Ex Kagame Guard Commander Tom Byabagamba Dies in Rwandan Prison After 12 Years

Byabagamba was a veteran of the Rwanda Patriotic Front’s liberation struggle and served in Kagame’s personal protection detail from 1990

Col Byabagamba and his wife Mary Baine at the military court in 2015

Former Rwanda Defence Force officer Colonel Tom Byabagamba, who once commanded President Paul Kagame’s elite Republican Guard, has died in prison after 12 years in detention, his family announced on Tuesday.

Byabagamba’s elder brother, David Himbara, a former economic adviser to Kagame who later became a prominent critic of the Rwandan government, announced the death in a statement posted on social media.

“It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of our beloved brother, Colonel Tom Byabagamba, who passed away while in prison in Rwanda,” Himbara said.

“Tom dedicated many years of his life to the service of his country as a senior officer in the Rwanda Defence Force. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him.”

The family did not disclose the cause or circumstances of his death. Rwandan prison and defence authorities had not immediately issued a public statement confirming the death or explaining what happened.

Byabagamba had been imprisoned since his arrest in August 2014. He had therefore spent almost exactly 12 years in detention.

From Kagame’s bodyguard to prisoner

Byabagamba was a veteran of the Rwanda Patriotic Front’s liberation struggle and served in Kagame’s personal protection detail from 1990.

He rose through the ranks of the post-genocide army and eventually became commander of the Republican Guard, the specialised unit responsible for protecting the president and key state installations. He reportedly served in the position between 2003 and 2010.

Byabagamba was later deployed to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan before his arrest upon returning to Rwanda in August 2014.

He was prosecuted alongside retired Brigadier General Frank Rusagara, who died just before he was released from prison, and retired Sergeant François Kabayiza.

Prosecutors accused the officers of making statements critical of the government and attempting to turn soldiers and members of the public against the state.

In March 2016, Rwanda’s Military High Court convicted Byabagamba of offences including inciting insurrection, tarnishing the image of the government, concealing evidence and contempt of the national flag.

He received a 21-year prison sentence and was stripped of his military rank and medals.

The contempt charge arose from allegations that he had failed to show proper respect to the Rwandan flag while serving with the UN mission in South Sudan.

In December 2019, the Court of Appeal upheld his convictions but reduced the sentence to 15 years, ruling that the lower court had not justified imposing a term above the statutory maximum applicable to the offences. Rwanda’s Defence Ministry⁠ subsequently said he faced additional military charges.

Criticism

Byabagamba’s prosecution attracted criticism from international human-rights organisations, which argued that the case was largely based on private remarks and criticism of government policy.

Human Rights Watch said serious allegations of torture and witness interference emerged during the proceedings and criticised the Court of Appeal for upholding the convictions. The organisation described the ruling as a violation of freedom of expression⁠.

The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention also concluded in 2017 that the detention of Byabagamba, Rusagara and Kabayiza was arbitrary and called for their release and compensation.

Rwandan authorities consistently defended the prosecution as a lawful judicial process involving offences against state and military security.

Byabagamba’s death comes before the completion of his reduced 15-year sentence. His family has not yet announced funeral arrangements.