The Ministry of Youth and Culture has temporarily suspended the Miss Rwanda contest citing ongoing investigation of Prince Kid, the organiser.

"The Ministry of Youth and Culture informs the general public that the Miss Rwanda beauty pageant has been suspended pending completion of investigations,” reads a statement issued by the ministry.

Prince Kid, real name Dieudonné Ishimwe’s arrest was announced on April 26, over sexual abuse towards contestants on different occasions.

Ishimwe was detained a few days after the former organisation’s communication’s director Meghan Nimwiza stepped down from her duties, a move she attributed to exploring other horizons.

The case has since attracted various interventions from the public including First Lady Jeannette Kagame, who pledged support to the contestants, during what she acknowledged as ‘tough times.’

Efforts to get a comment from the National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA) as to when the case could be taken to court were futile by press time.

Case takes a twist

The ministry’s announcement comes at a time RIB also detained one Elsa Iradukunda, for allegedly using forged documents in an attempt to hamper the ongoing investigations.

Iradukunda, Miss Rwanda 2017, was arrested on Sunday, May 8. 

It has previously emerged that she had a ‘close’ relationship with Prince Kid, with allegations of the two planning to ‘tie the knot.’

Not much has been revealed regarding Iradukunda’s case, however article 267 of the penal indicates that any person who, with fraudulent intention, produces a false written document, causes to write false statements or produces a conflicting declaration, is considered to commit the offense of forgery. 

Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than five (5) years, but not more than seven (7) years and a fine of not less than three million Rwandan francs (Rwf3,000,000) and not more than five million Rwandan francs (Rwf 5,000,000) or only one of these penalties.