The Rwandan government has charged a prominent pastor’s daughter, Jackie Umuhoza with treason and espionage.
Umuhoza is a daughter of Rwandan prominent Pastor Deo Nyirigira.
The Rwanda Bureau of Investigations (RIB) on Thursday confirmed the charges against Umuhoza on twitter.
“Jackie Umuhoza was arrested on Wednesday 27 (November), on charges of treason. She is detained at Remera RIB station as further investigations continue,” Rwandan operatives tweeted.
Reports indicate that Umuhoza’s sisters; Axelle Umutesi and Lillian Umutoni were also kidnaped from their residence by Rwandan security officers although RIB did not say if they had them in custody.
Nyirigira, 67, is a resident of Kakyeka in Mbarara municipality, where he is known for criticizing the Rwandan government.
Rwanda accuses him of belonging to the diaspora-based opposition movement, Rwanda National Congress (RNC), a charge he vehemently denies.
The Observer newspaper recently reported that Nyirigira’s daughters have long endured harassment by Rwanda’s security services.
It was reported that Lillian’s husband was intimidated into divorcing her; which he did before being forced out of their house with the two little children.
She moved in with her sisters before the three were also kicked out of their jobs without clear reasons. They were summoned by military intelligence for questioning about money their father was sending them for rent and upkeep. They were also asked why their father was ‘fighting’ the government of Rwanda.
The authorities reportedly told Nyirigira’s daughters to write a letter denouncing their father if they wanted to regain their peace but refused.
When they tried to leave the country at the beginning of March, they were arrested again and spent a week in prison with their children.
Their Rwandan and Ugandan documents were confiscated.