One of the suspects in an ongoing terror trial on Wednesday told the Military High Court that agents of the Rwanda National Congress (RNC) promised them scholarships if they joined the organisation. Jean De Dieu Nizigiyeyo is among 16 suspects that also includes Lt. Joel Mutabazi and eight students. He told judges that he joined RNC after Cyprian Nibishaka, a student at the National University of Rwanda, promised him a scholarship and a job. Nizigiyeyo had not qualified for a government scholarship after his high school. “Nibishaka convinced me to join RNC with hopes of a scholarship right after getting a membership card,” he said. Prosecution charges that Nibishaka promised other students who were not on the government scholarship scheme that an academic funding package was available and that they would also get jobs after school. The suspects are charged with crimes against the State, terrorism, formation of a criminal gang, among others. They have all pleaded not guilty. Prosecution alleges that, one of the suspects, Pelagie Nizeyimena, who was studying chemistry at the varsity, was to be in charge of explosives that would be used during planned riots. Prosecutors also say that another student, Schadrack Mwumvayabo, had been was tasked by RNC to map out the location of all military barracks in the country as well as the patrol deployments. The trial continues today.
