The High Court in Kigali has fined opposition figure Victoire Ingabire Rwf500,000 after ruling that she had attempted to delay proceedings in a case in which she faces seven criminal charges.
The fine was imposed during ongoing proceedings involving Ingabire, the founder and leader of the unregistered opposition party Development and Liberty for All (DALFA-Umurinzi).
The court determined that her actions amounted to an attempt to delay the trial and ordered her to pay the Rwf500,000 penalty.
Ingabire is facing charges including forming or joining a criminal organisation, causing unrest or disturbances among the population, conspiring to undermine the established government, and disseminating false information or propaganda allegedly intended to turn foreign countries against Rwanda.
The charges also include other offences arising from allegations concerning her political activities and her alleged links to individuals accused in a related case.
Ingabire has denied the allegations.
Her case follows her arrest in June 2025 after her name emerged during proceedings involving members of DALFA-Umurinzi. Prosecutors have alleged that she was connected to efforts to mobilise or support individuals accused of seeking to create unrest and undermine the government.
The High Court previously rejected objections raised by Ingabire and her defence team, allowing the trial to proceed. In June 2026, Ingabire told the court that she was not ready to stand trial, citing concerns about her detention conditions and her ability to prepare her defence.
The prosecution opposed the request, arguing that the issues raised did not provide legal grounds to suspend the proceedings.
The case has attracted attention from international human rights organisations and institutions.
Amnesty International has called for Ingabire and other DALFA-Umurinzi members to be released, while the European Parliament has also addressed her case and raised concerns about the charges and proceedings.
These are positions expressed by those organisations and are separate from the court’s findings in the criminal case.
The proceedings are continuing at the High Court in Kigali, where the court will determine the outcome of the charges against Ingabire.
