The Nyarugenge District Court has acquitted Ndambendore Valens, also known as Ndahiro Valens Papy, of the charges against him. These charges include public insult and spreading false information.

The verdict was read on June 12, 2026. The court ruled that the prosecution's claim was unfounded. It also ruled that the journalist was not liable for any damages.

The case is based on a story Ndahiro made and aired on BTN TV in 2024. The story showed how an investor named Ndayisenga Matherne from Muhima Sector used a caterpillar to clear a plot of land. He blocked the roads of the residents, leaving their houses in ruins. The residents also alleged that he had encroached on government land.

After the story was published, two TV shows aired about it. Ndahiro participated as a guest explaining the nature of the problem. This led Ndayisenga to sue him.

The prosecution explained that the conversations and stories contained abusive language. In some cases, Ndayisenga was compared to a skunk, a skunk, and a skunk. The prosecution also said that there were untrue statements about the location.

Ndahiro denied both charges. He said he had produced the story professionally, incorporating the views of the public, Ndayisenga, and the leadership. He said the story was approved by the editor of BTN TV, which shows that he was innocent.

This led the authorities to decide to stop the demolition of the site for now. The residents were pleased and Ndayisenga was fined 9 million Rwf.

In the trial that took place on May 14, 2026, the prosecution had requested a five-year prison sentence and a fine of 1,200,000 Rwf for the journalist. The court found the charges unfounded. It declared Ndambendore Valens not guilty of public insult and spreading false information. Ndayisenga Matherne was not entitled to compensation.

In kinyarwanda

Urukiko rw’Ibanze rwa Nyarugenge rwagize Ndambendore Valens uzwi nka Ndahiro Valens Papy umwere ku byaha yari akurikiranyweho. Ibyo byaha birimo gutukana mu ruhame n’icyo gutangaza amakuru y’ibihuha.

Umwanzuro wasomwe ku wa 12 Kamena 2026. Urukiko rugaragaza ko ikirego Ubushinjacyaha bwari bwatanze nta shingiro gifite. Ruvuga kandi ko uyu munyamakuru nta ndishyi agomba gutanga.

Uru rubanza rushingiye ku nkuru Ndahiro yakoze ikanyuzwa kuri BTN TV mu 2024. Inkuru yagaragazaga uburyo umushoramari witwa Ndayisenga Matherne wo mu Murenge wa Muhima yifashishije caterpillar asiza ikibanza. Yafungaga inzira y’abaturage, inzu zabo zigasigara ku manga. Abaturage banavugaga ko yafashe ku butaka bwa Leta.

Nyuma yo gutangaza iyi nkuru habayeho ibiganiro bibiri biyivugaho byatambutse kuri televiziyo ebyiri. Ndahiro yabyitabiriye nk’umutumirwa wasobanuraga uko ikibazo giteye. Ibyo ni byo byatumye Ndayisenga amurega.

Ubushinjacyaha bwasobanuye ko muri ibyo biganiro n’inkuru harimo amagambo yo gutukana. Harimo aho Ndayisenga yagereranyijwe n’ifuku, inkirabuheri n’inkebebe. Ubushinjacyaha kandi bwavuze ko ku bijyanye n’ikibanza harimo ibitari ukuri byatangajwe.

Ndahiro yahakanye ibyaha byombi. Yavuze ko yakoze inkuru kinyamwuga, ashyiramo ibitekerezo by’abaturage, ibya Ndayisenga, hamwe n’ubuyobozi. Yavuze ko inkuru inemezwa n’ushinzwe gutokora inkuru muri BTN TV, bigaragaza ko yari nta makemwa.

Ibyo byatumye ubuyobozi bufata umwanzuro wo guhagarika igikorwa cyo gusiza icyo kibanza kugeza n’ubu. Abaturage barabyishimira kandi Ndayisenga acibwa amande ya miliyoni 9 Frw.

Mu rubanza rwari rwabaye tariki ya 14 Gicurasi 2026, Ubushinjacyaha bwari bwasabiye uyu munyamakuru igifungo cy’imyaka itanu no gutanga ihazabu ya 1,200,000 Frw. Urukiko rwasanze ikirego nta shingiro gifite. Rwemeza ko Ndambendore Valens adahamwa n’icyaha cyo gutukana mu ruhame no gutangaza amakuru y’ibihuha. Ndayisenga Matherne ntiyemerewe indishyi.

In English