Fashion designer Moses Turahirwa has requested the High Court in Kigali to grant him a suspended sentence in an appeal case related to drug use and document forgery.

Turahirwa is challenging a 2024 ruling by the Nyarugenge Intermediate Court that found him guilty of consuming cannabis and forging documents. The lower court sentenced him to three years in prison and imposed a fine of Rwf 2 million.

During the appeal hearing held on March 16, Turahirwa requested the court to reconsider the sentence and replace it with a suspended one, arguing that he has taken steps toward rehabilitation and treatment.

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He told the court that some of the drug use incidents occurred while he was abroad in countries where cannabis consumption is legal.

"In Italy and Kenya, I used cannabis,” he said, adding that he has since sought medical treatment to address his mental health challenges.

Regarding the forgery charge, Turahirwa argued that the incident stemmed from a social media post that involved editing an image of his passport rather than altering an official document for fraudulent purposes.

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He explained that he took a photo of his passport and used photo editing software to remove certain details, including the date of birth, passport number, and gender marker.

According to him, the edited image was posted on Instagram with the caption suggesting that he had officially changed his gender on his identification.

"It was photoshopped for social media and it was not used anywhere officially,” he said, arguing that the post did not constitute document forgery because it was not used in any administrative process.

His lawyer also asked the court to consider Turahirwa’s ongoing treatment, arguing that a suspended sentence would allow him to continue receiving treatment in a rehabilitation centre.

"His family is committed to supporting him through treatment,” the lawyer told the court.

However, the prosecution opposed the request for a suspended sentence, arguing that Turahirwa’s actions demonstrated a pattern of criminal behaviour, noting that he committed additional offences even after previously being granted leniency.

On the forgery charge, prosecutors maintained that altering information on a passport image constitutes document forgery regardless of whether the original document or a photocopy was used arguing that changing official information on such a document is sufficient to constitute forgery.

According to the prosecution, Turahirwa admitted that he altered three elements on the passport image before posting it online with the caption: "Finally officially female on my ID, thank you Kagame.”

Prosecutors argued that such alterations could mislead the public and affect the integrity of official documents. They also dismissed the defence’s argument that the post was merely humorous.

Prosecution further requested the High Court to dismiss the appeal and uphold the earlier ruling.

The court scheduled the verdict in the appeal for March 31.

If the court grants a suspended sentence, Turahirwa would be released after completing the one-year prison term he is currently serving. However, if the court upholds the previous ruling, he would be required to serve the additional three-year sentence imposed in the earlier case.

Turahirwa’s legal troubles date back to April 2023, when he was first arrested over allegations of drug use and document forgery.

In May 2023, while appearing before the Nyarugenge Primary Court, he admitted to consuming cannabis. He was later granted bail by the Nyarugenge Intermediate Court in July 2023.

Following the trial in 2024, the Intermediate Court convicted him on both counts and sentenced him to three years in prison and a fine of Rwf 2 million.