Maj. Gen. Martin Nzaramba yesterday appeared before the Military Tribunal to answer charges of defamation leveled against him by his wife, Capt (rtd) Doreen Kayitesi.

Kayitesi also sued for damages emanating from what she calls defaming utterances by her husband.

She filed the defamatory charges against her husband through her lawyer Protais Mutembe without seeking the intervention of prosecution.

The lawsuit was filed besides a separate divorce case between the couple which is before a civilian court. Nzaramba, who is the director of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) in Gabiro School of Infantry, filed for divorce in Kacyiru Lower Instance Court.

However, the defamation case was yesterday heard behind closed doors at the plaintiff’s request although Gen. Nzaramba wanted it heard in public.

Athanase Rutabingwa represents Nzaramba in both cases.

"In principle, trials are supposed to be held in public and we do not have a problem to keep it that way," Rutabingwa said but added that if it pleases court to grant the request of the plaintiff, so be it.

After deliberations, the three-man quorum presided over by Brig Gen Steven Kalyango excused the public from the rest of the proceeding.

Ends