The High Court in Kigali has set September 8 as the date for the commencement of the substantive hearing of the case of Victoire Umuhoza Ingabire and her eight co-accused. Ingabire faces several charges, including establishing or joining a criminal organisation, conspiring to commit offences against the government, inciting unrest or disorder among the population, resisting lawful authority, organising or participating in unlawful demonstrations, and spreading false information or harmful propaganda intended to tarnish Rwanda’s image abroad. She and the eight other individuals are accused of forming or joining a criminal association and conspiring to commit offences against the government or the Head of State, among other charges. The decision to adjourn the case until September was made during a preliminary hearing held in camera on Wednesday, June 17. ALSO READ: Victoire Ingabire arrested over alleged plot to incite public disorder Following submissions from both the prosecution and the defence, the court ruled that the substantive hearing would begin in September. One of the defence lawyers indicated that the defence team has until the end of July to file its submissions. The timing also coincides with the annual judicial recess, during which most judges and judicial officers take a month-long break in August before the start of the new judicial year in September. During a previous hearing on June 16, Ingabire told the court that she was not physically, emotionally, or spiritually prepared to proceed with the trial. She said she had not been able to meet with her co-accused to discuss issues related to the charges they jointly face. She also raised concerns about restrictions on communication with her family, limitations on attending Sunday prayers, and difficulties accessing her medication. ALSO READ: Witness implicates YouTuber Theoneste Nsengimana, co-accused in alleged conspiracy In response, the presiding judge stated that the concerns raised by Ingabire and her defence team would continue to be followed up by the relevant institutions, including the Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS) and other authorities. The court noted that some of the issues had already been brought to the attention of institutions such as the Ministry of Justice. Although the court initially rejected objections raised by Ingabire and ordered the proceedings to continue, it later granted the request for a preliminary hearing, resulting in the postponement of the substantive trial. Meanwhile, during the June 17 hearing, one of the co-accused, Theoneste Nsengimana, requested provisional release on medical grounds. He told the court that he had submitted an application for provisional release on February 16, citing the need for specialised medical treatment. According to Nsengimana, although arrangements had been initiated to facilitate medical examinations, delays prevented him from undergoing a scheduled treatment. The court is expected to deliver its ruling on Nsengimana’s provisional release request on Friday, June 19.
