The Police are holding a man in connection with inciting the population to rise up against the government. Christophe Mpozayo was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of disseminating “rumours with the intention to incite violence in the country.” This is not the first time Mpozayo is being arrested. In November last year, he was arrested in connection with illegal possession of a firearm and on defamation charges. Mpozayo, who was employed in the East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) in Arusha, Tanzania is alleged to have used social media platforms to spread harmful propaganda. When contacted, the Police Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Damas Gatare, confirmed the arrest. “We have re-arrested Dr Christophe Mpozayo over trying to incite the population against the State through writings that are aimed at compromising the territorial integrity of the country,” ACP Gatare said. “Mpozayo is currently detained at Remera Police Station as investigations continue,” Gatare added. The law states that “any person who, by speeches held in meetings or public places, or writings, images or emblems, any posters, sold or on sale or displayed to the public, knowingly spreads rumours, incites the population against established government, or incites the population against each other or attempts to alarm the population with intention to cause trouble on the national territory of the Republic of Rwanda, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of 10 to 15 years.” Investigations into whether Mpozayo has links to suspected terrorist groups and Genocidal forces are also underway.
