The ruling was delivered on May 11, 2026, with the court stating that there are substantial grounds to suspect him of assault causing bodily harm and insulting or obstructing judicial authorities.
Gatete was arrested on April 24, 2026, following a complaint filed by Vuganeza Pascal, who alleged that Gatete owed him Rwf800,000 from the sale of a refrigerator after failing to meet the agreed payment deadline.
According to the complaint, Vuganeza was allegedly assaulted when he attempted to recover the debt, leading to charges related to assault and bodily harm.
Investigators from the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) summoned Gatete three times without success. Prosecutors further allege that during his arrest, he tore up an arrest warrant (“mandat d’amener”) presented to him by law enforcement officers, resulting in an additional charge of insulting or obstructing judicial authorities.
During the hearing, Gatete denied personally assaulting the complainant, claiming that any physical confrontation involved his employees rather than himself. He also argued that the arrest warrant was accidentally torn while officers were handcuffing him.
However, the court found that witness testimonies placed Gatete at the scene and concluded that the evidence gathered during investigations constituted strong grounds for suspicion.
The court further ruled that provisional detention was necessary, citing concerns that Gatete had previously failed to comply with investigative summonses and could interfere with witnesses or obstruct ongoing investigations if released.
On May 10, 2026, a statement posted on Gatete’s X account expressed regret over the incident and apologised for his conduct.
“I regret and apologise for falling short of the behaviour that is expected of me. I own up to all my mistakes and commit to acting differently going forward,” he wrote.
Journalist Mazimpaka Magnus later shared two letters online, one from Gatete apologising to authorities and another from Vuganeza confirming that he had received the outstanding Rwf800,000, along with an additional Rwf100,000 to cover related expenses.
In his letter addressed to the Head of RIB and the Prosecutor General, Gatete acknowledged failing to respond promptly to initial summonses, attributing the delay to bereavements within his family.
Vuganeza, meanwhile, stated that he wished for the matter to be resolved amicably and requested the withdrawal of his complaint.
Under Rwandan law, insulting or obstructing judicial officials, including investigators, prosecutors, and judges, can result in a prison sentence of between one and two years, as well as fines ranging from Rwf1 million to Rwf2 million upon conviction.
Intentional assault causing bodily harm carries a sentence of six months to one year in prison and fines ranging from Rwf100,000 to Rwf300,000 if convicted.
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