Tom Byabagamba, former Rwandan presidential guard commander, dies in prison

Tom Byabagamba, the former commander of Rwanda’s presidential guard and a former member of President Paul Kagame’s security detail, has died in prison at age 59. He had been incarcerated for nearly 12 years.

Byabagamba was arrested in 2014 alongside his brother-in-law, retired Brigadier-General Frank Rusagara. The two were accused of spreading rumors, inciting uprising, and tarnishing the country’s international image. Specifically, prosecutors alleged Byabagamba accused the government of being responsible for the 2014 assassination of exiled opposition figure Patrick Karegeya. While a military court sentenced Byabagamba to 21 years in 2016, the sentence was later reduced to 15 years on appeal.

The circumstances of his death remain unknown, and his family reported they had been unable to establish the cause. His death follows that of Rusagara, who died in custody in March 2025. Human rights organizations and UN experts had previously raised concerns regarding the detention of these officers, viewing their prosecution as part of a broader pattern of targeting political opponents and critics of the Rwandan government.