Former Rwanda Presidential Guard Commander Tom Byabagamba Dies After 12 Years in Prison

Colonel Tom Byabagamba, a former commander of the unit responsible for protecting Rwandan President Paul Kagame, has died in a military prison in Rwanda at the age of 59, according to his elder brother, Dr David Himbara, and a nephew.

Himbara announced Byabagamba’s death in a post on X, expressing grief over the loss of his younger brother.

“We are deeply saddened to announce the death of our beloved brother, Colonel Tom Byabagamba, who died in prison in Rwanda. May his soul rest in peace,” Himbara wrote.

He added that Byabagamba had dedicated many years of his life to serving Rwanda as a senior military officer and would be greatly missed by his family, friends and those who knew him.

Himbara said the family did not know what caused his brother’s death, claiming that no one had been allowed to see him during his years in detention.

Military career and arrest

Byabagamba was among senior military officers who fought alongside President Kagame during the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi)’s armed struggle, which began in October 1990 and ended with the RPF taking power in 1994.

He later rose to the rank of Colonel and served as commander of the military unit responsible for protecting the President.

Byabagamba was arrested in 2014 alongside his brother-in-law, former Brigadier General Frank Rusagara.

In 2016, Rwanda’s Military High Court sentenced Byabagamba to 21 years in prison and stripped him of his military rank.

The court convicted him of offences including spreading rumours intended to cause public unrest, making statements against the government while serving as an officer, and disrespecting the national flag.

Byabagamba consistently denied the allegations throughout the proceedings, describing the charges as fabricated.

In 2019, the Court of Appeal upheld his conviction but reduced his sentence from 21 years to 15 years.

Additional prison sentence

Byabagamba later faced another case while already serving his sentence.

In 2020, the Kicukiro Primary Court in Kigali sentenced him to an additional three years in prison after finding him guilty of theft allegedly committed while he was incarcerated.

During the proceedings, Byabagamba rejected the accusation, questioning the allegation that someone of his rank would steal an item such as a mobile phone.

Death follows that of Frank Rusagara

Byabagamba’s death comes about 17 months after the death of Frank Rusagara, the former Brigadier General who was also imprisoned in connection with the same case.

Rusagara died in prison in March 2025. Rwandan media reported at the time that he had died following illness.

In 2016, a military court sentenced Rusagara to 20 years in prison after convicting him of offences including spreading rumours intended to cause unrest and defaming the government. He denied the allegations in court.

Byabagamba and Rusagara had been arrested in 2014 and tried together.