Amid the media frenzy around Rusesabagina’s alleged kidnapping and torture, Kagame’s bush war comrades in arms are hissing and scoffing at his treatment of their fellow officers in detention. 

These men who ensure his security and authority are embittered by the treatment of disgraced commanders like Colonel Tom Byabagamba whose worrying orthopedic problem has been ignored throughout his detention, Major General Joseph Nzabamwita ‘s safe house reclusion, Gasana Rurayi’s extensive solitary confinement, General Rusagara’s cardiovascular problem – purposely unattended to, Lt Colonel Rugigana Ngabo who has all about lost his sight, the same thing with Lt Joel Mutabazi who also has a heart condition that is apparently of no interest to his jailors.

“Ni agasuzuguro gakabije kuri uzalendo y’ inkotanyi […] ni igisebo gikomeye cyane kubona ndugu uzira ikinyamakuru na youtube apfa urwo bapfuye, nta gusurwa n’ umuryango mugihe uwo uregwa terrorism arya spaghettis, akarara kumufariso munzitira mibu…It is an insult to the struggle and to the memory of our dead… ”

This comrade whom I spoke to today ( 12/09/2020) reiterates the mounting frustration of what is left of RPF’s old guard that is privy to the conditions under which these military men are incarcerated, eating a badly boiled mixture of dried corn and beans to Mr. Rusesabagina’s Spaghettis, sleeping on cement in windowless cells, using buckets as toilets to Mr. Rusesabagina’s incorporated indoor plumbing  “ luxurious “ detention!

America is one of Rwanda’s most important donors, it is also its most powerful ally and Paul Rusesabagina being the recipient of the “American Medal of freedom “  makes him a high profile detainee, and as such is treated accordingly.

Over the coming weeks and months as the world watches Rusesabagina’s court proceedings  Rwanda’s judicial system will also be on trial. It is hard to imagine a miraculous improvement to the prison conditions in Rwanda at the end of this circus, but perhaps we can hope that steps will be taken towards improvement on the standard of a minimum of decency and not just for recipients of western honors.  

This is the time for the Rwandan opposition to stop rumor-mongering and speak up to improve our judiciary. This is the time to remember Deo Mushayidi and all our other prisoners. 

Noble Marara