The Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has confirmed that a court registrar who was found dead in a drainage channel in Nyanza District died as a result of a stroke, while also announcing the arrest of a judicial officer over an offensive message shared about the deceased.
The body of Diogène Rwamurima, a registrar at the High Court of Huye, was discovered on April 14, 2026, in Rugarama Village, Rwesero Cell, Busasamana Sector, where he had been living.
Following the discovery, the body was taken to the Rwanda Forensic Institute for examination. RIB spokesperson Dr. Thierry B. Murangira said forensic findings indicated that the cause of death was a stroke, medically associated with severe cerebral bleeding.
Dr. Murangira further revealed that the case took a disciplinary and criminal dimension after a message circulated in a professional WhatsApp group for judicial staff, allegedly written by Shyaka Robert, a registrar at Gatunda Primary Court in Nyagatare District and a former colleague of the deceased.
Authorities said the message was widely condemned as disrespectful and offensive, prompting the arrest of the suspect, who is now under investigation.
RIB stated that Shyaka Robert is being investigated for the offence of insulting or defiling a corpse, which is punishable by a prison term of five to seven years upon conviction.
The controversial message reportedly contained demeaning remarks about the deceased, sparking outrage among colleagues and the wider judicial community.
Investigators said the probe is ongoing, including the circumstances surrounding the message and any further possible violations.
RIB also dismissed social media claims linking the death to genocide-related narratives, urging the public to avoid spreading misinformation that could harm the dignity of the deceased and distress the family.
Rwamurima had served in several courts, including Gatunda Primary Court in Nyagatare, Nyamagabe High Court, and Huye High Court.
He was laid to rest on April 17, 2026, and is survived by a wife and one child.
