Prosecutors have requested a sentence of seven years and 11 months in prison and a fine of RWF 800,000 for singer Uworizagwira Florien, popularly known as Yampano, who faces five charges, including assaulting his wife, cannabis use and discrimination.
Yampano appeared before the Nyarugenge Intermediate Court on November 4, 2026, for the substantive hearing. He admitted to three charges: assault causing bodily harm, damaging another person’s property and using cannabis. However, he denied charges of making threats and discrimination.
Prosecutors told the court that Yampano had repeatedly abused his wife, Uwineza Denise, physically assaulted her and, on some occasions, threatened to kill her. They also alleged that he once deliberately hit her with a vehicle.
On the discrimination charge, prosecutors alleged that during an argument with his wife, Yampano made remarks targeting Tutsis, including comments that they lacked intelligence and were boastful about their noses.
Yampano denied the allegations, insisting that he was not discriminatory. He argued that his two-year marriage to Uwineza demonstrated that he did not harbour ethnic hatred towards her.
He also claimed that his wife had previously told him that members of her family avoided visiting their home because she had married a Hutu.
Regarding the alleged threats, Yampano denied ever intending to kill his wife. He argued that the fact that he reported himself to the Investigation Bureau while Uwineza was still alive demonstrated that he had no such intention.
His lawyer, Me Rudahusha Didier, asked the court to consider a lighter sentence, pointing out that Yampano had admitted to three of the charges and had attempted to reconcile with the person he had harmed.
The defence also told the court that Uwineza had previously indicated that she had forgiven her husband, urging the judges to consider her forgiveness when determining the sentence.
Prosecutors, however, questioned whether the forgiveness had been given freely, expressing concern that Uwineza might have been pressured. They asked the court to examine the circumstances surrounding it.
In their sentencing request, prosecutors proposed six months in prison for making threats, five months for damaging another person’s property, one year for cannabis use, one year for assault causing bodily harm and five years for discrimination.
The proposed sentences total seven years and 11 months in prison, alongside a fine of RWF 800,000.
Yampano asked the court to acquit him of the two charges he denies and impose a lighter or suspended sentence for the offences he admitted committing.
He also asked the court to consider that this was his first encounter with the criminal justice system, the time he has already spent in detention and his wife’s forgiveness.
Yampano was arrested on May 16, 2026, and has been held at Nyarugenge Prison since June.
The Nyarugenge Intermediate Court announced that it will deliver its ruling on December 16, 2026.
