Prime News Ghana

Ban on insulting Rwanda's president upheld

By Mutala Yakubu
Paul Kagame, 61, has been president of Rwanda since 2000
Paul Kagame, 61, has been president of Rwanda since 2000
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The Supreme Court in Rwanda has rejected a challenge to a law which says it is a crime to insult the president.



The law which was introduced last year means that anyone insulting President Paul Kagame faces between five and seven years in prison.

Lawyer Richard Mugisha had argued that the law was unconstitutional as it undermined freedom of expression. The court ruled that it should remain due to the responsibility that the office holds.

The same court ruled that a law which prohibits writing articles or drawing cartoons that humiliate MPs, ministers or other government officials should be annulled.

Mr Mugisha had also argued that articles which criminalised adultery should be scrapped. The court rejected that appeal.

Read also: Rwanda marks 25 years since genocide that claimed over 800,000 lives within 100 days

Source: bbc