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. As of December 1, Sengabo remained in detention, awaiting trial on charges of public insult, blackmail, discrimination, cyberstalking, publication of indecent information, and narcotics use, according to a person familiar with the case who spoke to CPJ on condition of anonymity, citing safety concerns.
The charges carry maximum prison terms ranging from two months for public insult to seven years for discrimination, under Rwanda’s penal code. If found guilty of blackmail, Sengabo could face up to five years, while the use of narcotics carries a sentence of up to two years. Cyberstalking and publishing indecent information also carry sentences of up to two years, according to the country’s cybercrimes law. The courts may also impose fines of between 100,000 Rwandan francs (US$74) and 2 million Rwandan francs (US$1,480)
Sengabo, who also goes by Fatakumavuta, is a presenter with the 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 more than 21,000 subscribers in late 2024, and has appeared as a commentator on several other YouTube channels.
The charges against Sengabo are related to 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.
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 also went unanswered. CPJ could not immediately find contact information for the celebrities named in the case.