The Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) has confirmed that the Military Prosecution Office is pursuing criminal charges against two RDF officers and 20 civilians over alleged misuse of public funds. The announcement was made via an official statement released on Tuesday afternoon, August 5, 2025.
Flight Tickets at the Center of the Scandal
According to the RDF statement, the individuals are suspected of illegally purchasing flight tickets using funds from the Ministry of Defence account.
“The RDF informs the public that the Military Prosecution is pursuing legal proceedings against two RDF officers and 20 civilians suspected of committing crimes in collaboration with those officers,” the statement read.
They are being held in pre-trial detention and are suspected of two main offenses:
- Complicity in issuing or receiving unauthorized documents
- Complicity in the misuse of public property
Civilian-Soldier Collaboration Triggers Military Court Jurisdiction
The RDF emphasized that, in line with Rwandan law, civilians who commit crimes in collaboration with military personnel are prosecuted under military courts.
Link to Recent Football Travel Scandal
This development comes amid a broader investigation tied to the alleged misuse of funds for travel related to a football match involving APR FC, a team affiliated with the Rwandan military.
Two well-known sports journalists—Rugaju Reagan and Ishimwe Ricard—were arrested last week in connection with suspected fraud involving travel arrangements to Egypt, where APR FC played Pyramids FC in September 2024 during the CAF Champions League.
More High-Profile Names Involved
Other individuals reportedly arrested include:
- Mugisha Frank, known as Jangwani, a prominent APR FC supporters’ spokesperson
- Kalisa Georgine, the former finance officer for APR FC
