The House of Lords in the United Kingdom, has petitioned the president of Rwanda, Paul Kagame over the continued detention of Col .Tom Byabagamba and retired Brig. Gen. Frank Rusagara.
The two were arrested in 2014 and charged with spreading rumors and tarnishing the image of the country and government. Col. Byabagamba was also leveled with charges of concealing evidence and undermining the national flag.
According to the House of Lords, the charges came after criticisms the two made of the ruling government. Despite Rusagara being a civilian, the two were jointly tried in Kanombe military High Court in Kigali on March 31, 2016.
They were convicted on all charges and sentenced to 21 and 30 years in prison. They appeal their sentences however the process didn’t begin until early this year and is still ongoing.
“We commended Rwanda’s progress over the last three decades particularly the strides it has made in creating a more inclusive society that had drawn in marginalized population. However we are troubled that Rwanda has imposed disproportionate sentences on individuals who are suffering from serious health issues in poor conditions,” the petition reads in part.
Kagame has always been accused of wit hunting his opponents who he fought with in 1994
The House of Lords said Humanitarian factor call for Byabagamba and Rusagara’s release, both men have been in detention for over five years and are reportedly in poor health. “Rusagara is suffering from an enlarged prostate and Byabagamba has two artificial discs after having major surgery on his back. Unfortunately Mr Rusagara wife passed away and he was in prison and his children have been without parents and don’t want to see their father suffer any longer,” they said.
“Releasing the two will demonstrate to United Kingdom and the entire world that Rwanda is compassionate to ill prisoners who have already served longer sentences,” they said.
The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers and domestically usually referred to simply as the Lords, is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
