The Rwandan government has arrested the family members of jailed former army officers, Brigadier Frank Rusagara and Col Tom Byabagamba.
The motive for the high profile arrests remains unclear.
ChimpReports has learned the matter is being kept a top secret by Rwanda’s security services.
Those who have been arrested include John Museminali, the husband of Rosemary Museminali.
Mr Museminali is a businessman operating in Rwanda.
This case is likely to be interesting considering that Museminali’s wife is a powerful figure in the international community.
Ms Museminali has been serving as the Director for External and Donor Relations at the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS).
Prior to taking up that role, from 2011 until 2018 she was the UNAIDS Representative at the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
Ms Museminali also served her country Rwandan as Minister of State for International Cooperation and later the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation from 2005 until 2009.
She also served as Rwanda’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, Ireland and the Scandinavian countries from 2000 to 2005. From 1994 until 1999, she was the Rwanda Red Cross Secretary-General and Director for Social Services.
Also arrested is a one Sanyu, a brother of Lt Col Hassan Lumumba. The two are nephews of Col Byabagamba.
Authorities also arrested a yet-to-be identified sister of Mary Baine, the wife of Col Byabagamba.
Baine was Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) Commissioner-General for five years until 2011 when she was named Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs.
She later went into oblivion after being sidelined by the ruling party on grounds of “straying” from the official party line.
Security tightened
A source who preferred anonymity so as to speak freely confided in this investigative website that “all these people are being held in heavily-guarded safe houses.”
They are accused of reportedly planning the escape of Col Byabagamba from the military barracks in Kanombe where he is jailed.
Byabagamba’s friends have has since wondered how he would escape from a heavily-fortified military facility.
We were yet to get comment from the country’s armed forces.
It’s said Rwandan authorities were also not happy about a recent appeal by Rusagara and Byabagamba to the East African Court of Justice over their imprisonment.
The Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) recently announced plans to charge Col Byabagamba with “additional charges committed while in detention.”
The armed forces said in a statement that “Col Byabagamba is suspected of criminal activities related to attempt to commit corruption and attempt to escape from a prison.”
RDF further stated that “suspected criminal activities committed by Colonel Tom Byabagamba and his inside and outside accomplices are being thoroughly investigated. The RDF reassures the public that justice will take its course and will not tolerate any person who violates the law and RDF ethics and values.”
Byabagamba, a brother of Kagame’s top critic, David Himbara, served as a personal bodyguard of President Kagame from 1990 (during RPF war) to 2010.
Between 2010 and 2013 he served as head of the Republican Guard, personally charged with leading security for the president.
Rusagara trouble
After his retirement, his in-law, Frank Rusagara frequented several popular social gathering spots in Kigali.
He met with other military colleagues at these venues and over meals he would occasionally make comments that were critical of the government.
Rusagara also sent emails to colleagues criticizing the country’s leadership.
Byabagamba made similar comments to other military colleagues criticizing the Rwandan government.
Prior to being arrested, Byabagamba had a text exchange with another military officer in which he commented on an online article that was critical of the Rwandan government.
In this text exchange, Byabagamba reportedly suggested to a colleague that Rwanda was “not well governed.”
Byabagamba was arrested on August 24, 2014.
On 27 December 2019, the Court of Appeal sentenced him to an imprisonment of 15 years and stripped off his military ranks.
He was found guilty of inciting insurrection or trouble amongst the population; tarnishing, as a leader, the image of the country or Government; wilfully concealing objects that would facilitate the execution of a crime; and contempt of the national flag.
Byabagamba’s associates say the charges were politically motivated and aimed at curtailing the growth of opposition within the top ranks of RPF.
In November 2019, six members of the UK Parliament recently called for the release of Byabagamba and Rusagara.
“… we are troubled that Rwanda has imposed disproportionate sentences on individuals who are suffering from serious health issues in poor prison conditions,” said the British lawmakers.
“Humanitarian factors call for Mr. Byabagamba and Mr. Rusagara’s release. Both men have already been imprisoned for five years and are reportedly in poor health; Mr. Rusagara suffers from an enlarged prostate and arthritis and Mr. Byabagamba has two artificial discs, after having major surgery on his back. The poor conditions they are detained in have exacerbated their health issues. Releasing Mr.
Byabagamba and Mr. Rusagara will demonstrate to the United Kingdom and the world that Rwanda is compassionate towards ill prisoners who have already served lengthy sentences.”