The trial of Ingabire Umuhoza Victoire and her co-defendants, who are facing charges related to an alleged plot to overthrow the Rwandan Government, continued on September 21, 2026, at the High Court in Kigali.
As during the first hearing held on September 18, the Prosecution, represented by two prosecutors, was given the floor to continue presenting its allegations and evidence against Ingabire and her co-defendants. The allegations remain unproven as the trial continues.
The Prosecution was given the floor at 9:38 a.m. and continued presenting evidence and testimonies concerning the alleged offence of forming, joining or organising a criminal group.
Testimonies Linking FDU-Inkingi to the P5 Coalition
Among the testimonies presented was that of a fighter identified as Kananura Fred, who was arrested in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. His testimony indicated that among fighters belonging to the P5 coalition were individuals who claimed to have come from FDU-Inkingi, a political party founded and led by Ingabire.
The prosecutor said there was also evidence of cooperation between FDU-Inkingi and RUD-Urunana, which carried out an attack in Musanze in 2019. This was reportedly confirmed by Habumukiza Théoneste, one of the attackers who was captured alive.
According to the prosecutor, Habumukiza testified that FDU-Inkingi fighters inside Rwanda had agreed to meet in Cyanika and Kadatemwa during the attack.
The prosecutor told the court that Ingabire formed the DALFA-Umurinzi political party in an attempt to distance herself from RUD-Urunana’s attacks, but argued that there was no difference between the two parties and FDU-Inkingi.
The prosecutor referred to the testimony of Nzabandora Boniface, who had served as Ingabire’s secretary and lived in her household. When asked why Ingabire had left FDU-Inkingi and founded DALFA-Umurinzi, he reportedly responded: “They were the same.”
The prosecutor further said another indication that the two parties were the same was a statement attributed to Ingabire herself, in which she confirmed that all FDU-Inkingi members inside Rwanda had joined DALFA when the latter was established.
The Prosecution said this was further supported by testimony from Munyabugingo Gaston, who had also lived with Ingabire. According to his testimony, Ingabire acknowledged that the money she used came from FDU-Inkingi members abroad and told him that she could not leave FDU-Inkingi because she was its founder.
The Prosecution also played an audio recording of a conversation between Ingabire and a foreign national identified as Kelly Maroney on November 16, 2018. In the recording, Ingabire is heard saying that FDU Inkingi was the only party among the P5 members that was operating in Rwanda.
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P5 and the Alleged Coup Plot
The prosecutor said Munyabugingo had testified about cooperation between FDU-Inkingi and other groups in an alleged plan to overthrow the Rwandan Government.
According to Munyabugingo’s testimony, during a leadership retreat held in Gabiro, the P5 coalition was allegedly planning a coup d’état, while Ingabire was expected to organise demonstrations in support of it.
At the time, Ingabire reportedly asked Munyabugingo to accommodate her because she feared for her safety during the alleged coup attempt. Munyabugingo also told her that he had concerns about his own safety.
The prosecutor said Ingabire had planned to move to Gicumbi but abandoned the plan after Kizito Mihigo was arrested in February 2020 while allegedly attempting to flee to Burundi.
After the plan to move to Gicumbi failed, Munyabugingo reportedly hid Ingabire, who was allegedly disguised in Muslim clothing and was not wearing glasses. She was accompanied by a woman she lived with, identified as Gasengayire Leonille, who was reportedly the treasurer.
The prosecutor said Munyabugingo confirmed that Ingabire communicated with Mukankusi Charlotte, who was responsible for diplomacy within the RNC coalition founded by Kayumba Nyamwasa.
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Document Allegedly Outlined Post-Coup Government
The Prosecution said there was a document prepared by the RNC outlining how Rwanda would be governed after the alleged coup d’état and that the document was recovered from Ingabire’s phone.
According to the Prosecution, the document was accompanied by a chart containing a list of 79 people, including government and military officials, with positions allegedly being allocated along ethnic lines.
The court also listened to an audio recording dated May 21, 2020, of a telephone conversation between Ingabire and Ntamuhanga Cassien. They discussed the organisation of military training and what the Prosecution described as a coup plot.
In the recording, Ntamuhanga is heard telling Ingabire about a plan referred to as “Tura Tugabane.” Ingabire asked whether there was sufficient capacity to advance the plan, while Ntamuhanga said the people referred to as “Sankara” had moved too quickly because they first needed to create confusion.
Ntamuhanga is also heard using coded language, including a reference to teaching “how to weigh heavy scales,” before adding: “It is about thinking of something of another kind.”
The prosecutor said the phrase “heavy scales” referred to heavy weapons, while the “small containers” mentioned in the conversation referred to grenades. The phrase “men at the feet of Africa,” according to the Prosecution, referred to individuals based in South Africa, including Kayumba Nyamwasa.
Alleged Military Training in Burundi
The Prosecution alleged that Ntamuhanga and Ingabire also discussed training fighters in Mutaga, Burundi, where Ingabire reportedly asked him to work with a person identified as Pracide to further develop the plan.
The prosecutor told the court that Ingabire was intended to become Head of State if the alleged coup plot succeeded.
The prosecutor further argued that Ingabire’s willingness to communicate in this manner with Ntamuhanga, who was wanted by the authorities after escaping from Mpanga Prison in October 2021, demonstrated her alleged involvement in planning violent activities.
The prosecutor said the group later planned for Ntamuhanga to work with Phocas Ndayizera, who is currently detained, and to develop telephone technology that would enable the detonation of rocket-propelled explosives in Kigali.
The court adjourned the proceedings at 1:27 p.m. and ruled that the trial would resume on September 22, 2026, with the Prosecution continuing to present its explanations concerning the charges against the defendants.
The September 21 proceedings formed part of the Prosecution’s four-day presentation of its case. The High Court has not yet made findings on the allegations presented during this stage of the trial.
