The decision, issued on June 19, confirms an earlier ruling by the Kicukiro Primary Court of May 26, 2026, which found that there are strong grounds to suspect the accused of committing multiple offenses.
The alleged offenses include human trafficking, complicity in human trafficking, unlawful arrest and detention, issuing threats, failure to report a serious crime, and forgery, alteration, and use of falsified documents.
Dr. Semwaga is separately charged with complicity in human trafficking, failure to report a serious crime, and forgery, alteration, and use of falsified documents.
Prosecutors say the case arises from a fertility arrangement set up by Nsabimana and his wife Mukahigiro, which connected infertile couples with women willing to carry pregnancies on their behalf. Authorities allege that the arrangement later became commercialized and involved illegal practices.
It is further alleged that women who agreed to carry pregnancies were promised medical and social support during pregnancy, but that these commitments were not fulfilled. Some of the women were also allegedly threatened when they raised concerns.
Investigators allege that Dr. Semwaga was involved in embryo transfer procedures for participating women. However, the prosecution maintains that the procedures were carried out outside approved legal and institutional frameworks, and without the knowledge of the hospital where he worked.
Dr. Semwaga had requested provisional release, arguing that he needed to continue providing medical follow-up for women who had undergone embryo transfers and were nearing delivery. He also offered bail of 20 million Rwandan francs, which the court rejected.
On May 28, the accused filed an appeal at the Nyarugenge High Court, which was registered on June 1, seeking to overturn the lower court’s decision to keep them in custody.
During a closed-door appeal hearing held last week, Dr. Semwaga reiterated his request for release, stating that the women involved still required his medical attention and continued to consult him from the Nyarugenge Correctional Facility for treatment guidance.
The co-accused also argued that they were not a flight risk and should be released pending trial. The court, however, dismissed all arguments and ordered that they remain in provisional detention pending the substantive hearing of the case.
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