Ndahiro Valens Pappy yasabiwe gufungwa imyaka itanu

Ubushinjacyaha bwasabiye umunyamakuru Ndahiro Valens Pappy igifungo cy’imyaka 5 no gutanga ihazabu ya 1,200,000 Frw. Aregwa n’umushoramari Ndayisenga Materne ibyaha byo gutangaza amakuru y’ibihuha no kumutukira mu ruhame. Urubanza rwaburanishijwe n’Urukiko rw’Ibanze rwa Nyarugenge ku wa 14 Gicurasi 2026.

Urubanza rushingiye ku nkuru ya BTN TV yo mu 2024 yagarukaga ku isiza ry’ikibanza kiri mu Kagari ka Tetero, Umurenge wa Muhima. Muri iyo nkuru abaturage berekanaga ko Ndayisenga yabafungiye inzira, inzu zabo zigasigara mu manga, ndetse ngo yanafashe ku butaka bwa Leta. Nyuma y’iyo nkuru hakurikiyeho ibiganiro bibiri kuri televiziyo Ndahiro yabergamo nk’umutumirwa.

Ubushinjacyaha buvuga ko muri ibyo biganiro n’inkuru harimo amagambo yo gutukana, aho Ndayisenga yagereranyijwe n’ifuku, inkirabuheri n’inkebebe. Bwongeyeho ko no ku bijyanye n’ikibanza harimo ibitari ukuri byatangajwe. Ibyo ngo byangije izina rye kandi bishobora kuba icyaha cyo gutukana no gukwirakwiza amakuru atari yo.

Ndahiro yaburanye ahakana ibyaha byombi ashinjwa. Yavuze ko atari we wari ukwiye kuregwa kuko yakoze akazi ke ku bitangazamakuru bibiri, ari byo byakabaye biregwa. Yasobanuye ko yakoze inkuru mu izina rya BTN TV nyuma yo guhamagarwa n’abaturage, akayikora kinyamwuga ashyiramo ibitekerezo byabo, ibya Ndayisenga n’iby’ubuyobozi. Inkuru ngo yemejwe n’ushinzwe gutokora inkuru muri BTN TV.

Nk’uko Ndahiro abivuga, iyo nkuru yatumye ubuyobozi buhagarika gusiza icyo kibanza, naho Ndayisenga acibwa amande ya miliyoni 9 Frw. Me Kalisa Kevin Alphonse, wunganira Ndahiro, yavuze ko ibimenyetso by’Ubushinjacyaha bidashyitse kuko ari ibice bito bito byagiye bikurwa mu kiganiro n’inkuru. Yavuze ko Ndayisenga amaze gucibwa amande ni bwo yahise avuga ko agiye kugenda kuri Ndahiro, ari na yo mpamvu yamureze mu nkiko.

Me Kalisa yagaragaje ko ikibazo cyari gikwiye kujyanwa muri RMC, inzego z’abanyamakuru, aho kuzanwa mu rukiko. Ku bijyanye no kugereranya Ndayisenga n’ifuku, yavuze ko atari amagambo y’abanyamakuru ahubwo basubiragamo ibyo abaturage bari bavuze. Yavuze ko bamwe mu banyamaboko basigaye bibasira abanyamakuru bagamije kubacecekesha aho kujya kubarega muri RMC.

Ku rundi ruhande, abunganira Ndayisenga basabye indishyi, bavuga ko ibyakozwe atari amakosa y’umwuga ahubwo ari ibyaha bikwiye kuburanishwa mu rukiko. Urukiko rwavuze ko umwanzuro uzasomwa ku wa 12 Kamena 2026 saa munani z’umugoroba.

In English

Ndahiro Valens Pappy sentenced to five years in prison

The prosecution requested a 5-year prison sentence and a fine of 1,200,000 Rwf for journalist Ndahiro Valens Pappy. He is also accused of publishing false information and publicly insulting investor Ndayisenga Materne. The case was heard by the Nyarugenge Primary Court on May 14, 2026.

The case is based on a 2024 BTN TV story that covered a land dispute in Tetero Cell, Muhima Sector. In the story, residents alleged that Ndayisenga had blocked their access, left their houses in ruins, and had even seized government land. The story was followed by two TV shows in which Ndahiro appeared as a guest.

The prosecution says that the interviews and stories contained insulting language, in which Ndayisenga was compared to a skunk, a raccoon and a raccoon. It added that there were also untrue statements about the location. This allegedly damaged his reputation and could constitute the crime of insulting and spreading false information.

Ndahiro pleaded not guilty to both charges. He said he should not have been charged because he worked for two media outlets, which are the ones being charged. He explained that he produced a story on behalf of BTN TV after being called by the public, and he did it professionally, incorporating their views, those of Ndayisenga and those of the administration. The story was reportedly approved by the person in charge of editing the story at BTN TV.

According to Ndahiro, the news caused the authorities to stop the demolition of the site, and Ndayisenga was fined 9 million Rwandan francs. Me Kalisa Kevin Alphonse, Ndahiro's lawyer, said that the prosecution's evidence was insufficient because it was small parts that were taken out of the interview and the story. He said that after Ndayisenga was fined, he immediately said that he was going to visit Ndahiro, which is why he filed a lawsuit against him.

Me Kalisa pointed out that the issue should have been taken to the RMC, the media institutions, instead of being brought to court. Regarding the comparison of Ndayisenga and Ifuku, he said that it was not the journalists' words but rather what the people had said. He said that some powerful people have now targeted journalists with the aim of silencing them instead of taking them to the RMC.

On the other hand, Ndayisenga's lawyers have requested compensation, arguing that the actions were not professional misconduct but crimes that should be tried in court. The court has said that the verdict will be read on June 12, 2026 at 8:00 pm.