Nyarugenge Intermediate Court in Nyamirambo yesterday remanded, for 30 days, Drake Mugisha, a retired Rwanda Defence Forces officer, who was charged with murder of his wife. City pastor Maggie Mutesi’s body was found at their home in Gikondo last month and Police investigations led to the arrest of her husband Mugisha, who now faces murder charges. On his first appearance before the court on Wednesday this week, prosecutor Christa Kamikazi had asked the court to remand the suspect for 30 days, citing an autopsy report that showed the deceased had not died of natural causes. Dr Linette Tumwine Kyokunda, a pathologist at King Faisal Hospital, Kigali, had concluded that basing on the manner of the pastor’s death, it was by strangulation. It was also reported that the couple was estranged for about three years during which they even filed for divorce in July 2016. Also, Mugisha was faulted for opposing the carrying out of an autopsy on his deceased wife, among others. During the bail ruling yesterday, the presiding judge said prosecution had cited strong reasons on which court based on to deny the suspect bail. Both Mugisha and his lawyer Jean De Dieu Murinzi were not in court. Mugisha and his lawyer had applied for bail, citing among other reasons, his need to go back home to take care of his children whom he said were not at home ever since his arrest and were also not schooling. Maggie Mutesi, known for leading monthly pastors’ prayer meetings at Kigali Serena Hotel, was found dead in her marital bedroom in Gikondo on September 10. She was the founder and leader of Heavens Gates Ministries, a Kigali-based Christian ministry. Mugisha retired this year from Rwanda Defence Forces at the rank of Captain. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
