Officers from the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), a law enforcement body, arrested Jean Bosco Sengabo, a musician and journalist known for publishing and commenting on stories about celebrities, on October 18, 2024, and later charged him with several offenses, including public insult, blackmail, discrimination, and narcotics use, according to a person familiar with the case who spoke to CPJ on condition of anonymity, citing safety concerns.
Sengabo, who also goes by Fatakumavuta, is a presenter with privately owned Isibo Radio and Television. He also airs music criticism and commentary on the private lives of Rwandan celebrities on Fatakumavuta Clips, a YouTube channel that had nearly 22,000 subscribers in August 2025, and has appeared as a commentator on several other YouTube channels.
The charges against Sengabo stemmed from his commentary on YouTube, including about several Rwandan musicians and a music promoter. RIB said that the arrest followed several warnings. Authorities also reported finding “significant amounts of cannabis” in Sengabo’s blood, based on a drug test conducted after his arrest.
CPJ’s review of Sengabo’s YouTube appearances showed caustic reviews of the music of at least two of the artists, including allegations that one of them was implicated in sexual harassment and that another was a victim of domestic violence.
In preliminary court hearings, Sengabo said that his reporting was factual and that some celebrities had requested his coverage. He also questioned the reliability of the authorities’ drug tests, asking the court to have him tested again.
In November 2024, separate courts denied Sengabo bail.
On June 13, 2025, the Nyarugenge Intermediate Court, located in Kigali, sentenced Sengabo to two years and six months in prison and a fine of 1.3 million Rwandan Francs (US$960), after convicting him of blackmail, publication of rumors, and drug use. The court found that Sengabo used his platform to make unverified claims and to attempt extortion. He was acquitted of two other charges — discrimination and public insult — with the court citing a lack of malicious intent and insufficient evidence. While the offenses could have drawn a combined sentence of up to five years, the court considered mitigating factors, including Sengabo’s partial admission of guilt, and imposed a reduced sentence.
CPJ’s requests for comment sent via email and messaging app to RIB in late 2024 did not receive any replies. Requests for comment emailed to the National Public Prosecution Authority and sent via messaging app to the authority’s spokesperson, Faustin Nkusi, in late 2024 also went unanswered. CPJ’s August 2025 request for comment, sent to via email to the ministry of justice, was also unanswered.