Ex-head of Rwanda’s presidential guard dies in jail 12 years after his arrest

Tom Byabagamba, the former head of Rwanda’s presidential guard, passed away at the age of 59 while incarcerated. He had been arrested in 2014 alongside his brother-in-law, Frank Rusagara, who was a retired brigadier-general. The two were charged with spreading rumors and damaging Rwanda's image and the government's reputation. Human rights groups voiced concerns regarding their cases, deeming them part of a broader pattern of government repression.

Throughout his trial, Byabagamba insisted that the allegations against him were fabricated. His brother, David Himbara, revealed to the BBC Great Lakes service that his family remained unaware of the cause of death due to restricted access. Rights groups have consistently accused President Paul Kagame's government of limiting political opposition and silencing critics both within Rwanda and beyond its borders.

In 2016, a military court sentenced Byabagamba to 21 years in prison, which was later reduced to 15 years upon appeal. Rusagara, who had also served as the secretary-general of the defense ministry, received a 20-year sentence. Following their conviction, they were deemed to have faced a flawed trial characterized by allegations of torture and witness intimidation, as claimed by the Human Rights Watch (HRW).

The campaign group Freedom Now had previously criticized their detention, arguing that it was arbitrary and violated international law. Byabagamba was survived by his wife and two sons.