The High Court has upheld a three-year prison sentence and a fine of Rwf 2 million for fashion designer Moses Turahirwa, founder of Moshions, in a case involving drug use and document forgery. The ruling, delivered on March 30, affirms an earlier decision by the Gasabo Intermediate Court in 2024, which convicted Turahirwa on both charges. The High Court dismissed his appeal, in which he had sought a suspended sentence. With this decision, Turahirwa will serve the three-year sentence in addition to a separate one-year term he is currently serving following a previous conviction for drug use. The one-year sentence is expected to end in April. ALSO READS: Fashionista Turahirwa seeks suspended sentence Turahirwa had appealed the lower court’s ruling, arguing that he had taken steps toward rehabilitation and should be granted a suspended sentence to continue treatment outside prison. During the appeal hearing on March 16, 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 mental health challenges. ALSO READ: Why Moshions founder Turahirwa is back in court On the forgery charge, Turahirwa argued that the case stemmed from a social media post rather than any attempt to falsify official records for administrative purposes. He explained that he had edited an image of his passport using photo-editing software, removing details such as his date of birth, passport number, and gender marker. The altered image was later shared on Instagram with a caption suggesting that he had officially changed his gender on his identification. “It was photoshopped for social media and not used anywhere officially,” he said, maintaining that the act did not constitute document forgery. His lawyer also urged the court to consider Turahirwa’s ongoing treatment, noting that his family is committed to supporting his rehabilitation. The defence argued that a suspended sentence would allow him to continue receiving care in a rehabilitation centre. However, the prosecution opposed the appeal, arguing that Turahirwa’s actions reflected a pattern of criminal behaviour. Prosecutors noted that he committed additional offences even after previously benefiting from leniency. On the forgery charge, the prosecution maintained that altering information on a passport image constitutes document forgery, regardless of whether the original document or a copy was used. They argued that modifying official information is sufficient to meet the threshold for forgery, and that such actions could mislead the public and undermine the integrity of official documents. According to the prosecution, Turahirwa admitted to altering three elements on the passport image before posting it online with the caption: “Finally officially female on my ID, thank you Kagame.” Prosecutors dismissed the defence’s claim that the post was humorous, insisting that the nature of the alterations carried legal consequences. 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. However, following trial proceedings in 2024, the intermediate court found him guilty on both counts and sentenced him to three years in prison and a fine of Rwf 2 million.
