The Nyarugenge Intermediate Court has dismissed the appeal for provisional release filed by Rwandan opposition leader and convicted genocide denier Ingabire Umuhoza Victoire, ordering that she remain in detention as investigations into her current charges continue.
Ingabire, who was arrested in late July, faces fresh charges of genocide ideology, inciting public disorder, and collaborating with groups allegedly seeking to destabilize the state. During Monday’s hearing, the prosecution argued that her recent actions—including inflammatory social media posts and contact with subversive networks abroad—pose a significant threat to national security and public order.
In its ruling delivered this morning, the court found the prosecution’s arguments credible and determined that releasing her at this stage could interfere with ongoing investigations and risk reoffending.
“The accused has previously been convicted of similar offenses and released under presidential pardon. The court has reason to believe that there is a risk of recurrence, flight, or witness interference,” read part of the court’s decision.
Ingabire’s legal team argued that her detention was unjustified and politically motivated, stating that she has consistently complied with judicial processes and poses no flight risk. However, the court was not persuaded, emphasizing the gravity of the accusations she currently faces.
Outside the courtroom, survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi expressed satisfaction with the ruling. Some carried signs calling for “zero tolerance for genocide denial,” warning that revisionist narratives threaten Rwanda’s hard-earned peace and reconciliation.
Ingabire Umuhoza Victoire has long been a controversial figure in Rwandan politics. After returning from exile in the Netherlands in 2010, she was arrested and later sentenced to 15 years in prison for conspiracy against the government and denying the Genocide against the Tutsi. In 2018, she was released under presidential pardon on the condition of lawful conduct.
Since her release, she has remained under close scrutiny, with several of her public statements and political activities drawing criticism from genocide survivors’ organizations and government officials.
With her appeal now rejected, Ingabire will remain in detention as prosecutors prepare for a full trial in the coming months. If convicted, she could face a lengthy prison sentence—potentially marking a new chapter in her turbulent political career.
