Former head of Rwanda’s presidential guard dies in prison, his brother says
KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) — Tom Byabagamba, a former commander of President Paul Kagame’s elite presidential guard who later was convicted of inciting insurrection, has died in prison after spending a dozen years…
Colonel Tom Byabagamba, a former commander of President Paul Kagame's presidential guard, passed away while incarcerated in Rwanda at the age of 59, according to his brother. Byabagamba, who held the rank of colonel before it was stripped from him, had been imprisoned for a dozen years. His brother, David Himbara, announced the news on X, expressing profound sadness over the loss of their brother.
The cause of death remains unknown. Byabagamba served as commander of the presidential guard until 2010, when he fell out with President Kagame and was removed from his position, without providing a reason. In 2014, he was detained alongside another officer, Brigadier Frank Rusagara. In 2016, they were both sentenced to prison for inciting insurrection and damaging the government's image.
Rusagara died in prison in the previous year. Critics argued that the trial was flawed and that it followed a pattern of silencing government critics domestically and internationally. In 2019, the Court of Appeal reduced Byabagamba's 21-year sentence to 15 years. The Rwandan government denies targeting its opponents, despite Kagame's critics claiming his authoritarianism leaves no space for internal dissent.
Many senior army officers have fallen out with Kagame, with some seeking refuge in exile due to perceived threats to their lives.
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