Brigadier-General Frank Rusagara, a former senior officer in the Rwandan military, passed away on Wednesday morning while serving a 20-year prison sentence.
He was 70 years old.
Rusagara was arrested on August 18, 2014, alongside his brother-in-law, Col. Tom Byabagamba, the former head of the Presidential Guard.
In 2016, a military court convicted them of inciting rebellion and tarnishing the government’s image—charges widely seen as politically motivated. Byabagamba was subsequently stripped of his military ranks.
In 2020, Rusagara and Byabagamba petitioned the East African Court of Justice (EACJ), arguing that their detention was unlawful and violated the East African Community treaty.
Their attorney, Michael Osundwa, claimed that their incarceration contravened Articles 6, 7, and 8 of the treaty.
However, in a surprising turn on March 14 las tyear, the duo withdrew their petition without explanation.
The court accepted the request, bringing an end to the case. Their decision to drop the legal battle sparked speculation, particularly with President Paul Kagame seeking re-election in the upcoming July 15 polls.
Many believe that the two former officers may have negotiated clemency behind the scenes.
Rusagara and Byabagamba had long alleged mistreatment in prison, including solitary confinement and constant surveillance.
Their case drew international attention, with British parliamentarians in 2019 urging the Rwandan government to grant them clemency.
Human rights group Freedom Now condemned Rusagara’s detention and expressed deep sorrow over his passing.
"Freedom Now is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former military officer and political prisoner Frank Rusagara on March 24. We express our sincere condolences to his family at this difficult time," the organisation stated.
In 2017, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled that Rwanda had violated international law by imprisoning Rusagara and called for his immediate release—an appeal that was ignored.
Rusagara was arrested less than a year after retiring from the military. Before his conviction, he had served in various diplomatic roles, including as Rwanda's Defence Attaché to the United Kingdom.
Many believe his international connections played a role in foreign efforts to secure his release.
Born in Rwanda, Rusagara was exiled to Uganda at the age of six, where he later joined the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) struggle.
He held several influential positions in Rwanda’s Ministry of Defence, shaping military policy before falling out with the regime.
Following his death, human rights groups are calling on the Rwandan government to release his body to his family for burial and to reconsider the continued imprisonment of Byabagamba, who still has seven years left to serve.
Rusagara’s death casts a renewed spotlight on Rwanda’s human rights record, particularly its treatment of political dissidents and former allies of Kagame’s government.
The Rwandan government has not released a statement on the death of Rusagara.