Press Release

ARREST OF UMUSINGI CHIEF EDITOR

Following the arrest of Stanley Gatera, the chief editor of Umusingi Newspaper a Kigali based bimonthly tabloid, Rwanda National Police would like to clarify the circumstances of his arrest.

Mr. Gatera’s arrest is in relation to the article published in Umusingi newspaper issue 71 dated June 25th to July 5,2012.

The story titled “Impamvu abagabo bahura n’ibibazo kubera gukurikira ubwiza bwabakobwa bitwaga Abatutsi”- loosely translated to mean, Marriage failures are a result of men falling for beautiful Tutsi women, published on page 14 carried discrimination and sectarianism sentiments.

After complaints from Women groups such as Pro Femme and the Gender monitoring office demanding a rebuttal, Umusingi published an article in issue 74 of July 20 to 28 denying any wrong doing. The article alleged that the objective of the story was lost in translation.

Rwanda National Police began investigation after the National Commission against Genocide (CNLG)filled complaint  demanding an inquiry into the matter.

Mr. Gatera is currently detained at Kicukiro Police station as investigations are ongoing. If found guilty, he will be charged with discrimination and sectarianism according to article 136 of the penal code.