Rwandan musician Uworizagwira Florien will remain in pre-trial detention after the High Court of Nyarugenge dismissed his appeal seeking provisional release.
The ruling follows an earlier decision by the Primary Court of Kicukiro, which ordered that the artist remain in custody while investigations into the case continue. Hoping to overturn that decision, Yampano appealed to the High Court, arguing that he should be allowed to await trial outside prison.
During the hearing, the musician, through his legal team, told the court that he was prepared to cooperate fully with the judicial process and would appear whenever required. A guarantor, identified as Noopja, also appeared before the court, offering to ensure that Yampano would not flee if granted bail.
After reviewing the arguments from both sides, the High Court ruled that the reasons presented by the defense were not sufficient to justify his release. The judges maintained that the ongoing investigation could be affected if the suspect were released before authorities completed their work.
The court stated that keeping the artist in custody would help preserve the integrity of the investigation and ensure that evidence is collected without interference.
Although reports indicate that Yampano has been forgiven by his wife, the court emphasized that the criminal proceedings must continue based on the evidence before it, regardless of any personal reconciliation between the parties involved.
The musician will now prepare to stand trial on three charges that remain before the court. Earlier, the Primary Court of Kicukiro found that three other allegations initially brought against him were not supported by sufficient evidence, leaving only the remaining charges to proceed to trial.
The latest ruling means Yampano will stay in detention until the next phase of the legal process begins, where the court will examine the substance of the remaining charges against him.
