Former Commander of Rwanda’s Presidential Guard Passes Away in Custody After 12 Years Imprisoned

Tom Byabagamba, a 59-year-old former leader of Rwanda’s presidential guard and a one-time personal protector to President Paul Kagame, has died while incarcerated.

He was taken into custody in 2014 alongside his brother-in-law, retired brigadier-general Frank Rusagara, on charges of “spreading rumours” and “damaging the reputation of the country and government.”

Human rights organizations voiced alarm over their legal proceedings, viewing them as indicative of broader governmental suppression. During his trial, Colonel Byabagamba consistently rejected the accusations, maintaining that the charges were entirely baseless.

Byabagamba’s brother, David Himbara, informed the BBC Great Lakes service that the family remained uninformed regarding the circumstances of his death, stating, “no-one was allowed to see him in all these years.”

International rights organizations have consistently criticized the Kagame administration for curbing political dissent and muzzling critics both inside Rwanda and overseas.

In 2016, a military tribunal found Byagamba guilty and sentenced him to 21 years behind bars, though the punishment was later trimmed to 15 years following an appeal. Rusagara, who previously held the position of secretary-general at the defence ministry, received a 20-year sentence.

Rusagara passed away in prison in March of the previous year. Human Rights Watch (HRW) characterized it as the “lonely death of a general,” pointing out that his family had not heard from him since 2014, just prior to his arrest.

According to the rights organization, authorities told the family that Rusagara had been suffering from cancer.

HRW reported that the conviction of both men followed a “flawed trial” characterized by “serious allegations of torture and witness tampering.”

The advocacy organization Freedom Now had previously condemned their detention as “arbitrary” and a violation of international law.

Byabagamba is survived by his wife and two sons.

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