On November 4, 2026, Yampano appeared before the Nyarugenge High Court, where the prosecution requested a sentence of 7 years and 11 months in prison, along with a fine of 800,000 Rwandan francs (FRW). Yampano was found guilty of five charges, including using threatening language, vandalizing someone else's property, consuming narcotics, physically assaulting and injuring his wife, and hate speech.
According to the prosecution, Yampano had a history of physically abusing his wife, Uwineza Denise. On several occasions, he allegedly hit her, and at one point, he even threatened to kill her. The prosecution also presented evidence that Yampano had used hate speech against his wife, calling her "Tutsi" and making derogatory comments about her ethnicity.
Yampano pleaded guilty to three of the charges, including consuming narcotics, vandalizing someone else's property, and physically assaulting and injuring his wife. However, he denied the charges of using threatening language and hate speech. The prosecution presented evidence that Yampano had written songs in 2023 and 2024 that advocated against hate speech.
Yampano's defense team, led by lawyer Rudahusha Didier, argued that their client had already made amends with his wife and had even sought counseling. They requested a reduced sentence, citing Yampano's guilty plea and his efforts to reform. The prosecution, however, expressed skepticism about the sincerity of Uwineza's forgiveness, citing concerns that she may have been coerced.
The prosecution requested a sentence of 7 years and 11 months in prison, taking into account the severity of the charges. For the charge of using threatening language, Yampano was sentenced to 6 months in prison. For vandalizing someone else's property, he was sentenced to 5 months in prison. For consuming narcotics, he was sentenced to 1 year in prison. For physically assaulting and injuring his wife, he was sentenced to 1 year in prison and fined 300,000 FRW.
Yampano's lawyer argued that his client had already spent time in prison and had undergone rehabilitation. He requested a reduced sentence or a suspended sentence, citing Yampano's guilty plea and his efforts to reform. The court will now consider the prosecution's request and the defense's arguments.
Yampano was arrested on May 16, 2026, and has been held in detention at the Nyarugenge prison since June. His sentencing brings an end to a highly publicized case that has sparked debate about domestic violence and hate speech in Rwanda.
Key points
- Yampano was sentenced to 7 years and 11 months in prison for various charges including assault, vandalism, and use of threatening language.
- The prosecution presented evidence that Yampano had a history of physically abusing his wife and had used hate speech against her.
- Yampano's defense team argued that their client had already made amends with his wife and had sought counseling, requesting a reduced sentence.
