At the same time, 25 other defendants, including journalists and Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS) employees, have been released on bail.
The case involves 28 individuals in total, including three RDF officers, two RCS staff, and several civilians, including sports journalists and APR FC supporters.
The disputed tickets are linked to APR FC’s trip to Egypt in September 2024 to play against Pyramids FC in the CAF Champions League, as well as other trips involving RCS officers.
During a hearing on August 18, the prosecution requested 30 days’ provisional detention for the defendants, while the accused asked to be tried without detention.
Today, the military tribunal ruled that the three RDF officers—Major Vincent Murigande, Captain Peninah Umurungi, and Captain Peninah Mutoni—should remain in remand, citing sufficient grounds to justify continued detention.
Meanwhile, the court granted provisional release to the other 25 defendants, including RCS officers CSP Hillary Sengabo and CSP Olive Mukantabana, journalists Reagan ‘Rugaju’ Ndayishimiye and Ricard Ishimwe, and former journalist Mucyo ‘Antha’ Biganiro, citing insufficient grounds to continue holding them in custody.
The trial in substance had initially been suspended when the High Court summoned Victoire Ingabire —who was not originally part of the case—to provide clarification in court.
Her summons was based on Article 106 of the Rwandan law on offenses and penalties in general, which allows additional investigation when initial explanations are deemed insufficient. After her court appearance, the judges found her statement lacking and instructed the Prosecution to launch a more thorough investigation.
Ingabire, a self-proclaimed opposition politician, is facing six charges. These include harm to the current government, spreading false information or propaganda intended to turn foreign nations against Rwanda, creating or joining a criminal group, and plotting illegal activities such as demonstrations and subversion.
When she appeared before the Kicukiro Primary Court seeking bail, she denied all charges. However, the court remanded her for 30 days, citing serious grounds for suspecting her involvement in the alleged crimes.
While that case was underway, the High Court trial involving the other nine defendants—former Dalfa Umurinzi party members and journalist Nsengimana—was put on hold, pending a decision on whether Ingabire would be formally added to the case.
Ingabire was expected to appear for the first time as a co-defendant on July 23, 2025. However, the court has postponed the proceedings to September 1, 2025, due to the judicial recess now beginning.
The nine co-accused had already entered their pleas. The prosecution was due to present its final submissions, after which the defendants would respond before the court concluded the trial for deliberation.
Once the trial resumes, Ingabire will be allowed to present her defense and submit any exculpatory evidence. After her statement, the prosecution will submit its final recommendation, which will be addressed by all defendants before the judges begin deliberations.
According to the ruling, the court found reasonable suspicion that Ingabire may have committed six serious offenses, including the creation of a criminal gang, inciting public disorder, spreading false information intended to undermine the government, and conspiracy to harm state authority and organizing protests.
The prosecution argued that the suspect’s continued liberty would pose a risk to public order and the integrity of the investigation, adding that the gravity of the alleged offenses and existing preliminary evidence justified her remand.
Ingabire, through her lawyer Gatera Gashabana, contested the charges and requested release on bail, arguing that she posed no flight risk and was willing to comply with judicial proceedings. However, the court ruled that her release could result in the destruction of evidence, interference with ongoing investigations, or an attempt to flee.
The court cited testimony from a former combatant of the RUD-Urunana militia who alleged that Ingabire’s former political party, FDU-Inkingi, had provided support to the group ahead of its 2019 attack in Musanze. It further noted that the formation of her new party, DALFA-Umurinzi, may have been intended to mask her involvement.
Additionally, the court referenced intercepted audio recordings between Ingabire and Cassien Ntamuhanga, a convicted fugitive, in which they allegedly discussed organizing public protests.
Although Ingabire described the exchanges as hypothetical ideas, the court determined they constituted credible grounds for the charge of incitement to civil unrest.
In regard to the charge of disseminating rumors, the prosecution presented material evidence that the court deemed sufficient to sustain the allegation at this stage.
The court also found Ingabire’s statements about celebrations of a self-declared “Ingabire Day” concerning, particularly as she failed to provide context or justification. The bench held that such behavior, combined with her political activities, could threaten public order if left unchecked during the investigation.
Concluding its ruling, the court found that the legal conditions for pre-trial detention had been met, citing risks of obstruction of justice, tampering with evidence, and the potential for absconding.
Ingabire was reminded of her right to appeal the decision within five working days.
She was arrested on June 19, 2025, by the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), following a formal request from the National Public Prosecution Authority.
Ingabire will remain in custody at Nyarugenge Prison, commonly known as Mageragere, as investigations proceed.
Ingabire, who is facing six criminal charges, appeared before the court seeking provisional release. Originally from Rubavu District, she identified herself as a mother of three and a politician.
Her lead lawyer, Gatera Gashabana, told the court that while some issues had been addressed, the unresolved matter of legal representation remained.
He also raised concerns that Ingabire currently has no means to communicate with her family abroad. Gashabana argued that denying her the legal counsel of her choice contradicts her rights and could negatively affect her defense.
Despite the objections, Ingabire told the court she was willing to proceed with the hearing, though she emphasized that her right to legal representation had been violated due to the Rwanda Bar Association’s refusal to accredit the Kenyan lawyer.
The President of the Rwanda Bar Association, Moïse Nkundabarashi, previously told IGIHE that the request by Kenyan lawyer Osiemo for temporary accreditation was rejected based on the principle of reciprocity.
According to him, Kenya does not allow Rwandan lawyers to practice there, and Rwanda has thus adopted a similar stance.
Ingabire faces charges including forming a criminal gang, inciting unrest, attempting to harm state authority, spreading misinformation or inciting hatred against the government, plotting to commit crimes against the state, and organizing demonstrations. Ingabire denied all allegations, stating that she is a Rwandan politician and mother who has no ill intentions toward Rwanda.
Ingabire argued the case should be dismissed due to alleged judicial interference in prosecutorial matters, in contradiction with the Constitution. Ingabire pointed out that she is being prosecuted in connection to a case dating back four years, which has already been tried by the High Court. She was previously interrogated but not indicted, raising questions about the timing and motivation behind her arrest.
Gashabana explained that under Article 106 of the Criminal Procedure Code, courts can summon additional parties to a trial if new evidence arises. However, this does not automatically warrant detention, which he argued was the prosecution’s unilateral decision.
The prosecution countered by stating that their actions were within the bounds of Article 106 and denied any judicial interference. They emphasized that it is not the court but the prosecution that decides whether an individual should be detained pending trial.
The court ruled that the objections and the prosecution’s reasoning will be reviewed together before a final decision is made on Ingabire Victoire’s bail status.
The court determined that Fatakumavuta’s statements amounted to acts of defamation, leading to a conviction for inciting defamation. This offense is punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of Frw 300,000.
In addition, the court found that Fatakumavuta had violated the law by spreading false information. His actions were deemed a breach of the legal provisions that criminalize the dissemination of false rumors, which is punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of Frw 1,000,000.
The court also ruled that Fatakumavuta exceeded the legally prescribed limits for drug use, resulting in a conviction for drug abuse. Despite his denial, this offense carries a penalty of one year in prison.
Fatakumavuta’s request for a re-examination of his drug levels was rejected, as he failed to provide valid reasons or evidence to challenge the expert report submitted by the Prosecutor’s Office.
Regarding a charge of discrimination, the court found insufficient evidence to support it. The statement Fatakumavuta made about Bahati’s wife being poor was deemed not discriminatory. The court concluded that the remark did not show ill intent or malice.
Furthermore, the charge of public insult was dismissed, with the court ruling that Fatakumavuta’s comment, “The Ben likes to cry like a child,” did not meet the criteria for public insult. The judge clarified that this comment did not constitute an insult.
The court explained that, in theory, Fatakumavuta could have received a sentence of up to five years in prison and a fine of Frw 1,300,000 due to the cumulative nature of his crimes.
However, because Fatakumavuta acknowledged some of the offenses, the court applied mitigating factors, resulting in a reduced sentence.
In light of these factors, Fatakumavuta was sentenced to two and a half years in prison and a fine of Frw 1,300,000. He was informed that he has 30 days to appeal the decision.
Fatakumavuta was arrested on October 18, 2024, and is currently serving his sentence at Nyarugenge Prison. The eight months he has already spent in detention will be deducted from his sentence.
This decision overturns a 2024 ruling by a French court, which had dismissed the case on the grounds of insufficient evidence.
The Collectif des Parties Civiles pour le Rwanda (CPCR), rights group dedicated to prosecuting genocide suspects, successfully appealed the dismissal.
The Paris Court of Appeal ordered a renewed investigation into Mbarushimana’s alleged role in the atrocities.
Speaking with IGIHE, CPCR co-founder Dafroza Gauthier welcomed the ruling.
“We are pleased that the judiciary has agreed to reopen the investigation to uncover new evidence,” she said.
Mbarushimana worked for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) during the genocide.
In April 1994, after the UN evacuated foreign staff from Rwanda, he was tasked with protecting local employees. Hired by the UN in 1992, he was dismissed in 2001 following allegations of involvement in the deaths of 32 people, including UN staff.
UN war crimes investigator Tony Greig reported that Mbarushimana personally shot two victims and was implicated in the killing of Florence Ngirumpatse, UNDP’s human resources chief in Rwanda, and several Tutsi children she had sheltered, aged 8 to 18.
Greig’s findings, submitted to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), included testimonies from 25 witnesses alleging Mbarushimana’s direct involvement in the massacre and support for the Interahamwe militia, which spearheaded the genocide.
On April 7, 2024, Rwandan President Paul Kagame publicly criticized Mbarushimana’s freedom, noting that Florence Ngirumpatse was his cousin.
Kagame further disclosed that his cousin was betrayed by a colleague to the killers and celebrated after her death.
He expressed his disappointment that no action was ever taken against the UNDP staffer despite evidence implicating him.
“It later emerged that a Rwandan working at the UNDP betrayed his Tutsi colleague to the killers. Witnesses remember him celebrating Florence’s murder the night after the attack. He continued his career with the UN for many years even after evidence implicating him emerged. He is still a free man now living in France,” Kagame narrated.
In 2008, the CPCR requested an investigation into Mbarushimana by the Paris court handling crimes against humanity.
French authorities dismissed the case in October 2024, citing insufficient evidence and unreliable witness testimony.
The CPCR appealed, arguing that the ruling ignored critical testimonies and a UN internal report detailing Mbarushimana’s alleged crimes.
On May 21, 2025, the Paris Court of Appeal acknowledged these oversights, ordering a re-examination of evidence and new witness interviews. The reopened investigation has renewed hopes for accountability.
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Mbarushimana’s alleged crimes extend beyond 1994. He is linked to the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a terrorist group operating in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he reportedly served as Executive Secretary.
In 2010, the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrested him in France on 13 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by FDLR fighters in 2009.
The ICC released him in 2011 citing insufficient evidence, and he has since lived freely in France.
The ruling followed a pre-trial detention hearing held on May 6, 2025.
In his defense, Turahirwa cited ongoing mental health challenges, which he said have led to impulsive behavior and poor judgment. He also informed the court that he has begun receiving medical and psychological treatment.
During the hearing, the Prosecution accused Turahirwa of drug trafficking, referencing his own admission during interrogation, where he acknowledged that the narcotics found in his possession had been brought from Kenya, and that he had personally consumed them.
The prosecution further argued for continued detention based on Turahirwa’s admission of possession, stating he was found with cannabis, although he disputes the quantity. The prosecutor claimed that he was in possession of 13 pellets at the time of arrest.
After reviewing the evidence and submissions, the court determined that remand in custody was warranted. Turahirwa has been in detention since April 22, 2025.
This is not the first time the fashion entrepreneur has faced legal trouble related to drugs. In April 2023, he was arrested on charges, including drug abuse and forgery.
He later admitted to cannabis use during his appearance before Nyarugenge Primary Court in May 2023 and was granted bail by the Nyarugenge Intermediate Court on July 15, 2023.
Following trial proceedings, on December 20, 2024, the court found him guilty of both forgery and drug consumption, sentencing him to three years in prison and imposing a fine of Rwf 2 million, in addition to Rwf 20,000 in court fees.
Turahirwa has since appealed the conviction, though the appeal hearing has not yet taken place.
The hearing, which began at 2:00 p.m. local time (0500 GMT), included the examination of evidence by Yoon’s legal team and the National Assembly, which acted as the prosecution.
Appearing in court at 9:00 p.m., Yoon expressed regret for the confusion caused by his martial law declaration, claiming it was necessary due to a national emergency. However, the opposition argued that no such emergency existed.
Yoon insisted lawmakers were not prevented from entering the National Assembly to revoke the martial law, which lasted only two and a half hours. The emergency declaration, issued on Dec. 3, was overturned by the opposition-led parliament shortly after.
During the brief imposition, military helicopters landed at the National Assembly, and armed soldiers entered the building, as shown in TV footage.
While Yoon denied ordering the removal of lawmakers, military commanders testified they had received such directives, according to the prosecution.
The National Assembly’s lawyers argued Yoon had violated the constitution and was unfit for office due to his outdated views on presidential emergency powers.
Yoon was apprehended on Jan. 15 and indicted on Jan. 26 as a suspected leader of insurrection, a charge that could lead to life imprisonment or the death penalty if convicted.
The National Assembly passed the impeachment motion on Dec. 14, suspending Yoon’s presidency while the court deliberates for up to 180 days. However, given past precedents, a final ruling is expected within two weeks.
He committed the crimes on November 13, 2024, when Minani opened fire at a bar in the Rushyarara Trading Center, Rubyiruko Village, Nyamasheke District.
The victims were identified as 17-year-old Denis Benemugabo, 20-year-old Onesphore Habumugisha, 44-year-old Zephanie Sindayiheba, 35-year-old Jonas Muhawenimana, and 51-year-old Ezra Nsekambabaye.
Prior to the shooting, Minani had reportedly argued with the bar owner over an unpaid bill.
Witnesses testified that Minani, who had been granted a 10-day leave from duty, went to the bar, where he fired 60 rounds from an SMG-3945 firearm after the disagreement.
The trial, held publicly in Rubyiruko village, was attended by both civilians and military personnel.
Minani’s legal representative, Lawyer Jean Claude Murigande, withdrew from the case, citing rejected claims of mental illness.
The court dismissed this argument, referencing a medical report that confirmed Minani was mentally fit.
The prosecution requested a life sentence, which was upheld by the court, considering the brutal nature of the killings.
Minani confessed to the crimes, expressing remorse and asking the court to take into account the violence he had endured prior to the incident.
The tribunal determined that the killings were premeditated, with Minani leaving the bar to retrieve a weapon, demonstrating intent to commit an act of revenge.
Additionally, it was found that Minani violated military regulations by using a weapon without authorization from his superiors and by stealing military equipment.
Despite the defense’s request for leniency, the court held that the extreme cruelty of killing five people warranted a harsh sentence.
In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, the Kicukiro Primary Court also imposed a fine of Frw 190,000 for the two offences. However, the 21-year-old was acquitted of the charge of fleeing the scene after causing an accident.
The suspended sentence means that Muheto will not serve time immediately, but the sentence could be enforced if she commits the offences again within one year.
The former pageant queen was arraigned in court on October 31, 2024, following her arrest for the traffic offences.
The prosecution had told the court that Miss Muheto had been drinking at a bar named “Atelier du Vin” around midnight before attempting to drive home. Due to her limited driving skills and high level of intoxication, she crashed into an electricity pole and a tree.
She was accused of fleeing the scene after the crash but later returned to retrieve her phones, only to find that the police had already arrived. She then reportedly claimed that she was not the driver of the vehicle.
The prosecution noted that this was not her first offence, pointing out that she had been previously cautioned and apologized for similar behaviour on September 23, 2024. They urged the court to find her guilty on all charges and sentence her to a one-year and eight-month jail term: six months for drink-driving, two months for driving without a permit, and one year for fleeing the scene after causing an accident.
In her plea, Miss Muheto admitted to driving under the influence and causing the accident but denied fleeing the scene.
She pleaded for leniency, requesting the court to spare her from a jail term, citing her remorse.
Miss Muheto stated that she is involved in national projects aimed at combating child stunting and is a student at the African Leadership University, where she needs to continue her studies.
