Anglican.Ink reported last week the Rt. Rev. Samuel Mugiraneza Mugisha was found not guilty of corruption charges by a Rwandan court and released from prison. The source for this information was a statement by the bishop’s wife stating he had been cleared of misconduct and from blog posts covering the trial. However, the primate of Rwanda, the Most Rev. Laurent Mbanda, reports AI made a mistake, and that Bishop Mugisha was found guilty. The archbishop’s letter of correction is below.

January 5, 2026

We write in response to your article titled “Rwanda Court Clears Former Shyira Bishop of Graft Charges,” published on 3 January 2026, in a spirit of goodwill and shared commitment to accuracy and public understanding.

We respectfully wish to offer clarification on certain points that may assist readers. Based on information available through appropriate channels, the former Bishop of Shyira Rt. Rev. Samuel Mugiraneza Mugisha has not been acquitted and has not been released from custody. He remains incarcerated and is currently serving a sentence of three and a half years following determinations made by the competent courts.

We also wish to clarify that the Anglican Church of Rwanda is not a party to the criminal proceedings referenced in the article. Any diocesan related matters identified through the forensic audit are being addressed by the appropriate leadership structures in accordance with established accountability processes.

In this context, the Church gently cautions against reliance on partial narratives promoted by interested individuals, which may not fully or accurately reflect the legal or ecclesiastical realities of the matter.

We offer these clarifications with respect and in the interest of responsible communication, and we kindly request that the article be corrected or clarified accordingly. We remain available to provide verified information through appropriate official channels should this be helpful.

Thank you for your attention and continued service to your audience.

++Laurent Mbanda