Home News Suspended Rwandan bishop arrested on corruption charges

Suspended Rwandan bishop arrested on corruption charges

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The Rt. Rev. Samuel Mugisha Mugiraneza, the suspended bishop of the Diocese of Shyira, has been detained by police. In a 21 January 2025 post on X, the RIB stated “He is under investigation for alleged crimes of embezzlement and misuse of funds for personal gain during his tenure,” and was being held at the Remera RIB station in Kigali.

Rwanda’s Igihe media reported the investigation into Bishop Mugiraneza arose after he sacked some of his clergy for disobedience, after they complained of being arbitrarily reassigned to new parishes in August 2014. The sacked priests took their complaint of unjust treatment to Archbishop Laurent Mbanda, who, after an investigation, suspended Bishop Mugiraneza and installed the Rt. Rev. Augustin Ahimana in his place..

Bishop Mugiraneza has denied wrongdoing telling one newspaper: “These priests sought to tarnish my reputation after facing disciplinary action”.

The RIB investigation is focusing on allegations the bishop misused his authority by creating a corporation that provided the building materials used to construct a diocesan building in Musanze City. He is further accused of giving his wife a monopoly on the sale of eggs to diocesan schools, and that these eggs were taken from the diocesan farms without compensation.  He is also accused of pastoring his cattle on the diocese’s farmland and treating church property has his own.

The investigation continues.