For the love of money is the root of all evil( 2 Timothy 6:10)
Museveni, Kagame and Mwenda(Kagame's adviser ) grazing Rwanda President’s cattle in Kigali
Must Read:
Andrew Mwenda’s atheistic big bang solution to the D.R.Congo makes it to the New York times…Why? The USA loves intellectuals who can make obscurantist analyses that disguise their evil skirmishes in DR.Congo. They love Intellectuals like Mwenda that have the ‘skill’ to portray the D.R Congo Confusion as an essentially domestic one.
Journalists who have been trained and paid to defend US proxies: Seeing through the hypocrisy of American New world order neo-liberal elites: Andrew Mwenda and his simplistic analysis of the DR Congo Crisis: Andrew Mwenda’s hypocritical defence of Dictator Paul Kagame.
The American New World system and its Bogus elites: Former United States Under-Secretary for African Affairs, Jendayi Frazer questions the credibility of a report by a group of UN experts accusing Rwanda and Uganda of backing a rebellion in DRC:
The curse of neo-liberal elitism : When American gloomed neo-liberal elites make obscurantist analyses aimed at disguising western and American tentacles to the DR Congo Conflict: According to athesit Andrew Mwenda, To solve the problems of Congo, the United Nations and other African countries may need to allow the belligerents to fight until one secures a decisive military victory
Who Killed Karegeya and Why?
By
06/01/2014 21:42:00
By
06/01/2014 21:42:00
By
06/01/2014 21:42:00
Patrick Karegeya has died. Even before an
investigation, many are already convicting the government of Rwanda generally and president
Kagame personally.
Andrew Mwenda
But is this the best way to approach a murder?
In all such investigations, the first question is: who stood to
benefit from such a death? Right now, we see that Rwanda government and president
Kagame are suffering severe criticism for it; so they do not seem to be
profiting from Karegeya’s death.
Therefore, if they were involved in his death, the expected benefits
must have exceeded the current costs they are suffering.
It would mean Karegeya posed a severe and immediate threat to the
security of Rwanda and
perhaps allegations that he was involved in organizing violent resistance
against the state are true or were believed by Kigali.
However, as a former head of security, Karegeya must have stepped on
the toes of powerful individuals, security organizations and nations who could
have had an interest in his death. He may have financial and business dealings
which could have gone bad.
Or he may have run into conflicts with powerful individuals and
families over women, like the case of Christopher Matata suggests.
Some sources suggest that there have been wrangles among Rwandan
opposition groups with whom Karegeya worked who would had had an interest in
killing him especially if they him of any double dealings.
Therefore, there are many potential enemies Karegeya had who had an
interest in killing him.
Isolating one, the government in Kigali,
and making it the only suspect and ignoring its national security concerns
which may have justified its actions against him may comfort some people's
emotions but does not do justice to the debate on this subject.
Rwanda Govt: No Pity For Karegeya
http://www.redpepper.co.ug/rwanda-govt-no-pity-for-karegeya/
Exiled former Rwandan intelligence chief Patrick Karegeya has been found dead in a Johannesburg hotel room.
Rwandan Prime Minister Pierre Habumuremyi has also warned that betraying one’s country brings consequences.
He tweeted yesterday that betraying one’s country will always bear consequences.
Asked if this referred to Patrick Karegeya, He replied not necessarily, but it should be of the values of Rwandan leaders.
Louise Mushikiwabo.
Karegeya was found strangled at the Michelangelo Towers in Sandton late on New Year’s Day.
He had checked into his hotel room on 29 December.
Karegeya fled to South Africa seven years ago and was granted political asylum after Rwandan president Paul Kagame sacked him from his post.
Opposition figures in Rwanda have blamed his killing on the government.
The Rwandan government denies opposition assertions that it targets Kagame’s enemies for the assassination.
Meanwhile, the Hawks say they’re making progress with the investigation into Karegeya’s death.
Hawks spokesperson Paul Ramaloko says they have not yet made any arrests in the case and say they’re not working with the Rwandan authorities.
Source: Eye Witness News
Rwanda Government: No Sympathy for Dead Spy Chief
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/rwanda-government-sympathy-dead-spy-chief-21435874
Rwanda's foreign minister says her government has no sympathy for a
slain former spy chief who had a falling out with the country's
president and who was killed in South Africa, while Rwanda's prime
minister warned on Monday that betraying one's country brings
consequences.
Members of the Rwandan opposition have accused Rwandan President Paul Kagame of being behind the killing of Patrick Karegeya.
Rwandan Prime Minister Pierre Habumuremyi tweeted on Monday: "Betraying
citizens and their country that made you a man shall always bear
consequences to you."
When asked by The Associated Press if the tweet referred to Karegeya,
the prime minister said "Not necessarily, this should be one of the
values of #Rwanda leaders," in response.
But in separate Twitter messages, Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise
Mushikiwabo said Karegeya was a "self-declared" enemy of their African
nation. Referring to Karegeya's death, she tweeted: "You expect pity?"
The Rwandan government denies it targets dissidents for assassination,
though the death of Karegeya — whose body was found, apparently
strangled, on New Year's Day in Johannesburg — fits a pattern of attacks
on Rwandan dissidents. Kagame has long been accused of
extra-territorial killings, including ones committed when Karegeya was
the feared boss of Rwanda's external security agency.
Among the attacks, gunmen twice tried to kill Kagame's former chief of
army staff, Lt. Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa, while he was living in exile in
Johannesburg in 2010. Nyamwasa told The Associated Press in 2012 that
Kagame has hunted him and other dissidents around the world "using hired
killer squads."
Responding to Mushikiwabo's tweets, Karegeya's eldest son Elvis asked
her on Twitter: "So it's your government's view that any 'enemy' of the
state deserves to be strangled to death?" Mushikiwabo responded: "It's
my Gov position: 1. what happens to its enemies shd not make it lose
sleep & 2. investigation shd proceed"
She repeated accusations that the slain dissident colonel and his
colleagues had been behind grenade attacks in Rwanda in recent years.
Karegeya's family, meanwhile, said the Ugandan government has rejected a
request for him to be buried in Uganda, the country of his birth and
where his mother and siblings still live. James Mugume, the permanent
secretary at Uganda's Foreign Ministry, said Monday Karegeya cannot be
buried in Uganda because of "sovereignty" issues.
"He was a citizen of Rwanda and was resident in South Africa. We don't
want to interfere in other countries' matters," Mugume said.
In an interview with the AP on Monday, Karegeya's nephew, David Batenga,
said he believes that the last person seen with Karegeya used a fake
passport to enter South Africa. Batenga said Monday that the man,
Rwandan businessman Apollo Kiririsi Gafaranga, had seemed to be a friend
of the former Rwandan external intelligence chief.
"We haven't been able to find any record of him entering the country. So he must have used a fake passport," Batenga said.
Three days earlier, Batenga and his uncle had picked Gafaranga up at a
light-rail station and driven him to the plush Michelangelo Towers hotel
where he had asked to be booked in. According to family members and
friends, Gafaranga had spent years earning Karegeya's trust and had
travelled to South Africa at least four times, always apparently on fake
documents and staying at Karegeya's home.
The friend who killed ex-spymaster Karegeya
Col Karegeya is said to have been assassinated by his friend Apollo Gafaranga. illustration by kwizera
IN SUMMARY
Inside story. Apollo Gafaranga is the man accused of killing
former Rwanda’s spymaster Patrick Karegeya in Johannesburg’s
Sandton Michelangelo Hotel on New Year’s eve. Sunday Monitor relays who
he is and how he got to the Colonel
In Kigali, he owns a $1 million (about Shs2.5b) sophisticated theatre
located at Nyamirambo suburb known as Cine Star Cinema. The man is
known as humorous, down to earth and intelligent, one of Rwanda’s
emerging entrepreneurs.
Apollo Gafaranga
Apollo Gafaranga
But behind the scenes, Apollo Gafaranga, a man accused of killing former Rwanda’s spymaster Patrick Karegeya in Johannesburg’s Sandton Michelangelo Hotel on New Year’s eve, is more than a businessman – he is a trained spy and assassin, if the latest details emerging from Johannesburg are authentic.
According to South Africa’s weekly investigative newspaper, Mail
& Guardian, Gafaranga befriended Karegeya about four years ago
whereby the alleged hit-man cultivated his relationships with the former
Rwandan head of external security to the level where the latter hosted
him in his house in Johannesburg.
But, little did Karegeya know that his friend was in actual sense the biggest enemy who was on a mission to assassinate him.
To conceal his identity, Gafaranga is believed to have acquired a South African passport, which he used whenever he entered South Africa, according to the Mail & Guardian report.
To conceal his identity, Gafaranga is believed to have acquired a South African passport, which he used whenever he entered South Africa, according to the Mail & Guardian report.
But, according to the newspaper, the passport may have been a fake
one. It’s not clear why South African authorities failed to detect the
allegedly fake passport that Mr Gafaranga used to enter the country
several times via Johannesburg’s Oliver Tambo International Airport.
The Mail & Guardian, quoting some close relatives of the assassinated former spymaster, reported that in most cases when Gafaranga used the South African passport, he didn’t travel direct from Rwanda.
If Karegeya’s friends and colleagues are correct, reported the Mail & Guardian last week, it would indicate an intelligence failure on the part of South African authorities.
The Mail & Guardian, quoting some close relatives of the assassinated former spymaster, reported that in most cases when Gafaranga used the South African passport, he didn’t travel direct from Rwanda.
If Karegeya’s friends and colleagues are correct, reported the Mail & Guardian last week, it would indicate an intelligence failure on the part of South African authorities.
“Political asylum seekers such as Karegeya claim the South African
authorities had offered them protection. Meanwhile, an alleged agent of
the Paul Kagame regime was frequently in their midst, evading airport
security checks with false documents, and courting their inner circle
with a view to commit murder,” the Mail & Guardian reported.
Rwanda’s ambassador to South Africa Vincent Karega, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, distanced Kigali from Karageya’s death.
“Even though he (Karageya) declared himself an enemy of Rwanda, we didn’t see any threat. Rwanda wasn’t involved,” he said.
So far no anyone has been arrested by the South African authorities.
Rwanda’s ambassador to South Africa Vincent Karega, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, distanced Kigali from Karageya’s death.
“Even though he (Karageya) declared himself an enemy of Rwanda, we didn’t see any threat. Rwanda wasn’t involved,” he said.
So far no anyone has been arrested by the South African authorities.
Business mogul
But, within the Rwandan political-refugee community living in South Africa, there is one clear suspect involved in Karegeya’s crime: a man called Apollo Gafaranga.
The Rwandan press call him a “business mogul”; he opened a cinema worth $1 million in 2009. His brother, Mr Amini Gafaranga, appears close to the Kagame regime, speaking at Rwanda Day celebrations in London in May 2013, an event endorsed by Kagame.
Two close friends of Karegeya, who spoke to the Mail & Guardian, claimed Gafaranga had spent years earning the former spy chief’s trust, travelling to South Africa on at least four occasions, where he would be Kareyega’s house guest.
But, within the Rwandan political-refugee community living in South Africa, there is one clear suspect involved in Karegeya’s crime: a man called Apollo Gafaranga.
The Rwandan press call him a “business mogul”; he opened a cinema worth $1 million in 2009. His brother, Mr Amini Gafaranga, appears close to the Kagame regime, speaking at Rwanda Day celebrations in London in May 2013, an event endorsed by Kagame.
Two close friends of Karegeya, who spoke to the Mail & Guardian, claimed Gafaranga had spent years earning the former spy chief’s trust, travelling to South Africa on at least four occasions, where he would be Kareyega’s house guest.
And he always travelled with fake documents, they claim.
But on his final and fatal visit, Gafaranga asked to be booked in a hotel, instead of staying at Karegeya’s house.
According to Mail & Guardian, this was because he was increasingly fearful of the Kagame regime, Gafaranga claimed, and he told Karegeya he did not want to jeopardise his friend’s security by staying in his house.
Up to this point, the former Rwanda spymaster-turned-enemy of the Kigali regime didn’t notice any hidden motive.
Karegeya then booked the hotel room at the Michelangelo Towers in Sandton. Karegeya picked his guest upon his arrival and drove him to the hotel where he booked him. That was December 29, according to South African media reports.
But on his final and fatal visit, Gafaranga asked to be booked in a hotel, instead of staying at Karegeya’s house.
According to Mail & Guardian, this was because he was increasingly fearful of the Kagame regime, Gafaranga claimed, and he told Karegeya he did not want to jeopardise his friend’s security by staying in his house.
Up to this point, the former Rwanda spymaster-turned-enemy of the Kigali regime didn’t notice any hidden motive.
Karegeya then booked the hotel room at the Michelangelo Towers in Sandton. Karegeya picked his guest upon his arrival and drove him to the hotel where he booked him. That was December 29, according to South African media reports.
The two arrived at the Sandton Hotel, checked in and later on
Karegeya left his friend, promising to visit him on the New Year for
further political and business discussions.
On New Year’s eve, Karegeya went to visit his friend, without knowing that would be his end, because the man he thought was a friend and a possible financier in his bid to defeat the Rwandan regime was indeed a trained assassin.
On New Year’s eve, Karegeya went to visit his friend, without knowing that would be his end, because the man he thought was a friend and a possible financier in his bid to defeat the Rwandan regime was indeed a trained assassin.
Karegeya had no reason to be suspicious of Gafaranga because the
latter had been part of Karegeya’s informal network of informants during
his tenure as head of external intelligence in Kagame’s government.
And now, it’s likely Karegeya believed he was helping a fellow-oppositionist escape Kigali.
“It’s not unreasonable to help those escaping Rwanda,” said Mr Frank Ntwali, Africa regional chairperson of the Rwanda National Congress (RNC), the opposition party that Karegeya helped to form.
And now, it’s likely Karegeya believed he was helping a fellow-oppositionist escape Kigali.
“It’s not unreasonable to help those escaping Rwanda,” said Mr Frank Ntwali, Africa regional chairperson of the Rwanda National Congress (RNC), the opposition party that Karegeya helped to form.
Do not disturb
Karegeya had earlier informed his nephew that he was going to visit his friend, Gafaranga, at Michelangelo Towers Hotel. On the New Year eve when Kareyega did not respond to text messages or phone calls, his nephew became suspicious and went to the hotel.
His nephew then went to the Michelangelo, where he discovered that the hotel room where Karegeya had gone for a meeting was locked.
The manager wouldn’t open the door as there was a “Do Not Disturb” sign on it. The police were called and opened the door.
It is believed that three or four men were involved in the crime.
Karegeya was found dead. Curtain tie-backs and a pillow case were found in the safe. Garafanga was gone, taking only his cellphone and wallet, but leaving his suitcase behind.
Karegeya had earlier informed his nephew that he was going to visit his friend, Gafaranga, at Michelangelo Towers Hotel. On the New Year eve when Kareyega did not respond to text messages or phone calls, his nephew became suspicious and went to the hotel.
His nephew then went to the Michelangelo, where he discovered that the hotel room where Karegeya had gone for a meeting was locked.
The manager wouldn’t open the door as there was a “Do Not Disturb” sign on it. The police were called and opened the door.
It is believed that three or four men were involved in the crime.
Karegeya was found dead. Curtain tie-backs and a pillow case were found in the safe. Garafanga was gone, taking only his cellphone and wallet, but leaving his suitcase behind.
Mr Ntwali believes Gafaranga entered South Africa from a different African country on every visit, to avoid detection.
According to Mail & Guardian, Ntwali last saw the former spymaster on December 28, when the two had dinner and discussed their political plans for the new year. Further according to the report, Mr Karegeya was upbeat.
At this point, the former intelligence chief was well aware that Gafaranga was en route.
“About four months ago, he [Apollo] made contact with Patrick and claimed Kagame’s government was harassing him and had closed his business. He asked Karegeya to help him set up a new life in South Africa, and help him start a business here.” Ntwali was quoted by Mail & Guardian.
According to another friend of Karegeya and fellow-exile, who asked not to be named for security reasons, Karegeya had protection from the South African government but asked the authorities to back off, about a year ago, because he felt his movements were too restricted.
According to Mail & Guardian, Ntwali last saw the former spymaster on December 28, when the two had dinner and discussed their political plans for the new year. Further according to the report, Mr Karegeya was upbeat.
At this point, the former intelligence chief was well aware that Gafaranga was en route.
“About four months ago, he [Apollo] made contact with Patrick and claimed Kagame’s government was harassing him and had closed his business. He asked Karegeya to help him set up a new life in South Africa, and help him start a business here.” Ntwali was quoted by Mail & Guardian.
According to another friend of Karegeya and fellow-exile, who asked not to be named for security reasons, Karegeya had protection from the South African government but asked the authorities to back off, about a year ago, because he felt his movements were too restricted.
Ntwali confirmed this. Karegeya, according to sources, had grown
complacent, despite a keen sense of persecution by Rwandan opposition
leaders living in South Africa.
Karegeya was described last week by Agency France Press as a brilliant spy who appears to have fallen foul of the assassination tactics he once reportedly practised on others.
“He was on the watch list after fleeing to South Africa” into exile in 2007, the officer added.
In the months prior to his death he had become increasingly nervous about his security.
Karegeya was described last week by Agency France Press as a brilliant spy who appears to have fallen foul of the assassination tactics he once reportedly practised on others.
“He was on the watch list after fleeing to South Africa” into exile in 2007, the officer added.
In the months prior to his death he had become increasingly nervous about his security.
Those close to him said he must have had no reason to mistrust the person he met at the hotel where he died.
Mr Karegeya had three children, a daughter who lives in Canada and two sons who live with his widow in the US.
Mr Karegeya had three children, a daughter who lives in Canada and two sons who live with his widow in the US.
Adopted from The Citizen, Monitor’s sister newspaper and AFP
Humorous, down to earth, intelligent, Apollo
Gafaranga is one of those successful entrepreneurs in the country. He is
the proprietor of the newly established sophisticated cinema hall in
Nyamirambo, famously known as Cine Star Cinema. He is also into real
estate.
Life as a child…,
Very stubborn especially at school but at my best behaviour at home. My parents were very strict.
What do you like doing most?
Working. I’m involved in different business projects that really require my serious attention.
When depressed…
I go to the gym, watch movies, especially comedies or listen to my favourite music by Rihanna, T.I, Akon and R. Kerry.
Hobbies?
Doing physical exercise, partying with friends, adventuring and reading books.
Craziest thing you have ever done?
[Laughs] Ok, I guess this is a question that can cause me problems. Anyway, let’s say…when I was a teenager, I used to escape home for night clubs, and I would bribe our night watchman to cover me up.
Role model?
There are two. My young brother Amini Gafaranga, the MTN Rwanda Business Development Manager and P. Diddy, an American record producer, rapper, actor, men’s fashion designer, entrepreneur and dancer. These two have a lot in common. They are extremely hardworking and innovative people.
If granted one wish…
To see the entire world peaceful and free from conflict!
Most disappointing moment....
When people mistake me for what I’m not.
Your motto...
“Hard work pays.”
Your earliest memory…
My mother’s love. She used to tell me that she loves me so much. And that always rings in my brain.
How can you describe your life?
Innovative, creative and hardworking. I’m also very conscious about business connections and how to deal with different people.
Future plans…
After accomplishing my cinema project, I intend to build a shopping mall in Nyamirambo.
lindaonly2005@yahoo.com
Elections were finally held on October 27, 2013. The election pitted former
Rwandan intelligence chief, Patrick Karegeya against Kayumba. Although the two
men were not in the race, they backed rival candidates.
This is the first time disagreements between the two erstwhile allies were becoming manifest and thereby leading RNC closer to a split. In a highly contested vote, the group close to Ntwali took over all the posts.
Karegeya fact file
Karegeya, Nyamwasa split
Elections were finally held on October 27, 2013. The election pitted
former Rwandan intelligence chief, Patrick Karegeya against Kayumba.
Although the two men were not in the race, they backed rival candidates.
This is the first time disagreements between the two erstwhile allies were becoming manifest and thereby leading RNC closer to a split. In a highly contested vote, the group close to Ntwali took over all the posts.
- See more at: http://www.independent.co.ug/cover-story/8594-who-killed-karegeya#sthash.ag1gYJfp.dpuf
Karegeya, Nyamwasa split
Elections were finally held on October 27, 2013. The election pitted
former Rwandan intelligence chief, Patrick Karegeya against Kayumba.
Although the two men were not in the race, they backed rival candidates.
This is the first time disagreements between the two erstwhile allies were becoming manifest and thereby leading RNC closer to a split. In a highly contested vote, the group close to Ntwali took over all the posts.
- See more at: http://www.independent.co.ug/cover-story/8594-who-killed-karegeya#sthash.ag1gYJfp.dpuf
Life as a child…,
Very stubborn especially at school but at my best behaviour at home. My parents were very strict.
What do you like doing most?
Working. I’m involved in different business projects that really require my serious attention.
When depressed…
I go to the gym, watch movies, especially comedies or listen to my favourite music by Rihanna, T.I, Akon and R. Kerry.
Hobbies?
Doing physical exercise, partying with friends, adventuring and reading books.
Craziest thing you have ever done?
[Laughs] Ok, I guess this is a question that can cause me problems. Anyway, let’s say…when I was a teenager, I used to escape home for night clubs, and I would bribe our night watchman to cover me up.
Role model?
There are two. My young brother Amini Gafaranga, the MTN Rwanda Business Development Manager and P. Diddy, an American record producer, rapper, actor, men’s fashion designer, entrepreneur and dancer. These two have a lot in common. They are extremely hardworking and innovative people.
If granted one wish…
To see the entire world peaceful and free from conflict!
Most disappointing moment....
When people mistake me for what I’m not.
Your motto...
“Hard work pays.”
Your earliest memory…
My mother’s love. She used to tell me that she loves me so much. And that always rings in my brain.
How can you describe your life?
Innovative, creative and hardworking. I’m also very conscious about business connections and how to deal with different people.
Future plans…
After accomplishing my cinema project, I intend to build a shopping mall in Nyamirambo.
lindaonly2005@yahoo.com
Brother of Apollo Gararanga close to Kagame
http://www.therwandan.com/blog/the-brother-of-the-first-suspect-in-col-karegeya-death-close-to-president-kagame/Who killed Karegeya?
Friday, 10 January 2014 08:36 By Haggai Matsiko & Andrew Mwenda
Karegeya,
Nyamwasa split
In mid 2013, the Rwanda
National Congress (RNC) had scheduled an election for its leaders in South Africa
for Aug 8. However, in the weeks preceding the election, the party experienced
infighting and consequently the election was postponed. Two camps had emerged,
one supporting Emile Rutagengwa and another supporting Frank Ntwali, a brother
in law Kayumba Nyamwasa, the presumptive leader of the party.
This is the first time disagreements between the two erstwhile allies were becoming manifest and thereby leading RNC closer to a split. In a highly contested vote, the group close to Ntwali took over all the posts.
Kayumba was accused by
some members for interference in the elections and was asked to apologise.
Kayumba had “forced” Mike Rwarinda and Ferdinand Barihiga to withdraw their
candidature in favour of Ntwali. There were complaints that Etienne Mutabazi
was protected from competition when he was not a good performer. It is claimed
that RNC members were not happy and have no confidence in the leadership.
During campaigns there
were character assassinations where some members were accused of working with
the Rwandan embassy in Johannesburg.
This was the first time accusations of infiltration on the RNC were taking
center stage in the party and thus bringing Kayumba and Karegeya into a direct
collision course. Kayumba wanted his brother in law, Ntwali, to stay in power
by blocking Kennedy Gihana, supported by Karegeya.
RNC sources say the
Karegeya-Gihana group’s strategy was to attract new blood who do not identify
with RNC – people who question the sudden change from being RPF to FDLR. A
heated debate ensued with veiled threats and recriminations.
A meeting to discuss
the disagreements was called and a compromise was struck: Karegeya and Kayumba
agreed not to attend the election. But on the day of the election, Karegeya
appeared at Dovenshire Hotel; Kayumba did not. However, voters elected
pro-Kayumba candidates among them Ntwali; a genocide suspect called Mutabazi
was elected vice chair while Gihana was elected SG.
According to RNC
insiders, Karegeya demanded that his choices pass, a factor that annoyed
Kayumba who considered himself the natural leader. Karegeya accused Kayumba of
being camera hungry even though RNC was losing momentum and becoming
disorganised by the day.
Kayumba responded that
Karegeya was a womanising traitor who was leaking secrets to the government of Rwanda
through Gihana. Kayumba believed that this (Keregeya’s links with Kigali agents) is what
contributed to his (Kayumba’s) attempted assassination.
A compromise was
reached after a long discussion between the two. But Kayumba advised the
executive committee that Gihana should never access any RNC documents. The
Kayumba group then held a meeting without Gihana.
On 21st
December, in a meeting dubbed Ingando and coinciding with RNC’s third
anniversary as held in Pretoria
where both Kayumba and Karegeya attended. People complained that they were not
satisfied with the executive committee and accused Kayumba of threatening them
not to vote anyone except Ntwali. The meeting quickly degenerated into chaos.
Karegeya called Ntwali a disaster for RNC and wondered why he (Ntwali) had made
no effort to resolve the bad blood among members.
Karegeya said good
leaders must know how to handle crisis otherwise they would be stoned to death.
He said the executive should have handled the conflict before Ingando.
According to our sources, Karegeya left the meeting saying he had another
meeting which he claimed was in RNC’s “actual interest.” This was the last time
Karegeya was seen with Kayumba.
On the morning of Jan.
1, 2014, Karegeya’s body was discovered in room 905 at the Michellangelo Hotel
in the plush Sandton area of Johannesburg,
Gauteng, South
Africa.
Hotel records indicate
that Karegeya had booked into the US$350 (Approx.900.000) a night hotel on
Dec.29.
Hotel security opened
the room with a master key after Karegeya’s nephew, David Batenga, showed up at
the hotel and refused to leave without speaking to him.
He was suspicious
because all his earlier attempts to contact Karegeya at his home and at the
hotel room had failed. All Karegeya’s three phones were off.
When Karegeya’s room
was opened, reports indicate that security sensed that the occupant of the room
was slumped on the bed in an unusual position.
“I don’t think this
person is sleeping. Call the police,” the receptionist is quoted to have said.
When
police arrived, they confirmed Batenga’s worst fear.
South African
authorities said Karegeya might have been strangled after they found a rope and
a blood soaked towel in a safe in his room. Initial reports do not say
whether it was Karegeya’s blood on towel.
Batenga, who is now
believed to be the last family member to have seen Karegeya alive, says he had
last spoken to his uncle via Blackberry Messenger (BBM) at 7.47pm on December
31, 2013.
By lunchtime on January
1, according to some reports, Batenga “couldn’t take it anymore”. He went to
Karegeya’s home, but apart from his car not being there, nothing seemed
unusual.
Former Rwandan chief of staff,
Maj. Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa
Former
Rwandan chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa - See more at:
http://www.independent.co.ug/cover-story/8594-who-killed-karegeya#sthash.ag1gYJfp.dpuf
Batenga then went to
the hotel. His uncle’s Audi was in the parking lot.
At the reception, hotel
staff got no answer when they called room 905.
A porter went upstairs
and, ignoring the “Do not disturb” sign, knocked. There was no answer.
Karegeya had a home in
the same Johannesburg
area and speculation is rife about why he hired the expensive hotel room.
By the time of writing
this story, neither the special unit of the South African police’s Directorate
for Priority Crime Investigation, called the hawks; nor the hotel staff were
offering any clues. Most of the information was being gathered from family
members and members of the Rwanda
exile community in Johannesburg,
including Batenga.
Batenga is quoted to
have said Karegeya hired the hotel room for one Apollo Gafaranga, a well-known
businessman based in Rwanda.
What is unclear is why Gafaranga did not hire the room in his names if he was
the one using it?
Many queries,
few answers
One line of inquiry
suggests that Karegeya, if he hired the room for Gafaranga, clearly he possibly
wanted his guest’s visit to be kept secret. If that is the case, why did
Karegeya; as his nephew says, personally drive to Gautrain Sandton station on
December 29 to allegedly collect Gafaranga?
If the visit was
secret, why did Karegeya and Gafaranga allegedly spend at least three days
together? The duo allegedly met on December 30 and, on the fateful day December
31, 2013, Karegeya reportedly told his nephew David Batenga that he had gone to
meet Gafaranga again. He never returned.
It was not clear by the
time we went to press if Gafaranga, who is apparently a well-known personality
in Kigali, had been questioned by the Kigali police, Interpol,
or the Hawks.
The Sunday Times of
Rwanda’s Sunday Magazine interviewed him in its May 24, 2009 issue. It
described him as humorous, down to earth, intelligent, and one of the more
successful entrepreneurs in the country. He is the proprietor of a top Cinema
in Kigali and
deals in real estate.
The South African
police had also not published any CCTV images of individuals seen entering or
leaving room 905 during the period Karegeya is thought to have been murdered.
All this is unusual
because Karegeya, even in exile in South Africa, was a very high
profile figure.
Karegyeya was a top
member of a very vocal opposition in exile to Rwandan President Paul Kagame
that includes the former Rwandan chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa.
The duo are said to be connected to the highest levels of South African
security, foreign affairs, and even President Jacob Zuma.
Karegeya grew up in Uganda
just like several other former Rwandan refugees including President Kagame. He
worked in the country’s intelligence before going to Kigali towards the end of 1994.
He served in the Kigali government as the
chief for external intelligence from 1994 to 2004.
But once he fell out
with Kagame, he was demoted to army spokesperson, later relieved of his duties,
stripped of his rank as Colonel and jailed twice. He fled to South Africa where at one point, he
was said to travel on a Ugandan passport in the names of Patrick Batenga.
Three years after he
arrived in South Africa,
Karegeya and Nyamwasa in 2010 formed a political party, the Rwanda National
Congress (RNC). Other top figures in the party are the former director of
cabinet, Theogene Rudasingwa, the former Director of Public Prosecutions,
Gerald Gahima, and its leader, Frank Ntwali.
According to Frank
Ntwali, who heads the RNC in Africa, when Karegeya arrived in South Africa in
2007, the South African government put him under state protection.
But Karegeya’s death
comes just one year after Karegeya and the South African government agreed in
2012 to end the close protection.
"They agreed that
they would allow him to walk without bodyguards or without protection, which
has turned out to be a miscalculation," said Ntwali
"He knew that his
life definitely was in danger... that's why he fled Rwanda, but I think he got to a
level where he thought that here he would be able to evade them," Ntwali
is quoted to have told journalists.
It is not clear why
Karegeya felt the security provided by South Africa had become an
encumbrance.
The RNC in a statement
described Karegeya as “a courageous soldier who died on the battlefield”.
“His vision for an
inclusive and free Rwandan society earned him the admiration and respect of
most Rwandan political actors, both in the predominantly Tutsi ruling party and
in the predominantly Hutu opposition political parties,” the party said.
The RNC, perhaps as
expected, also pinned the murder of their former party member on Kagame’s
government, which they claim is in the habit of targeting key Rwandan
opposition figures in “South
Africa and the rest of the world”.
“…investigations have
found overwhelming evidence of the involvement of Rwanda
intelligence operatives in those assassination attempts,” reads their
statement, “By killing its opponents, the criminal regime in Kigali seeks to intimidate and silence the
Rwandan people into submission.”
The party cites
assassinations; including two attempts against Gen. Nyamwasa in Johannesburg in June 2010,
to reinforce their accusations.
But Kigali’s
High Commissioner to South
Africa, Vicent Karega dismissed the
allegations. It is always best, in situations of such accusations to wait for
official police statements.
No evidence
In the past, despite
claims by opponents that there was clear evidence linking the Kagame regime to
the Nyamwasa shooting, the trial of suspects has not produced any results since
2010. A related case, which claimed that assassins had been sent to finish off
Nyamwasa as he lay sick in hospital over the first shooting fell apart after
the main witness withdrew his testimony. He told court that the South African
police had bribed him to pin the other five witnesses.
Karegeya himself has
been no stranger to accusations of assassinating his enemies and other sins.
James Kabarebe, a
former Chief of Defense Staff of Rwanda in a 2010 interview with The
Independent described Karegeya as a very reckless man “who has no fear for
anything, even telling a blatant lie that would be discovered – just to get his
way.”
“Karegyeya lacks
seriousness and never takes anything seriously,” Kabarebe said.
At the time, The
Independent was investigating a case in which Karegeya had successfully won a
United Nations (UN) consultancy job worth US$ 77,000 a month. The problem, The
Independent found, was that he lied to get it.
In 2011, there were
reports of a Burundian woman who claimed Karegeya led her to kill; by
poisoning, a popular Rwandan singer, Jean Christophe Matata.
The woman, whose
identity remains a secret to protect her family, allegedly claimed Karegeya was
upset when in late December 2010, she hooked up with Matata.
Matata died abruptly on
January 03 in a South African hospital when he had gone to preform there. His
death was explained as multiple organ failure.
Karegeya, who was her
sexual partner and apparently appears to have been spying on her, allegedly
told her that Matata could be used by his enemies in Rwanda to harm him through her.
He then told her to spike
Matata’s drink so that she could go through his phone records and other
documents. Unknown to her, the substance Karegeya supplied her to use on Matata
was a slow acting poison. None of this has been independently confirmed.
- In 1979 was student at Old Kampala Senior Secondary School in Uganda.
- 1982 to 1985: He was charged with treason and jailed in Uganda’s Luzira Maximum Security Prison under Milton Obote’s regime.
- 1987 and 1988: He was a director of counter-intelligence at the Directorate of Military Intelligence in Uganda.
- 1990 to July 1994: Worked in Uganda Revenue Authority’s Anti- Smuggling Unit.
- End of 1994: Arrived in Rwanda.
- 2004 to 2006: Worked in National Security Service of Rwanda under the Ministry of Defence.
- 2006: was stripped of his rank of Colonel and dismissed with disgrace from the army. After trial he was jailed in Rwanda for deserting the force, misconduct and disobeying his superiors.
- 2007: Fled Rwanda upon completion of an 18-month sentence.
- 2010: Formed Rwanda National Congress.
Who killed Karegeya?
Karegeya, Nyamwasa split
In
mid 2013, the Rwanda National Congress (RNC) had scheduled an election
for its leaders in South Africa for Aug 8. However, in the weeks
preceding the election, the party experienced infighting and
consequently the election was postponed. Two camps had emerged, one
supporting Emile Rutagengwa and another supporting Frank Ntwali, a
brother in law Kayumba Nyamwasa, the presumptive leader of the party.
This is the first time disagreements between the two erstwhile allies were becoming manifest and thereby leading RNC closer to a split. In a highly contested vote, the group close to Ntwali took over all the posts.
Kayumba
was accused by some members for interference in the elections and was
asked to apologise. Kayumba had “forced” Mike Rwarinda and Ferdinand
Barihiga to withdraw their candidature in favour of Ntwali. There were
complaints that Etienne Mutabazi was protected from competition when he
was not a good performer. It is claimed that RNC members were not happy
and have no confidence in the leadership.
During
campaigns there were character assassinations where some members were
accused of working with the Rwandan embassy in Johannesburg. This was
the first time accusations of infiltration on the RNC were taking center
stage in the party and thus bringing Kayumba and Karegeya into a direct
collision course. Kayumba wanted his brother in law, Ntwali, to stay in
power by blocking Kennedy Gihana, supported by Karegeya.
RNC
sources say the Karegeya-Gihana group’s strategy was to attract new
blood who do not identify with RNC – people who question the sudden
change from being RPF to FDLR. A heated debate ensued with veiled
threats and recriminations.
A meeting
to discuss the disagreements was called and a compromise was struck:
Karegeya and Kayumba agreed not to attend the election. But on the day
of the election, Karegeya appeared at Dovenshire Hotel; Kayumba did not.
However, voters elected pro-Kayumba candidates among them Ntwali; a
genocide suspect called Mutabazi was elected vice chair while Gihana was
elected SG.
According
to RNC insiders, Karegeya demanded that his choices pass, a factor that
annoyed Kayumba who considered himself the natural leader. Karegeya
accused Kayumba of being camera hungry even though RNC was losing
momentum and becoming disorganised by the day.
Kayumba
responded that Karegeya was a womanising traitor who was leaking secrets
to the government of Rwanda through Gihana. Kayumba believed that this
(Keregeya’s links with Kigali agents) is what contributed to his
(Kayumba’s) attempted assassination.
A
compromise was reached after a long discussion between the two. But
Kayumba advised the executive committee that Gihana should never access
any RNC documents. The Kayumba group then held a meeting without Gihana.
On 21st December, in a meeting dubbed Ingando and
coinciding with RNC’s third anniversary as held in Pretoria where both
Kayumba and Karegeya attended. People complained that they were not
satisfied with the executive committee and accused Kayumba of
threatening them not to vote anyone except Ntwali. The meeting quickly
degenerated into chaos. Karegeya called Ntwali a disaster for RNC and
wondered why he (Ntwali) had made no effort to resolve the bad blood
among members.
Karegeya
said good leaders must know how to handle crisis otherwise they would be
stoned to death. He said the executive should have handled the conflict
before Ingando. According to our sources, Karegeya left the meeting
saying he had another meeting which he claimed was in RNC’s “actual
interest.” This was the last time Karegeya was seen with Kayumba.
On the
morning of Jan. 1, 2014, Karegeya’s body was discovered in room 905 at
the Michellangelo Hotel in the plush Sandton area of Johannesburg,
Gauteng, South Africa.
Hotel records indicate that Karegeya had booked into the US$350 (Approx.900.000) a night hotel on Dec.29.
Hotel
security opened the room with a master key after Karegeya’s nephew,
David Batenga, showed up at the hotel and refused to leave without
speaking to him.
He was
suspicious because all his earlier attempts to contact Karegeya at his
home and at the hotel room had failed. All Karegeya’s three phones were
off.
When
Karegeya’s room was opened, reports indicate that security sensed that
the occupant of the room was slumped on the bed in an unusual position.
“I don’t think this person is sleeping. Call the police,” the receptionist is quoted to have said.
When police arrived, they confirmed Batenga’s worst fear.
South
African authorities said Karegeya might have been strangled after they
found a rope and a blood soaked towel in a safe in his room. Initial
reports do not say whether it was Karegeya’s blood on theFormer Rwandan chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasatowel.
Former Rwandan chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasatowel.
Batenga,
who is now believed to be the last family member to have seen Karegeya
alive, says he had last spoken to his uncle via Blackberry Messenger
(BBM) at 7.47pm on December 31, 2013.
By
lunchtime on January 1, according to some reports, Batenga “couldn’t
take it anymore”. He went to Karegeya’s home, but apart from his car not
being there, nothing seemed unusual.
Batenga then went to the hotel. His uncle’s Audi was in the parking lot.
At the reception, hotel staff got no answer when they called room 905.
A porter went upstairs and, ignoring the “Do not disturb” sign, knocked. There was no answer.
Karegeya had a home in the same Johannesburg area and speculation is rife about why he hired the expensive hotel room.
By the
time of writing this story, neither the special unit of the South
African police’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, called
the hawks; nor the hotel staff were offering any clues. Most of the
information was being gathered from family members and members of the
Rwanda exile community in Johannesburg, including Batenga.
Batenga is
quoted to have said Karegeya hired the hotel room for one Apollo
Gafaranga, a well-known businessman based in Rwanda. What is unclear is
why Gafaranga did not hire the room in his names if he was the one using
it?
Many queries, few answers
One line
of inquiry suggests that Karegeya, if he hired the room for Gafaranga,
clearly he possibly wanted his guest’s visit to be kept secret. If that
is the case, why did Karegeya; as his nephew says, personally drive to
Gautrain Sandton station on December 29 to allegedly collect Gafaranga?
If the
visit was secret, why did Karegeya and Gafaranga allegedly spend at
least three days together? The duo allegedly met on December 30 and, on
the fateful day December 31, 2013, Karegeya reportedly told his nephew
David Batenga that he had gone to meet Gafaranga again. He never
returned.
It was not
clear by the time we went to press if Gafaranga, who is apparently a
well-known personality in Kigali, had been questioned by the Kigali
police, Interpol, or the Hawks.
The Sunday
Times of Rwanda’s Sunday Magazine interviewed him in its May 24, 2009
issue. It described him as humorous, down to earth, intelligent, and one
of the more successful entrepreneurs in the country. He is the
proprietor of a top Cinema in Kigali and deals in real estate.
The South
African police had also not published any CCTV images of individuals
seen entering or leaving room 905 during the period Karegeya is thought
to have been murdered.
All this is unusual because Karegeya, even in exile in South Africa, was a very high profile figure.
Karegyeya
was a top member of a very vocal opposition in exile to Rwandan
President Paul Kagame that includes the former Rwandan chief of staff,
Maj. Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa. The duo are said to be connected to the
highest levels of South African security, foreign affairs, and even
President Jacob Zuma.
Karegeya
grew up in Uganda just like several other former Rwandan refugees
including President Kagame. He worked in the country’s intelligence
before going to Kigali towards the end of 1994.
He served in the Kigali government as the chief for external intelligence from 1994 to 2004.
But once
he fell out with Kagame, he was demoted to army spokesperson, later
relieved of his duties, stripped of his rank as Colonel and jailed
twice. He fled to South Africa where at one point, he was said to travel
on a Ugandan passport in the names of Patrick Batenga.
Three
years after he arrived in South Africa, Karegeya and Nyamwasa in 2010
formed a political party, the Rwanda National Congress (RNC). Other top
figures in the party are the former director of cabinet, Theogene
Rudasingwa, the former Director of Public Prosecutions, Gerald Gahima,
and its leader, Frank Ntwali.
According
to Frank Ntwali, who heads the RNC in Africa, when Karegeya arrived in
South Africa in 2007, the South African government put him under state
protection.
But
Karegeya’s death comes just one year after Karegeya and the South
African government agreed in 2012 to end the close protection.
"They
agreed that they would allow him to walk without bodyguards or without
protection, which has turned out to be a miscalculation," said Ntwali
"He knew
that his life definitely was in danger... that's why he fled Rwanda, but
I think he got to a level where he thought that here he would be able
to evade them," Ntwali is quoted to have told journalists.
It is not clear why Karegeya felt the security provided by South Africa had become an encumbrance.
The RNC in a statement described Karegeya as “a courageous soldier who died on the battlefield”.
“His
vision for an inclusive and free Rwandan society earned him the
admiration and respect of most Rwandan political actors, both in the
predominantly Tutsi ruling party and in the predominantly Hutu
opposition political parties,” the party said.
The RNC,
perhaps as expected, also pinned the murder of their former party member
on Kagame’s government, which they claim is in the habit of targeting
key Rwandan opposition figures in “South Africa and the rest of the
world”.
“…investigations
have found overwhelming evidence of the involvement of Rwanda
intelligence operatives in those assassination attempts,” reads their
statement, “By killing its opponents, the criminal regime in Kigali
seeks to intimidate and silence the Rwandan people into submission.”
The party
cites assassinations; including two attempts against Gen. Nyamwasa in
Johannesburg in June 2010, to reinforce their accusations.
But
Kigali’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Vicent Karega dismissed the
allegations. It is always best, in situations of such accusations to
wait for official police statements.
No evidence
In the
past, despite claims by opponents that there was clear evidence linking
the Kagame regime to the Nyamwasa shooting, the trial of suspects has
not produced any results since 2010. A related case, which claimed that
assassins had been sent to finish off Nyamwasa as he lay sick in
hospital over the first shooting fell apart after the main witness
withdrew his testimony. He told court that the South African police had
bribed him to pin the other five witnesses.
Karegeya himself has been no stranger to accusations of assassinating his enemies and other sins.
James
Kabarebe, a former Chief of Defense Staff of Rwanda in a 2010 interview
with The Independent described Karegeya as a very reckless man “who has
no fear for anything, even telling a blatant lie that would be
discovered – just to get his way.”
“Karegyeya lacks seriousness and never takes anything seriously,” Kabarebe said.
At the
time, The Independent was investigating a case in which Karegeya had
successfully won a United Nations (UN) consultancy job worth US$ 77,000 a
month. The problem, The Independent found, was that he lied to get it.
In 2011,
there were reports of a Burundian woman who claimed Karegeya led her to
kill; by poisoning, a popular Rwandan singer, Jean Christophe Matata.
The woman,
whose identity remains a secret to protect her family, allegedly
claimed Karegeya was upset when in late December 2010, she hooked up
with Matata.
Matata
died abruptly on January 03 in a South African hospital when he had gone
to preform there. His death was explained as multiple organ failure.
Karegeya,
who was her sexual partner and apparently appears to have been spying on
her, allegedly told her that Matata could be used by his enemies in
Rwanda to harm him through her.
He then
told her to spike Matata’s drink so that she could go through his phone
records and other documents. Unknown to her, the substance Karegeya
supplied her to use on Matata was a slow acting poison. None of this has
been independently confirmed.
Karegeya fact file- In 1979 was student at Old Kampala Senior Secondary School in Uganda.
- 1982 to 1985: He was charged with treason and jailed in Uganda’s Luzira Maximum Security Prison under Milton Obote’s regime.
- 1987 and 1988: He was a director of counter-intelligence at the Directorate of Military Intelligence in Uganda.
- 1990 to July 1994: Worked in Uganda Revenue Authority’s Anti- Smuggling Unit.
- End of 1994: Arrived in Rwanda.
- 2004 to 2006: Worked in National Security Service of Rwanda under the Ministry of Defence.
- 2006: was stripped of his rank of Colonel and dismissed with disgrace from the army. After trial he was jailed in Rwanda for deserting the force, misconduct and disobeying his superiors.
- 2007: Fled Rwanda upon completion of an 18-month sentence.
- 2010: Formed Rwanda National Congress.
Who killed Karegeya?
Karegeya, Nyamwasa split
In
mid 2013, the Rwanda National Congress (RNC) had scheduled an election
for its leaders in South Africa for Aug 8. However, in the weeks
preceding the election, the party experienced infighting and
consequently the election was postponed. Two camps had emerged, one
supporting Emile Rutagengwa and another supporting Frank Ntwali, a
brother in law Kayumba Nyamwasa, the presumptive leader of the party.
This is the first time disagreements between the two erstwhile allies were becoming manifest and thereby leading RNC closer to a split. In a highly contested vote, the group close to Ntwali took over all the posts.
Kayumba
was accused by some members for interference in the elections and was
asked to apologise. Kayumba had “forced” Mike Rwarinda and Ferdinand
Barihiga to withdraw their candidature in favour of Ntwali. There were
complaints that Etienne Mutabazi was protected from competition when he
was not a good performer. It is claimed that RNC members were not happy
and have no confidence in the leadership.
During
campaigns there were character assassinations where some members were
accused of working with the Rwandan embassy in Johannesburg. This was
the first time accusations of infiltration on the RNC were taking center
stage in the party and thus bringing Kayumba and Karegeya into a direct
collision course. Kayumba wanted his brother in law, Ntwali, to stay in
power by blocking Kennedy Gihana, supported by Karegeya.
RNC
sources say the Karegeya-Gihana group’s strategy was to attract new
blood who do not identify with RNC – people who question the sudden
change from being RPF to FDLR. A heated debate ensued with veiled
threats and recriminations.
A meeting
to discuss the disagreements was called and a compromise was struck:
Karegeya and Kayumba agreed not to attend the election. But on the day
of the election, Karegeya appeared at Dovenshire Hotel; Kayumba did not.
However, voters elected pro-Kayumba candidates among them Ntwali; a
genocide suspect called Mutabazi was elected vice chair while Gihana was
elected SG.
According
to RNC insiders, Karegeya demanded that his choices pass, a factor that
annoyed Kayumba who considered himself the natural leader. Karegeya
accused Kayumba of being camera hungry even though RNC was losing
momentum and becoming disorganised by the day.
Kayumba
responded that Karegeya was a womanising traitor who was leaking secrets
to the government of Rwanda through Gihana. Kayumba believed that this
(Keregeya’s links with Kigali agents) is what contributed to his
(Kayumba’s) attempted assassination.
A
compromise was reached after a long discussion between the two. But
Kayumba advised the executive committee that Gihana should never access
any RNC documents. The Kayumba group then held a meeting without Gihana.
On 21st December, in a meeting dubbed Ingando and
coinciding with RNC’s third anniversary as held in Pretoria where both
Kayumba and Karegeya attended. People complained that they were not
satisfied with the executive committee and accused Kayumba of
threatening them not to vote anyone except Ntwali. The meeting quickly
degenerated into chaos. Karegeya called Ntwali a disaster for RNC and
wondered why he (Ntwali) had made no effort to resolve the bad blood
among members.
Karegeya
said good leaders must know how to handle crisis otherwise they would be
stoned to death. He said the executive should have handled the conflict
before Ingando. According to our sources, Karegeya left the meeting
saying he had another meeting which he claimed was in RNC’s “actual
interest.” This was the last time Karegeya was seen with Kayumba.
On the
morning of Jan. 1, 2014, Karegeya’s body was discovered in room 905 at
the Michellangelo Hotel in the plush Sandton area of Johannesburg,
Gauteng, South Africa.
Hotel records indicate that Karegeya had booked into the US$350 (Approx.900.000) a night hotel on Dec.29.
Hotel
security opened the room with a master key after Karegeya’s nephew,
David Batenga, showed up at the hotel and refused to leave without
speaking to him.
He was
suspicious because all his earlier attempts to contact Karegeya at his
home and at the hotel room had failed. All Karegeya’s three phones were
off.
When
Karegeya’s room was opened, reports indicate that security sensed that
the occupant of the room was slumped on the bed in an unusual position.
“I don’t think this person is sleeping. Call the police,” the receptionist is quoted to have said.
When police arrived, they confirmed Batenga’s worst fear.
South
African authorities said Karegeya might have been strangled after they
found a rope and a blood soaked towel in a safe in his room. Initial
reports do not say whether it was Karegeya’s blood on theFormer Rwandan chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasatowel.
Former Rwandan chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasatowel.
Batenga,
who is now believed to be the last family member to have seen Karegeya
alive, says he had last spoken to his uncle via Blackberry Messenger
(BBM) at 7.47pm on December 31, 2013.
By
lunchtime on January 1, according to some reports, Batenga “couldn’t
take it anymore”. He went to Karegeya’s home, but apart from his car not
being there, nothing seemed unusual.
Batenga then went to the hotel. His uncle’s Audi was in the parking lot.
At the reception, hotel staff got no answer when they called room 905.
A porter went upstairs and, ignoring the “Do not disturb” sign, knocked. There was no answer.
Karegeya had a home in the same Johannesburg area and speculation is rife about why he hired the expensive hotel room.
By the
time of writing this story, neither the special unit of the South
African police’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, called
the hawks; nor the hotel staff were offering any clues. Most of the
information was being gathered from family members and members of the
Rwanda exile community in Johannesburg, including Batenga.
Batenga is
quoted to have said Karegeya hired the hotel room for one Apollo
Gafaranga, a well-known businessman based in Rwanda. What is unclear is
why Gafaranga did not hire the room in his names if he was the one using
it?
Many queries, few answers
One line
of inquiry suggests that Karegeya, if he hired the room for Gafaranga,
clearly he possibly wanted his guest’s visit to be kept secret. If that
is the case, why did Karegeya; as his nephew says, personally drive to
Gautrain Sandton station on December 29 to allegedly collect Gafaranga?
If the
visit was secret, why did Karegeya and Gafaranga allegedly spend at
least three days together? The duo allegedly met on December 30 and, on
the fateful day December 31, 2013, Karegeya reportedly told his nephew
David Batenga that he had gone to meet Gafaranga again. He never
returned.
It was not
clear by the time we went to press if Gafaranga, who is apparently a
well-known personality in Kigali, had been questioned by the Kigali
police, Interpol, or the Hawks.
The Sunday
Times of Rwanda’s Sunday Magazine interviewed him in its May 24, 2009
issue. It described him as humorous, down to earth, intelligent, and one
of the more successful entrepreneurs in the country. He is the
proprietor of a top Cinema in Kigali and deals in real estate.
The South
African police had also not published any CCTV images of individuals
seen entering or leaving room 905 during the period Karegeya is thought
to have been murdered.
All this is unusual because Karegeya, even in exile in South Africa, was a very high profile figure.
Karegyeya
was a top member of a very vocal opposition in exile to Rwandan
President Paul Kagame that includes the former Rwandan chief of staff,
Maj. Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa. The duo are said to be connected to the
highest levels of South African security, foreign affairs, and even
President Jacob Zuma.
Karegeya
grew up in Uganda just like several other former Rwandan refugees
including President Kagame. He worked in the country’s intelligence
before going to Kigali towards the end of 1994.
He served in the Kigali government as the chief for external intelligence from 1994 to 2004.
But once
he fell out with Kagame, he was demoted to army spokesperson, later
relieved of his duties, stripped of his rank as Colonel and jailed
twice. He fled to South Africa where at one point, he was said to travel
on a Ugandan passport in the names of Patrick Batenga.
Three
years after he arrived in South Africa, Karegeya and Nyamwasa in 2010
formed a political party, the Rwanda National Congress (RNC). Other top
figures in the party are the former director of cabinet, Theogene
Rudasingwa, the former Director of Public Prosecutions, Gerald Gahima,
and its leader, Frank Ntwali.
According
to Frank Ntwali, who heads the RNC in Africa, when Karegeya arrived in
South Africa in 2007, the South African government put him under state
protection.
But
Karegeya’s death comes just one year after Karegeya and the South
African government agreed in 2012 to end the close protection.
"They
agreed that they would allow him to walk without bodyguards or without
protection, which has turned out to be a miscalculation," said Ntwali
"He knew
that his life definitely was in danger... that's why he fled Rwanda, but
I think he got to a level where he thought that here he would be able
to evade them," Ntwali is quoted to have told journalists.
It is not clear why Karegeya felt the security provided by South Africa had become an encumbrance.
The RNC in a statement described Karegeya as “a courageous soldier who died on the battlefield”.
“His
vision for an inclusive and free Rwandan society earned him the
admiration and respect of most Rwandan political actors, both in the
predominantly Tutsi ruling party and in the predominantly Hutu
opposition political parties,” the party said.
The RNC,
perhaps as expected, also pinned the murder of their former party member
on Kagame’s government, which they claim is in the habit of targeting
key Rwandan opposition figures in “South Africa and the rest of the
world”.
“…investigations
have found overwhelming evidence of the involvement of Rwanda
intelligence operatives in those assassination attempts,” reads their
statement, “By killing its opponents, the criminal regime in Kigali
seeks to intimidate and silence the Rwandan people into submission.”
The party
cites assassinations; including two attempts against Gen. Nyamwasa in
Johannesburg in June 2010, to reinforce their accusations.
But
Kigali’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Vicent Karega dismissed the
allegations. It is always best, in situations of such accusations to
wait for official police statements.
No evidence
In the
past, despite claims by opponents that there was clear evidence linking
the Kagame regime to the Nyamwasa shooting, the trial of suspects has
not produced any results since 2010. A related case, which claimed that
assassins had been sent to finish off Nyamwasa as he lay sick in
hospital over the first shooting fell apart after the main witness
withdrew his testimony. He told court that the South African police had
bribed him to pin the other five witnesses.
Karegeya himself has been no stranger to accusations of assassinating his enemies and other sins.
James
Kabarebe, a former Chief of Defense Staff of Rwanda in a 2010 interview
with The Independent described Karegeya as a very reckless man “who has
no fear for anything, even telling a blatant lie that would be
discovered – just to get his way.”
“Karegyeya lacks seriousness and never takes anything seriously,” Kabarebe said.
At the
time, The Independent was investigating a case in which Karegeya had
successfully won a United Nations (UN) consultancy job worth US$ 77,000 a
month. The problem, The Independent found, was that he lied to get it.
In 2011,
there were reports of a Burundian woman who claimed Karegeya led her to
kill; by poisoning, a popular Rwandan singer, Jean Christophe Matata.
The woman,
whose identity remains a secret to protect her family, allegedly
claimed Karegeya was upset when in late December 2010, she hooked up
with Matata.
Matata
died abruptly on January 03 in a South African hospital when he had gone
to preform there. His death was explained as multiple organ failure.
Karegeya,
who was her sexual partner and apparently appears to have been spying on
her, allegedly told her that Matata could be used by his enemies in
Rwanda to harm him through her.
He then
told her to spike Matata’s drink so that she could go through his phone
records and other documents. Unknown to her, the substance Karegeya
supplied her to use on Matata was a slow acting poison. None of this has
been independently confirmed.
Karegeya fact file- In 1979 was student at Old Kampala Senior Secondary School in Uganda.
- 1982 to 1985: He was charged with treason and jailed in Uganda’s Luzira Maximum Security Prison under Milton Obote’s regime.
- 1987 and 1988: He was a director of counter-intelligence at the Directorate of Military Intelligence in Uganda.
- 1990 to July 1994: Worked in Uganda Revenue Authority’s Anti- Smuggling Unit.
- End of 1994: Arrived in Rwanda.
- 2004 to 2006: Worked in National Security Service of Rwanda under the Ministry of Defence.
- 2006: was stripped of his rank of Colonel and dismissed with disgrace from the army. After trial he was jailed in Rwanda for deserting the force, misconduct and disobeying his superiors.
- 2007: Fled Rwanda upon completion of an 18-month sentence.
- 2010: Formed Rwanda National Congress.
Who Killed Karegeya and Why?
Patrick
Karegeya has died. Even before an investigation, many are already
convicting the government of Rwanda generally and president Kagame
personally.
By
06/01/2014 21:42:00
But is this the best way to approach a murder?
In
all such investigations, the first question is: who stood to benefit
from such a death? Right now, we see that Rwanda government and
president Kagame are suffering severe criticism for it; so they do not
seem to be profiting from Karegeya’s death.
Therefore, if they were involved in his death, the expected benefits must have exceeded the current costs they are suffering.
It
would mean Karegeya posed a severe and immediate threat to the security
of Rwanda and perhaps allegations that he was involved in organizing
violent resistance against the state are true or were believed by
Kigali.
However,
as a former head of security, Karegeya must have stepped on the toes of
powerful individuals, security organizations and nations who could have
had an interest in his death. He may have financial and business
dealings which could have gone bad.
Or
he may have run into conflicts with powerful individuals and families
over women, like the case of Christopher Matata suggests.
Some
sources suggest that there have been wrangles among Rwandan opposition
groups with whom Karegeya worked who would had had an interest in
killing him especially if they him of any double dealings.
Therefore, there are many potential enemies Karegeya had who had an interest in killing him.
Isolating
one, the government in Kigali, and making it the only suspect and
ignoring its national security concerns which may have justified its
actions against him may comfort some people's emotions but does not do
justice to the debate on this subject.
