Col. Rugigana denied bail

The Military High Court sitting in Kanombe, yesterday ruled that the provisional detention of Lt. Col. Ngabo Rugigana be extended for 30 more days, because if released, he could escape and jeopardize investigations into his case. Rugigana, a former head of the Engineering Regiment in the Rwanda Defence Forces, is accused of threatening national security. He is the brother of Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa, who was recently convicted and sentenced in absentia to serve 24 years in prison after being found guilty of forming a terrorist group, threatening state security, undermining public order, promoting ethnic divisions and insulting the person of the President. Prosecution alleged that Kayumba used Rugigana to rally demobilized soldiers and civilians with the aim of forming an armed group to carry out subversive activities in the country. According to the court, the prosecution had presented valid evidence indicating that the suspect could have been involved in activities aimed at threatening internal security. Last week, regional security chiefs, representing the Economic Community of Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL), disclosed that Kayumba and Patrick Karegyeya, had formed a new armed group based in the DRC, with the aim of destabilizing the region. The meeting revealed that the armed group, based in Binza, North Kivu, is commanded by Col. Suki and Col. Gaheza, and is so far estimated to number about 200 men. Ends

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Col. Rugigana denied bail