It is one of the cases that took too much time to be assessed. The case involving Col Byabagamba, Brig Rusagara and Sergeant Francois Kabayiza that nears two years of assessment by the Kanombe military high court will pronounce its verdict on 31, March.
It attracted much attention from in Rwanda and abroad due to the high ranking military officers involved and the allegations that they have to respond to.
Col Byabagamba was commander in chief of the Republic guard and Brig Gen Rusagara worked as the Director of the Nyakinama military school and was also the chief justice of the Kanombe Military high court that is trying him currently.
Brig Gen Rusagara worked as the attaché militaire at the Rwandan Embassy in UK .
The allegations upon them are based on what they are have spoken/ written in different occasions while they were discussing with their fellow soldiers or friends.
Some of the soldiers they talked to are currently accusing them in this ongoing court hearing that will take an end on 31, March this year.
Sergeant Kabayiza who was the driver of the Brig Gen Rusagara’s car, is accused of having withdrawn facts that would eventually help the prosecution in its investigation.
During the court hearing process, witnesses have uttered that the accused were critical to Rwandan government in a way that tarnished its image while they were supposed to defend it as high ranking military officers.
Col Byabagamba was in Sudan to fulfill his military duties was unhappy with the leadership of President Paul Kagame and started tarnishing its integrity.
He is accused of having not saluted the national flag in the Sudan and, according to witnesses; this is a disrespect towards the national emblematic tool and usually deserve full respect.
The accused denied this, claiming that it is a forgery from the prosecution.
All of the accused refuted the allegations, highlighting that they are baseless and therefore untrustworthy.
Few months ago, the prosecution urged the court to convict the accused to 22 years of imprisonment and a fee of eight million Rwandan francs each.
Sergeant Kabayiza is due to be sentenced to six years of imprisonment and a fee of five million Rwf.
UM– USEKE.RW
