Three people have been arrested for conducting an interview with a person who has mental and physical disabilities.
The detainees, hailing from Uganda and Rwanda, are currently held at the Rwanda Investigation Bureau’s (RIB) Kimihurura station. They are facing charges for their involvement in interviewing the said individual.
Those apprehended are Racheal Kembabazi, Lawrence Mayanja Muwanguzi, who operate YouTube channels named Connect with Uganda and UG Connect respectively, and Xavier Niyibizi, owner of a website called Nexo Adventures.
According to reports, the arrests took place in a hotel located in Kimihurura Sector of Gasabo district. The detained individuals were conducting interviews with Elie Nsanzimana, who was born with microcephaly, a rare condition characterized by an abnormally small head in proportion to the body.
Nsanzimana’s story initially gained prominence after being featured on Afrimax TV, a local YouTube channel. Having endured significant hardship, including bullying in his village due to his appearance, Nsanzimana garnered widespread sympathy. Many people, moved by his plight, contributed funds to aid both him and his impoverished mother. In response, Afrimax launched a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe, generating resources that allowed Nsanzimana to attend a school catering to special needs children at Ubumwe Community Centre in Rwanda’s western province. Furthermore, he was provided with a dwelling where he now resides alongside his mother.
The attention attracted by Nsanzimana’s story led numerous other media outlets to express interest in covering his narrative, resulting in heightened viewership. Connect with Uganda, for instance, produced a feature on Nsanzimana for the third time.
However, during this instance, the interview took place at a hotel in Kigali, a move criticized as inappropriate and exploitative of an individual with mental disabilities who might lack the capacity to provide informed consent.
Thierry Murangira, the spokesperson for RIB, noted that such actions constitute a violation of Article 163 of Rwandan law, which safeguards individuals with disabilities from abuse and discrimination. He emphasized that exploitation of disabled individuals for personal gain under the guise of advocacy is unacceptable and constitutes a crime of discrimination.
Murangira stressed that while people have the freedom to use social media, they must do so responsibly, avoiding harm to others. The third article of Law No. 01/2007, enacted on January 20, 2007, which protects the rights of disabled individuals, asserts that they must be treated with the same respect as others before the law. Additionally, the 27th provision of this law specifies severe penalties within the Penal Code for crimes involving discrimination or violence against individuals with disabilities.
