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 latest airstrikes began at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, the command announced on X.
“The mission will continue to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters,” said the command.
Earlier on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to destroy a bridge or power plant in Iran each time it shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
“From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT, including those located next to, or in, the Capital City of Tehran,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
In response, Iran’s main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, on Wednesday warned that if the United States attacks Iranian infrastructure, Iran will block all oil exports from West Asia and target oil, gas, electricity, and economic infrastructure across the region, according to media reports.
It added that continued threats by the United States will only lead to the war’s expansion in the region and even beyond that.
As many as 68 percent of U.S. adults said the war with Iran was “not worth fighting,” while 28 percent said it was, according to a The Washington Post-Ipsos poll issued last week.
The latest airstrikes began at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, the command announced on X.
The couple, who pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and firearms charges, made their third appearance in a New York court after being forcibly seized by U.S. troops in a military raid in early January.
During Wednesday’s 15-minute hearing, Judge Alvin Hellerstein set the trial date at the request of lawyers on both sides.
Maduro’s lawyer, Barry Pollack, said he will first challenge the indictment on sovereign immunity grounds because if that is successful, Maduro will not have to continue litigating the case.
On January 3, U.S. military forces launched a large-scale strike against Venezuela and forcibly seized Maduro and his wife before transporting them to New York. The U.S. attacks have shocked the international community, triggering a stream of condemnation and serious concerns worldwide.
During his first arraignment on January 5, Maduro pleaded not guilty to all U.S. charges against him, including drug trafficking.
The couple has been jailed at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, since their seizure in Caracas.
Protesters gathered Wednesday outside the heavily guarded Manhattan courthouse, demanding the immediate release of Maduro and opposing any form of U.S. military intervention abroad.
Allison Gunderson, a demonstrator from Minneapolis, told Xinhua that the United States is prosecuting the president of a sovereign nation after an illegal kidnapping.
“It is unjust and criminal,” Gunderson said.
Tom Burke, a member of the Anti-War Action Network’s steering committee, believes that the abduction, the detention and the trial of the Venezuelan president are against international law. “We’re gonna oppose it every step of the way,” he said.
“The United States is basically doing an armed robbery,” Burke said. “The rest of the world is watching, and people don’t trust the U.S. government now.”
Sara Flounders, a U.S. political writer, highlighted that Wednesday marked the 200th day since Maduro was kidnapped.
“We don’t forget these days. We don’t forget their crimes. We stand up to every single one of them, and we build solidarity with every one of these struggles,” said Flounders, referring to U.S. overseas operations in Venezuela, Iran and Cuba.
Supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro protest outside a courthouse in New York, the United States, July 22, 2026. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores will go on trial starting on June 1, 2027, a U.S. judge ruled on Wednesday.
The ceremony was held on July 20, 2026, at the university’s headquarters in Gicumbi District, where graduates were celebrated for successfully completing their academic journeys and preparing to join the labour market.
UTAB Vice Chancellor, Dr. Munana Gilbert, congratulated the graduates on their achievement and encouraged them to continue developing their skills and knowledge to create opportunities for themselves and contribute to society.
“Today marks the beginning of another journey. The degrees you are receiving are not the end of education, but rather a foundation that will enable you to continue learning, improving your skills, and serving Rwandan society and the world at large,” he said.
He explained that quality education goes beyond helping learners remember what they have been taught, but instead prepares them to think critically, ask important questions, and develop innovative solutions to existing challenges.
“True education does not create people who only repeat what they have learned. It creates individuals who think deeply, ask meaningful questions, and come up with new solutions,” he added.
Dr. Munana urged the graduates to uphold values of integrity, commitment, patriotism, and hard work, which he described as important qualities promoted among students at UTAB.
The university’s legal representative, Bishop Papias Musengamana, said the 15th graduation ceremony reflects UTAB’s continued growth and its contribution to strengthening Rwanda’s education sector.
He noted that graduates leaving the university represent an important contribution to the country’s development because the knowledge and skills they have gained will enable them to participate in solving challenges facing Rwanda and the world.
“This demonstrates UTAB’s position as a trusted partner in preparing competent and responsible professionals who are capable of addressing challenges affecting our country and the world at large,” Bishop Musengamana said.
During the ceremony, UTAB also laid the foundation stone for the construction of a new university building that will support the improvement of education quality and research activities at the institution.
Bishop Musengamana said the five-storey building is expected to be completed within one year, adding that the university will work hard to ensure the project is delivered on time.
“We will do everything possible to ensure that this building is completed within the planned period and contributes to improving education as well as the development of Gicumbi City,” he said.
Among the graduates was Rogin Ifitebyose, who completed a Bachelor’s degree in English and Kinyarwanda. He thanked UTAB for equipping students with knowledge and values that will continue guiding them throughout their professional lives.
“During our time at UTAB, we had the opportunity to study programmes that respond to today’s needs, improve our language skills, gain knowledge in technology, participate in practical learning, conduct research, and acquire other skills that will help us compete at the labour market,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ndikubwimana Théoneste, Head of the General Higher Education Quality Standards Department at the Higher Education Council (HEC), called on UTAB and other higher learning institutions across Rwanda to strengthen the use of technology in teaching and learning.
He particularly encouraged universities to embrace emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to ensure students acquire skills relevant to the changing global environment.
“We encourage the leadership of this university and other institutions to increase the use of technology in teaching and learning. Artificial intelligence is developing rapidly, and students should not be left behind. Universities must invest more in these technologies,” he said.
The graduation ceremony highlighted UTAB’s continued commitment to producing skilled graduates equipped with knowledge, values, and practical skills needed to contribute to Rwanda’s transformation and global development.
UTAB holds 15th graduation ceremony, awards degrees to 1,474 graduatesUTAB Vice Chancellor, Dr. Munana Gilbert, commended the graduates for their dedication and encouraged them to continue acquiring knowledge and skills that will help them advance their personal development.Gicumbi District Mayor, Nzabonimpa Emmanuel, attended the event.UTAB graduates pledge to use the knowledge and skills they acquired to drive development.Dr. Joseph Nkurunziza, Principal of the College of Business and Economics at the University of Rwanda, was among those who attended the ceremony to award degrees to UTAB graduates.
Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates has praised Rwanda’s progress in improving healthcare outcomes, while warning that artificial intelligence (AI) must be made accessible to African health systems rather than becoming a tool that benefits only wealthy countries.
Gates made the remarks on Wednesday while delivering the inaugural lecture at the Paul E. Farmer Butaro Dialogues on Health Equity and Innovation, hosted by the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) in Butaro, Northern Province.
The dialogue, named after the late physician and global health pioneer Paul Farmer, brought together global health leaders to discuss how medical innovations can reach communities that need them most.
Gates highlighted Rwanda’s progress in building a strong healthcare system, using technology and community-based approaches to improve health outcomes, particularly in reducing child and maternal deaths.
“Rwanda as a whole has set a very good example. Its public health system, there’s a lot that others could learn from,” he said.
“Since the turn of the century, child deaths have fallen by 80%. Maternal deaths are down over 80%, and those are really incredible numbers.”
He also praised Rwanda’s use of digital technology in healthcare, citing his visit to the National Health Intelligence Center (NHIC), where he observed how digital systems are being used to monitor and improve health services.
“Those digital systems will be the foundation for the next generation, which will be powered by artificial intelligence,” Gates noted, adding that Rwanda is “at the forefront” of exploring how AI can benefit the health system.
However, Gates warned that global health progress is facing growing pressure, partly due to declining financial support from donor countries.
“Today we face greater challenges than ever. Progress in Africa as a whole is definitely in jeopardy. It’s a tough time for global health,” he cautioned.
He pointed out that donor countries are reducing their aid budgets, leaving African leaders under pressure to achieve more with fewer resources.
“Around the world, donor countries are shrinking their aid budgets, and so the leaders here are being forced to do more with less,” Gates explained.
He noted that the consequences of those decisions were already becoming visible, highlighting that last year marked the first time since the turn of the century that global childhood deaths increased.
“Not here in Rwanda, but a lot of those additional deaths were in Africa,” he added.
Gates argued that the situation makes it even more important to ensure new technologies, particularly AI, are used to strengthen healthcare delivery in countries with limited resources.
He warned that AI could deepen existing inequalities if it follows the same path as many previous technologies, where benefits are concentrated in wealthier nations.
“If we let things take their normal course, AI, like all advanced tools, will be in the rich countries,” he stated.
“The profit motive, the amount customers can pay, the data centres, it will benefit a narrow part of the world. That would be a great injustice.”
He stressed that Africa should be among the first places to benefit from AI, given the continent’s overstretched healthcare workforce.
“Right at the beginning, if anything, we should bring AI to those in need because the most overloaded healthcare workforce in the world, of course, is here in Africa,” Gates emphasized.
He explained that AI tools could help healthcare workers make better decisions, streamline services and identify where additional support is needed.
“The things that help them make decisions and streamline things and show them where we should do more, those will save many, many lives,” he added.
Gates noted that institutions such as UGHE would play an important role in ensuring AI solutions are adapted to local realities, including language needs and health challenges specific to African communities.
The remarks echoed the message of the dialogue, which UGHE Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Abebe Bekele described as an effort to bridge the gap between medical innovation and implementation.
Prof. Bekele observed that advances in artificial intelligence, digital health, genomics, diagnostics and clinical care were expanding the boundaries of medicine, but millions of people were still unable to benefit from these breakthroughs.
“The challenge before us is not one of discovery alone. It’s one of translation,” he noted.
He stressed that innovations only save lives when they are successfully implemented through policies, education, research and healthcare systems that ensure they reach every woman and child regardless of where they live.
Prof. Bekele explained that the Butaro Dialogues, organised by UGHE and the Consortium of Medical Schools in Africa (COMSA), aim to identify critical maternal and neonatal health innovations and support their adoption across African health systems.
Gates also reflected on the legacy of Paul Farmer, who helped establish UGHE and dedicated his career to expanding access to quality healthcare for underserved communities.
He described Farmer’s greatest lesson as the belief that medical breakthroughs only matter when they reach the people who need them most.
“For him, he saw everyone as worthy of having great health,” Gates said. “What mattered to him were the lives he saved.”
The inaugural Paul E. Farmer Butaro Dialogues brought together government officials, health experts, academics and students to explore how innovation, technology and stronger health systems can advance health equity across Africa.
Gates started his engagements in Rwanda on Monday, July 20, as part of a visit focused on learning more about the country’s progress in health, agriculture, and digital public infrastructure.
Since arriving in Rwanda, Gates has toured the TKMD syringe manufacturing plant in Rwamagana District, visited Mwulire Health Centre, and met community health workers to gain deeper insight into Rwanda’s primary healthcare system.
The Gates Foundation has worked with Rwanda for more than two decades, supporting programmes in healthcare, agriculture, nutrition, and innovation. Earlier this year, Rwanda became the first beneficiary of the Horizon1000 initiative, a $50 million artificial intelligence programme launched by the Gates Foundation in partnership with OpenAI to help African countries use AI to strengthen healthcare delivery.
Bill Gates made the remarks on Wednesday while delivering the inaugural lecture at the Paul E. Farmer Butaro Dialogues on Health Equity and Innovation, hosted by the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) in Butaro, Northern Province.The inaugural Paul E. Farmer Butaro Dialogues brought together government officials, health experts, academics and students to explore how innovation, technology and stronger health systems can advance health equity across Africa.Bill Gates pays tribute to Paul Farmer, who died in 2022 Bill Gates waters tree he planted during previous visit.
The study, led by researchers from City St George’s, University of London, suggests that doctors may improve treatment outcomes by switching between different therapies while tumors are still responding, rather than waiting until the disease returns.
The findings, published in the journal Genetics, are based on mathematical models that examine how cancer cells evolve during treatment. Researchers say cancer behaves similarly to other evolving systems, where cells that develop survival advantages can eventually dominate when exposed to pressure from medicines.
Dr. Robert Noble, a researcher from the Department of Mathematics at City St George’s, explained that cancer often returns because some cells survive the first round of treatment and develop resistance.
“Although tumors may at first shrink under therapy, in many cases they eventually regrow. These relapses stem from a small number of cancer cells that have gained mutations making the cells resistant to the treatment,” he said.
The researchers compared the current approach, where doctors usually continue treatment until the cancer stops responding, with a new strategy that involves switching treatments while the tumor is weakened.
They described the approach as “kicking it while it’s down,” meaning doctors could attack cancer at a stage when it is already vulnerable before resistant cells become strong enough to cause another relapse.
Using computer simulations, the team found that planned changes between different treatments could be more effective than waiting for resistance to appear. The models showed that a combination of three or more therapies used in a carefully timed sequence could have greater potential, especially when treating larger tumors.
“Our models predict that this new approach will generally outperform the standard of care. A sequence of two treatments, even if optimally timed, is likely to succeed only in relatively small tumors. But we have reason to hope that switching between three or more treatments, following the same principle, could eliminate larger tumors,” Dr. Noble said.
The researchers explained that the strategy is based on evolutionary principles, which have already been used in other areas such as managing antibiotic resistance and improving predictions of seasonal influenza strains.
However, scientists cautioned that the findings are still at an early stage. The study was based on mathematical modelling and computer simulations, meaning the approach must undergo further laboratory studies and clinical trials before it can become part of routine cancer treatment.
Several early-stage clinical trials are already investigating similar ideas in cancers including soft tissue cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer. Researchers hope that continued studies could lead to treatments that stay ahead of cancer’s ability to evolve.
If successful, the approach could help doctors extend the effectiveness of existing cancer medicines, delay disease relapse, and improve outcomes for patients without relying only on the development of new drugs.
Scientists propose new strategy to prevent cancer from becoming drug-resistant
The Egmont Group is a global network of Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) dedicated to strengthening international cooperation in combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other financial crimes. Through secure communication channels and trusted frameworks for FIU-to-FIU collaboration, the Group enables the timely exchange of actionable financial intelligence across jurisdictions.
Rwanda’s admission marks the culmination of more than three years of rigorous assessment, institutional reforms and sustained national commitment to strengthening its Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Countering Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/CPF) regime.
More than a national achievement, Egmont membership signifies Rwanda’s commitment to collective international action against increasingly complex and transnational financial crimes. It reinforces the country’s growing reputation as a credible and trusted partner in promoting financial integrity, transparency and global security.
Why Egmont membership matters
Membership positions FIC-Rwanda within a global network of FIUs, enabling secure, real-time exchange of financial intelligence and strengthening international cooperation in investigating and disrupting money laundering, terrorist financing, tax crimes, drug trafficking, human trafficking, illegal mining and other illicit financial activities.
The membership also provides access to specialised training, technical assistance, peer learning and international best practices, further enhancing institutional capacity to detect, investigate and respond to financial crimes.
Beyond the Financial Intelligence Centre, Egmont membership strengthens Rwanda’s international standing by reinforcing confidence among investors, development partners and the global financial community, while supporting the country’s efforts to maintain a resilient, transparent and secure financial system.
A stronger Rwanda, a stronger global financial system
As financial crime becomes increasingly sophisticated and borderless, Rwanda’s admission into the Egmont Group demonstrates the country’s readiness to work alongside the international community in safeguarding the integrity of the global financial system. Through enhanced cooperation, intelligence sharing and adherence to international standards, Rwanda is well positioned to contribute meaningfully to the global fight against illicit financial flows while advancing sustainable economic development and financial security.
FIC was admitted to the global network on July 8, 2026, during the 32nd Egmont Group Plenary held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from July 5 to 10, marking a major milestone in Rwanda’s efforts to strengthen the integrity of its financial system.
The company announced that it has established 65 water treatment facilities across almost all districts of Rwanda and created employment opportunities for more than 600 Rwandans.
The celebrations also marked the 15th anniversary of Jibu Holdings, the parent company that established its operations in Rwanda in 2012.
Jibu Holdings was founded in Colorado, United States, by Randy Welsch and his son Galen Welsch. Rwanda became the first country where the company launched its business model, which has since expanded to eight African countries, mainly in East Africa.
The company chose Rwanda for its anniversary celebrations as the country where it began operations and has remained one of its most successful markets.
Jibu works by partnering with local entrepreneurs to establish decentralised water treatment facilities in different communities.
Through its shared technology system, the company monitors water quality and ensures that all its facilities maintain consistent standards.
Across the eight African countries where it operates, Jibu has established more than 195 water treatment plants, supported over 10,000 water distributors, sold more than 950 million litres of water, and developed a network of more than 14,000 sales outlets.
In Rwanda, Jibu Country Manager Bruno Tuyisenge said the company currently works with more than 6,000 water distributors, operates 65 water treatment facilities, and serves over 300,000 regular customers.
He added that the company has created more than 640 jobs, excluding temporary employment opportunities, and its services have reached 26 districts across the country. The company currently treats about 280,000 cubic metres of water.
Tuyisenge said Jibu Rwanda expanded its operations in 2022 by entering the cooking gas sector in partnership with Japanese investors, aiming to reduce dependence on firewood and charcoal.
The company has since introduced a new gas distribution model that allows customers to purchase gas according to the amount of money they have.
“We are developing ‘Smart Stations’ where a customer who has Rwf 3,000 should not fail to access gas simply because they cannot afford to refill an entire cylinder. The first machine is already operating in Kacyiru, where residents have started purchasing gas through this system. We plan to expand the service to other parts of the country,” Tuyisenge said.
He added that more Smart Stations are being developed in Kigali City, Nyagatare and Kayonza.
Tuyisenge further said the company plans to introduce more varieties of water products to provide customers with wider choices. He noted that Jibu is also contributing to reducing reliance on boiled water, as many households have shifted to treated drinking water.
Rehema Uwamahoro, one of Jibu Rwanda’s franchise owners, said the company’s business model has helped her build a successful enterprise. Uwamahoro owns three productionfacilities located in Rwamagana, Kanombe, and Nyabisindu.
She said she joined the business in 2016 after leaving public service and has since expanded her operations, built a house, purchased a vehicle, and created jobs for more than 60 people.
Her facility in Rwamagana is valued at more than Rwf 60 million, despite starting the business with an initial capital of Rwf 500,000 when she was only selling water on a small scale.
Jibu Holdings Chief Executive Officer Galen Welsch said Rwanda remains a special market for the company because it was the first country where the business model was introduced and became the foundation for its expansion across Africa.
He said the company plans to expand its operations to more African countries over the next 10 to 15 years to ensure that affordable and safe drinking water reaches more households.
“Our vision is not only to expand as a business. We want to build a strong and sustainable African institution that contributes to improving public health, creating jobs, developing capable entrepreneurs, and transforming the lives of people across the African continent,” Welsch said.
Jibu Holdings currently operates in Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia and Ghana.
Jibu Rwanda marks 14 years of providing safe drinking water across the countryJibu Rwanda operates 65 water treatment plantsCountry Manager Tuyisenge Bruno said Jibu Rwanda has over 6,000 distributorsUwamahoro Rehema awarded a motorcycle for outstanding performance among Jibu Rwanda franchise ownersJibu Rwanda franchisee Uwamahoro Rehema built successful business since 2016
The report, covering calendar year 2025, provides the company’s first comprehensive account of its environmental, social and economic footprint and establishes a baseline against which future progress will be measured. As it expands across the continent, Spiro projects that its electric mobility ecosystem will help avoid approximately 700,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually by 2030.
The report comes as African countries, including Rwanda, continue to accelerate the transition to electric mobility in a bid to cut emissions, reduce fuel costs and build cleaner transport systems.
Spiro now operates more than 100,000 electric motorcycles across Africa, supported by more than 2,500 battery-swapping stations and over 30 million battery swaps completed to date, making it the continent’s largest electric two-wheeler and battery-swapping network.
Rwanda remains Spiro’s largest market among its six African operations, with 22,000 electric motorcycles on the road and more than 600 battery-swapping stations, ahead of Uganda, which has 16,000 motorcycles and more than 300 stations, and Kenya, with 14,000 motorcycles and over 300 stations. The company also operates one of its four vehicle assembly facilities in Rwanda, alongside plants in Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria.
Spiro operates more than 600 battery-swapping stations in Rwanda.
Highlighting the significance of the report, Imtinen Hamlaoui, Head of ESG and Sustainability at Spiro, said the company has completed its first end-to-end greenhouse gas inventory covering Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions across its operations and value chain.
“By establishing our first comprehensive ESG baseline, including Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, we are creating the foundations needed to track progress, set measurable targets and strengthen transparency as Spiro continues to scale across Africa,” she said.
“Sustainability is not a standalone initiative. It is integrated into how we operate, innovate and create long-term value.”
To further reduce its environmental footprint, Spiro is evaluating the deployment of 80-125 kVA on-site solar installations at selected battery-swapping stations to reduce dependence on national grids. The company also reported that smart energy management initiatives at its assembly facilities have already delivered an estimated 15-25% reduction in energy consumption.
Beyond climate goals, the report highlights Spiro’s investment in skills
development. Through the Spiro Academy, the company trained more than 4,000 people across Africa in 2025 in areas including electric vehicle maintenance, battery management and technical operations. The company also cited Africa’s first women electric motorcycle assembly line as part of its efforts to promote workforce inclusion and local industrial growth.
According to Spiro’s management, their motorcycles reduce riders’ operating costs by 70-80% compared with petrol-powered alternatives.
On the economic front, Spiro affirmed that commercial riders using Spiro motorcycles reduce their operating costs by 70-80% compared with petrol-powered alternatives, while benefiting from lower maintenance costs and reduced exposure to fuel price volatility.
Group Chief Executive Officer Anant Badjatya said sustainability will continue to shape the company’s expansion strategy across the continent.
“This report reflects how far Spiro has come, not only in terms of growth, but in our ability to measure and improve our impact. As we expand across Africa, sustainability will remain a core business driver, shaping how we invest, manufacture, innovate and partner for the long term,” he said.
Rwanda’s operations employed 51 permanent staff and supported a further 1,147 workers during 2025, contributing to Spiro’s group-wide workforce of 6,298 employees. The company said it continues to work closely with the Government of Rwanda in supporting the country’s shift from petrol-powered motorcycles to electric mobility.
During the year, Spiro also received several industry recognitions, including the E-Mobility Award from Brands & Beyond, AA Kenya’s EV Champion of the Year award, and recognition in Uganda for innovation in electric mobility. The company was also named a finalist for the Milken-Motsepe Prize in AI & Manufacturing for its work in localising and automating vehicle assembly across Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Nigeria.
Reflecting on the company’s long-term vision, founder Gagan Gupta said sustainability has been embedded in Spiro’s mission from the outset.
“Having grown up in India, I have witnessed firsthand the impact of vehicle emissions on public health and urban environments. At Spiro, our responsibility as founders is not only to scale innovation, but to ensure that the systems we build endure economically, socially and environmentally for generations to come,” he said.
Reflecting on Spiro’s long-term vision, founder Gagan Gupta said sustainability has been embedded in Spiro’s mission from the outset.
The sustainability report was developed with reference to the Global Reporting Initiative’s sustainability standards and will serve as the foundation for Spiro’s annual sustainability disclosures. The company is also registered on the Science Based Targets initiative platform as it works to align its emissions reduction pathway with internationally recognised climate benchmarks.
The report marks Spiro’s first comprehensive public assessment of its environmental, social and economic performance and establishes the benchmark against which the company says it will measure its progress as it continues expanding electric mobility across Africa.
The ruling upheld the verdict delivered on October 30, 2024, following an appeal trial that lasted for more than a month, from June 8 to July 18, 2026.
For the appeal proceedings, Rwamucyo was represented by a new team of seven lawyers. Among them was Jean-Baptiste Harelimana, a Rwandan lawyer who told the court that he had attended the Petit Séminaire de Butare during his secondary education.
The crimes for which Rwamucyo was convicted were committed in four communes of the former Butare Prefecture: Ngoma, Gishamvu, Ndora and Huye. At the time, he was Director of the Centre Universitaire de Santé Publique (CUSP) at the former National University of Rwanda (UNR) and was also serving as acting head of the Butare Health Region(Région sanitaire).
Unprecedented incidents during the trial
In an interview with IGIHE, André Martin Karongozi, one of the lawyers representing the civil parties, said the trial was marked by a number of unusual incidents targeting survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, as well as the RPF-Inkotanyi.
According to him, the first major incident occurred on the day the first genocide survivors, who had travelled from Rwanda specifically to testify before the court, took the stand.
As the first witness—a survivor represented by lawyer Karongozi—had just recounted her experience during the three months of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and was awaiting questioning by the court and the parties, two people seated among Rwamucyo’s relatives and supporters suddenly stood up. Waving flags, one of them wearing a black face mask, they shouted slogans targeting President Paul Kagame.
French gendarmes immediately intervened and removed the protesters from the courtroom. The presiding judge ordered a suspension of the hearing to restore calm, allow security officers to assess the situation, and ensure the witness could continue testifying under appropriate conditions. The individuals involved were identified, and photos were taken for further investigation.
Lawyer André-Martin Karongozi during an interview with IGIHE’s Karirima A. Ngarambe. He said Rwamucyo ‘s trial was marked by unusual incidents targeting survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, as well as the RPF-Inkotanyi.
A traumatic experience for survivors
The lawyer said the disruption deeply traumatized the witness as well as several genocide survivors present in the courtroom.
The witness was unable to sleep throughout the night following the testimony. The next morning, his condition deteriorated to the point that an ambulance had to be called. After receiving medical attention, she was later able to go back to Rwanda.
According to Lawyer Karongozi, the fact that such an incident occurred on the very first day survivors testified suggests that it had been planned in advance.
A social media disinformation campaign
The lawyer also alleged that Rwamucyo’s supporters published very often distorted accounts of the court proceedings on social media in an effort to discredit the lawyers representing the civil parties as well as the Advocate General( prosecutor).
Toward the end of the trial, false claims began circulating that the lawyer had secretly met with Eugène Rwamucyo and had, moreover, distanced himself from the RPF-Inkotanyi.
According to him, these allegations were entirely fabricated.
Other lawyers were also targeted, including Richard Gisagara, lawyer Michel Laval, representative of the Collectif des Parties Civiles pour le Rwanda (CPCR), and the Advocate General.
Karongozi told IGIHE that Rwamucyo’s supporters published distorted daily accounts of the court proceedings on social media in an effort to discredit the lawyers representing the civil parties as well as the Advocate General.
Large-scale mobilization of Rwamucyo’s supporters
The lawyer said information circulating during the proceedings indicated that Rwamucyo’s supporters had planned to bring nearly 200 sympathizers to the courthouse in an attempt to exert pressure on the court. As a result, from July 16, judicial authorities significantly reinforced security measures around the courthouse.
Unprecedented support for a genocide convict
According to Karongozi, a lawyer who has represented civil parties before the assize courts since 2005, Eugène Rwamucyo is the first Rwandan prosecuted over the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi to receive such a large show of support inside French or Belgian courtrooms.
He was told that some of those supporters may themselves have participated in the genocide.
He also noted that Rwamucyo called several witnesses known for denying or distorting the Genocide against the Tutsi including:
Patrick Mbeko, author of some writings about Rwanda whose statements were rejected during the hearing by one of Rwamucyo’s lawyers;
The former Commander of the Rwandan Gendarmerie, General Augustin Ndindiliyimana, who dared to say that the speech of April 19, 1994 in Butare by Théodore Sindikubwabo was positive;
Hervé Deguine, whose views align with those expressed by Pierre Péan in his book Noires fureurs, blancs menteurs): Tutsi are born liars, and the Hutu who hang out with them are tainted by it.
The Paris Court of Assizes recently upheld the conviction of Dr. Eugène Rwamucyo for complicity in genocide and crimes against humanity, confirming his 27-year prison sentence.
A different defense strategy on appeal
Finally, Lawyer Karongozi observed that Rwamucyo adopted a different approach during the appeal from the one he had taken during his first trial.
Having remained in custody since his 2024 conviction despite appealing the verdict, Rwamucyo spoke before the court about the hardships of prison life, even explaining that he once had to clean his prison cell soiled by the previous inmate.
According to the lawyer, this was part of a strategy aimed at gaining the court’s sympathy. On several occasions, Rwamucyo said he bowed in memory of the victims of the genocide and acknowledged the suffering of survivors, hoping to be cleared of all charges or to get a reduced sentence.
However, the lawyer argued that these statements failed to convince the court. In his view, despite expressing sympathy for the victims, Rwamucyo never changed his fundamental position. Instead, he continued to endorse the ideology of Parmehutu and the Coalition pour la Défense de la République (CDR), claiming that Tutsi victims had been killed by fellow Tutsi under the direction of the RPF-Inkotanyi and that the RPF was responsible for the massacres.
For Karongozi, these statements demonstrated that the accused had never abandoned a genocide denial narrative, which helps explain why the Paris Court of Assizes upheld both his conviction and his 27-year prison sentence.
