Convicted fashion designer Moses Turahirwa, founder of Moshions, will serve a three year prison sentence and pay a fine of two million Rwandan francs after Rwanda’s High Court upheld his conviction for drug use and document falsification.

The ruling, delivered on March 30, confirms a 2024 decision by the Gasabo Intermediate Court and rejects his appeal for a suspended sentence.

Turahirwa will serve the three year term after completing a separate one year sentence for a previous drug offence, which is due to end in April.

During the appeal hearing, he argued that he had begun rehabilitation and should be allowed to continue treatment outside prison.

He said some cannabis use occurred while he was abroad, including in Italy and Kenya, and cited ongoing mental health treatment.

On the forgery charge, Turahirwa admitted editing a passport image and sharing it on social media with a caption suggesting an official gender change.

He maintained it was not intended for official use.

Prosecutors opposed the appeal, arguing his actions showed repeated offending and that altering passport details constitutes forgery, regardless of intent.

They said such actions could mislead the public and undermine trust in official documents.

The case dates back to April 2023 when Turahirwa was first arrested.

He later admitted to cannabis use, was granted bail, and was ultimately convicted in 2024, a decision now upheld by the High Court.