more. Without protecting it, soil would lose its natural qualities. In the past, farmers could leave fields fallow, but that is no longer possible because land must be cultivated every season,” he said.
Taking lessons to farming communities
Among those preparing to take conservation agriculture knowledge to farmers is Vivine Umubyeyi, a young agricultural professional who will work under MINAGRI in Kirehe District.
She said the training changed her understanding of farming and equipped her with skills to help farmers adopt new practices.
“I acquired training in conservation agriculture and I understand how it works and how it can positively affect farmers’ yields while protecting our soils. I will use these skills to help farmers practice conservation agriculture. Most importantly, I want them to understand why these methods work so they willingly adopt them,” she said.
Another trainee, Eric Uwitoze from Ruhango District, said the programme helped him understand the importance of practices such as crop rotation in reducing crop diseases and improving productivity.
He added that conservation agriculture could also help farmers reduce unnecessary costs by improving soil quality and efficiency.
Scaling up across Rwanda
The initiative will initially focus on Rwanda’s major food production areas and districts where land consolidation farming is practised.
It will start with 100,000 hectares during the 2027A agricultural season, expand to 150,000 hectares in the following season and eventually reach 600,000 hectares by 2029.
Priority crops include maize, beans, Irish potatoes and soybeans.
The programme is aligned with Rwanda’s Fifth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA 5), which seeks to improve productivity while ensuring sustainable management of natural resources.
As Rwanda’s population continues to grow while farmland remains limited, RICA says conservation agriculture will be critical in ensuring that the country produces more food without exhausting the soil that supports agriculture.
Rwanda is set to introduce conservation agriculture practices on 600,000 hectares of farmland across the country under a $5 million project.
The development follows the establishment of a specialised college dedicated to veterinary medicine, which was separated from agricultural studies as part of reforms aimed at improving the university’s efficiency and academic focus.
In June 2024, UR reorganised the former College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (CAVM), splitting it into two independent colleges: the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Sciences (CAFF) and the College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences (CVAS).
The move increased the number of UR colleges from six to seven.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor for Strategic Planning and Administration at University of Rwanda , Dr. Raymond Ndikumana, said the restructuring was part of reforms implemented between 2022 and 2024 to improve the university’s operations and ensure that each field receives specialised attention.
“Together with the Government of Rwanda, we realised that the former college, which combined agriculture and veterinary medicine, needed to be divided so that each area could operate independently,” he said.
CAFF is based at the UR Nyagatare campus, while CVAS operates from Musanze.
Dr. Ndikumana explained that separating the two colleges would allow each one to expand its programmes, improve access to specialised resources, and better align its activities with Rwanda’s development goals.
“It becomes easier for students studying similar programmes to be grouped together and provided with the equipment they need. This is important for a university because it creates a clear structure where resources and support can be directed where they are most needed,” he said.
As part of this expansion, UR Nyagatare is constructing a veterinary hospital under CAFF that is expected to become one of the most advanced veterinary facilities in the Great Lakes region.
The hospital is being built in Nyagatare because the Eastern Province is one of Rwanda’s major livestock farming areas. The facility will serve two key purposes: providing practical training for veterinary students and offering modern veterinary services to farmers.
Dr. Ndikumana said the hospital will play an important role in transforming veterinary healthcare in Rwanda.
“Today, we talk about advanced human healthcare, but in the coming years, Rwanda could also have advanced veterinary healthcare. We do not expect this hospital to be the only one. We expect it to be completed by the end of this year and begin operations next year,” he said.
The establishment of separate colleges has already contributed to growth in student enrolment. The number of students studying veterinary medicine has increased from fewer than 200 in the past to about 720 currently, and UR expects the figure to surpass 2,000 within the next four years.
The number of agriculture students has also increased, rising from about 3,600 to 4,150.
However, the increase in student numbers requires more qualified lecturers to ensure that the quality of education is maintained.
Dr. Ndikumana said UR is working to recruit more academic staff, including sending students abroad to specialise in veterinary medicine and return to teach at the university.
“Besides expanding infrastructure, we are making significant efforts to increase the number of lecturers. We are sending people abroad to study veterinary medicine so that they can return and teach. We have partnerships with universities in China, Japan, and the United States that will support this initiative,” he said.
The University of Rwanda was established in 2013 following the merger of the former National University of Rwanda and other public higher learning institutions.
The university currently has seven colleges operating across eight campuses, including three located in Kigali and five in different provinces across the country.
The University of Rwanda was established in 2013 following the merger of the former National University of Rwanda and other public higher learning institutions.
Gen Muhoozi was received at Kigali International Airport on Saturday, July 25, 2026, by the Chief of Defence Staff of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), Gen Mubarakh Muganga.
Also present to welcome him were Maj Gen Willy Rwagasana, Commander of the RDF’s Republican Guard, and Col Ezekiel Matsiko, Uganda’s Defence Attaché to Rwanda.
During the visit, Gen Muhoozi is expected to meet senior Rwanda Defence Force officials to discuss ways of further enhancing defence cooperation between Rwanda and Uganda. He is also scheduled to be received by President Paul Kagame.
This marks Gen Muhoozi’s first visit to Rwanda since March 2025, when he held discussions with senior RDF commanders on bilateral military cooperation.
During that visit, he also toured the Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College in Nyakinama of Musanze District, where he delivered a lecture on the role of African countries in promoting peace and security across the continent.
Maj Gen Willy Rwagasana, Commander of the RDF’s Republican Guard also welcomed Gen Muhoozi in Kigali. Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba was received by senior Rwanda Defence Force officials upon arrival in Rwanda.Rwanda Defence Force Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Mubarakh Muganga welcomed Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba in Kigali.Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba arrives at Kigali International Airport for a two-day visit to RwandaGen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has arrived at Kigali International Airport for a two-day visit to Rwanda
The disclosure was made by the Director General of Surveillance and Preparedness at MINEMA, Christine Niyotwambaza, on July 23, 2026, during the inauguration of high-capacity lightning protection systems installed at GS Musango and Musango local church center, in Rwankuba Sector, Karongi District.
They are located in one of the five sectors in Karongi District that are frequently affected by lightning strikes.
Residents say lightning remains a deadly threat in the area.
John Dushimimana, a resident of Rwankuba Sector, told IGIHE that lightning has repeatedly claimed lives, killed livestock and damaged electrical appliances. “I know more than seven people from Rwankuba Sector who have died after being struck by lightning. The main reason is that we do not have lightning protection systems in our homes. We do not know where to buy them or how much they cost,” he said.
Karongi District Vice Mayor in charge of Economic Development, Julienne Ntakirutimana, said the sectors most vulnerable to lightning are Rwankuba, Gitesi, Ruganda and Rugabano because they lie along the Congo-Nile Ridge, where high-altitude terrain makes lightning strikes more common.
Niyotwambaza said the high cost of lightning protection systems is the main reason many households remain unprotected.
“Lightning protection systems are very expensive. You cannot find one costing less than Rwf3 million,” she said.
She revealed that MINEMA, in partnership with RP Karongi College, the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) and the National Council for Science and Technology (NCST), is set to assess a locally developed lightning protection system next week.
According to Niyotwambaza, Rwanda currently lacks the capacity to certify the equipment, meaning it will be sent abroad for technical evaluation.
“If experts who specialize in lightning protection confirm that it meets the required safety standards, we will move to the next stage of manufacturing it locally. Once production begins in Rwanda, we will also work on reducing its cost so that ordinary citizens can afford to install it on their homes,” she said.
MINEMA statistics show that over the past four years, lightning strikes have killed 287 people and left more than 950 others with permanent disabilities.
Amiri Mugarura, an official at Otawa, a company that distributes lightning protection systems in Rwanda, said plastering houses with cement and wearing plastic-soled shoes can reduce the risk of being struck by lightning by up to 85 percent.
Officials inaugurated high-capacity lightning protection systems at GS Musango and Musango Local Church Centre in Karongi District, one of the areas most vulnerable to lightning strikes.MINEMA says locally developed lightning protection systems will undergo technical assessment as Rwanda seeks to reduce costs and expand access to the life-saving technology.Christine Niyotwambaza, Director General of Surveillance and Preparedness at MINEMA, said Rwanda is working toward local production of lightning protection systems to make them more affordable for households.
The returnees were received on on July 22, 2026, at the Grande Barrière border post in Rubavu District. They include 43 men, 115 women and 263 children from 136 families.
Among them was Mwemezi Dusabe, who returned from Kanyabayonga. She recounted that her husband and five of her children were killed, while she managed to return to Rwanda with her four surviving children.
Another returnee, Ndayambaje Sebutozi, who had been living in Rutongo in Rutshuru Territory, said he fled Rwanda in 1998. He explained that returning home was nearly impossible because anyone the FDLR suspected of planning to repatriate was killed.
Sebutozi said the security situation improved after the AFC/M23 captured Rutshuru, enabling him to finally decide to return to Rwanda.
He added that upon arriving in Rwanda, he found peace and was warmly welcomed. He used the opportunity to urge fellow Rwandans still living in the forests of eastern DRC to return home.
The Mayor of Rubavu District, Prosper Mulindwa, said the returnees will receive all necessary support to rebuild their lives and access opportunities they had previously been denied.
“We are grateful that they were able to learn the truth and free themselves from the captivity that prevented them from returning home,” he said.
“They will continue to receive support like all other Rwandans, in line with Rwanda’s policy of improving citizens’ livelihoods. They will benefit from programmes aimed at lifting people out of poverty, including Girinka and other development initiatives.”
The government assistance package includes initial financial support to help them restart their lives. Each returnee aged 18 and above will receive US$188, while those under 18 will receive US$113. In addition, every returnee will receive essential food supplies worth Rwf45,000.
Children made up the majority of the 421 Rwandans who returned home.The 421 Rwandans who had been held captive by the FDLR were received at the La Corniche border crossing upon their return to Rwanda.Rubavu District Mayor Prosper Mulindwa said the Rwandans who had been held captive by the FDLR will receive all the support and essential services needed to rebuild their lives.
The graduation ceremony took place on July 20, 2026, and was attended by the coalition’s top military officials, including the military commander and chief of staff of the AFC/M23, Major General Sultani Makenga.
Addressing the graduates, Maj. Gen. Makenga said the newly trained commandos would join AFC/M23 forces operating on the front lines.
He stated that their mission would be to protect civilians and contribute to restoring peace and security in areas affected by the conflict, enabling displaced residents to return to their homes and rebuild their livelihoods.
Maj. Gen. Makenga accused the Congolese government of working alongside Burundian troops, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), and the Wazalendo militia, alleging that the groups had been involved in attacks against civilians.
He said AFC/M23 was continuing its military campaign with the aim of ending what it described as violence against the civilian population.
He also urged the recruits to uphold discipline and maintain high standards of conduct, saying they should distinguish themselves from the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), which he accused of looting, committing sexual violence, and killing civilians.
“We must dedicate ourselves to our people, our country and our communities. If you do so, you will earn honor because you will be liberating your country, your brothers and sisters, and the Congolese people as a whole,” Maj. Gen. Makenga told the graduates.
He further said the coalition’s objective is to replace what it considers poor governance with better leadership, adding that achieving this goal would require discipline, integrity and respect for civilians.
AFC/M23 has continued to expand its ranks in recent years. In September 2025, the coalition announced the graduation of 7,437 commandos, followed by another 9,350 recruits in October of the same year.
According to the group, those recruits included former civilians, former members of the Congolese armed forces and fighters from the Wazalendo militia who joined the movement.
Maj. Gen. Makenga said the newly trained commandos would join AFC/M23 forces operating on the front lines.The new recruits were urged to uphold discipline and maintain high standards of conduct.
According to a statement dated July 21, 2026, released by the White House, Checker was among several nominees whose names were submitted to the Senate for confirmation.
The nominee brings experience in US foreign policy, national security and Africa affairs.
He recently served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Southern Africa and Foreign Assistance at the US Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs from June 1 to July 18, 2026.
Before that, he served as the Senior Bureau Official leading the Bureau of African Affairs from January to June 2026.
Prior to joining the State Department, Checker served as Deputy Executive Secretary for the National Security Council under President Donald Trump.
Between 2014 and 2025, he worked at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), where he covered conflicts in the greater Middle East and the Horn of Africa, as well as assignments in the Office of Congressional Affairs.
In 2023, he served as a national security fellow in the office of US Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee.
Checker holds a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s degree in Security Studies from Georgetown University.
If confirmed by the US Senate, Checker will succeed Eric Kneedler, who concluded his tour of duty as US Ambassador to Rwanda early 2026.
Kneedler formally assumed the ambassadorial role on October 18, 2023, after presenting his letters of credence to President Paul Kagame at Urugwiro Village.
He had succeeded Peter H. Vrooman, who served as US Ambassador to Rwanda before him.
During his time in Kigali, Kneedler engaged with Rwandan authorities on strengthening bilateral relations between Rwanda and the United States, including cooperation in areas such as health, development, security and economic partnerships.
Checker’s nomination comes as Rwanda and the United States continue diplomatic engagement spanning more than six decades, with cooperation covering trade and investment, public health, development initiatives and regional security.
Nicholas Checker has been nominated by President Donald Trump as the next US Ambassador to Rwanda, pending confirmation by the US Senate.
The ceremony took place on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at the Presidential Palace in Bangui.
The medal was presented in recognition of the contingent’s dedication, steadfast professionalism, and exemplary service during peace support operations in the Central African Republic (CAR), where they played a key role in protecting civilians and promoting peace, security, and stability.
The Commanding Officer of RWANBATT-15, Lt Col Paul Gasasira, expressed his appreciation to the President of the Central African Republic for the continued support extended to the contingent in carrying out its mandate.
He also praised the professionalism, discipline, and resilience shown by RWANBATT -15 personnel throughout their deployment.
The ceremony was attended by senior officials from the Government of the Central African Republic, the Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to the Central African Republic, Olivier Kayumba, senior military officials, and members of the Rwandan community residing in the Central African Republic.
Rwanda has been contributing to United Nations peacekeeping efforts in the Central African Republic since 2014 through the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
The mission is aimed at supporting the restoration of peace, security, and stability in the country.
Rwandan peacekeepers serving under MINUSCA have been awarded the Presidential Medal of Appreciation by CAR President Faustin Archange Touadéra in recognition of their dedication to protecting civilians and promoting peace.Senior government officials, military leaders, Rwanda’s Ambassador to the Central African Republic Olivier Kayumba, and members of the Rwandan community attended the medal award ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Bangui.The Commanding Officer of RWANBATT-15, Lt Col Paul Gasasira, has praised the professionalism, discipline and resilience demonstrated by Rwandan peacekeepers throughout their deployment in the Central African Republic.President Faustin Archange Touadéra has commended the dedication and exemplary service of RWANBATT-15 during its year-long deployment under the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic.
The inquiry, conducted by IRMCT Judge Alphons Orie and submitted to the Mechanism’s President, found that Kabuga received at least the same standard of healthcare available in the Netherlands, with his medical condition closely monitored and managed by medical and nursing staff throughout his detention.
Kabuga, who was indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in 1997, was arrested in France on May 16, 2020, after more than two decades as a fugitive. He was among the individuals accused of bearing significant responsibility for the Genocide against the Tutsi and faced charges including genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, and crimes against humanity.
Following his arrest, Kabuga was transferred on October 26, 2020, to the Hague branch of the IRMCT, where he remained detained while facing trial proceedings.
The inquiry report states that Kabuga’s health was closely monitored from the time of his transfer. Medical assessments identified several health conditions, including vision and hearing impairment, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and other age-related ailments. He received treatment, regular medical assessments, and support from medical specialists.
In March 2023, independent medical experts concluded that Kabuga met the clinical criteria for dementia. The report noted that his mental and physical condition gradually deteriorated, requiring increased medical attention and assistance with daily activities.
As his condition worsened, staff adjusted his care arrangements. Medical reports indicated that employees were instructed to approach him quietly and without haste, while measures were introduced to support his mobility, hygiene, communication, and general wellbeing.
Kabuga’s proceedings before the IRMCT began in September 2022. In June 2023, the Trial Chamber found that he was unfit to meaningfully participate in his trial and unlikely to regain the ability to do so. The proceedings were later stayed indefinitely in September 2023.
The inquiry states that Kabuga continued receiving medical care, including regular monitoring of his diabetes, blood pressure, kidney function, cardiovascular condition, and mental health. He was also treated by external medical specialists and was transferred to civilian hospitals on several occasions when serious medical issues arose.
In July 2024, Kabuga was transferred to a specialised section of the Judicial Centre for Somatic Care (JCvSZ), a prison hospital unit designed for elderly detainees with significant medical and nursing needs. There, he received nursing support with daily activities, including assistance with hygiene and food and fluid intake.
By 2025, Kabuga’s mobility had significantly declined. After several falls and a reduction in his ability to stand and walk with assistance, he was transported in a wheelchair. He was provided with a reclining wheelchair, while a large soft mat was placed beside his bed to reduce the risk of injury from falls.
The inquiry also noted that his cell contained equipment to support his care, including devices to assist with movement between his bed and wheelchair, visual aids to facilitate communication, and a private bathroom with a shower and toilet.
In September 2025, a 24-hour alarm system was activated in his cell after several falls, allowing staff to respond quickly if he required assistance. His hygiene, skincare, medication, and other medical needs continued to be monitored.
Judge Orie’s assessment concluded that the medical and nursing care provided to Kabuga was adequate and that staff at the UN Detention Unit and JCvSZ acted professionally while managing the needs of an elderly detainee with multiple health conditions.
The inquiry also noted that Kabuga’s daughter and his defence lawyer, Emmanuel Altit, did not raise concerns about the medical treatment and care he received while in the Mechanism’s custody. His lawyer stated that Kabuga’s physical and mental health had been managed in a professional and effective manner.
Kabuga died on May 16, 2026, at the JCvSZ while in the custody of the UN Detention Unit. A forensic physician concluded that he died of natural causes, likely cardiac or intracranial, with no indication of unnatural causes.
Twelve days after his death, his remains were transferred from the Netherlands at the instruction of his family, and buried in Waterloo, Belgium.
Kabuga Félicien should was provided with equipment to help him move to and from his bed more easily.Kabuga had been assigned a personal caregiver responsible for his hygiene and monitoring his health on a daily basis.On May 16, Kabuga died while still in temporary detention and was buried in Belgium in June.
