He was speaking during a press conference on Wednesday 14th June 2023 that focused on reasons for recent dismissal of 116 RDF soldiers and rescission of contracts of 112 RDF personnel.

Last week, President Paul Kagame reshuffled RDF top brass where Lt Gen Mubarakh Muganga was named Chief of Defence Staff replacing Gen Jean Bosco Kazura.

Other changes saw Maj Gen Vincent Nyakarundi appointed as RDF Army Chief of Staff (ACOS) while Juvenal Marizamunda, the Commissioner General of the Rwanda Correctional Services (RCS) was named Minister of Defence replacing Maj Gen Albert Murasira.

Among others, Colonel Francis Regis Gatarayiha was named Acting Head of Military Intelligence in the RDF replacing Maj Gen Nyakarundi.

In the same week, President Kagame dismissed from RDF, Major General Aloys Muganga and Brigadier General Francis Mutiganda along with 14 other officers.

A statement announcing the dismissals last week also read that the Head of State authorized the dismissal of 116 other ranks and approved the rescission of service contracts of 112 other ranks.

Speaking to members of the press today, Brig Gen Rwivanga disclosed that these dismissals and rescission have no connection with recent changes in RDF leadership.

Maj Gen Muganga served as the Acting Reserve Force Chief of Staff (RFCOS) from November 2018 prior to his latest appointment as the Commander of Mechanized Division in April 2019.

Besides, Brig Gen Mutiganda previously served as the Acting Director General of the external security department at the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) before he was re-deployed to RDF Headquarters in 2018.

The Article 7 of the Law Nº 38/2015 of 30/07/2015 determining the downsizing, dismissal ,discharge and demobilization of RDF personnel; stipulates that a member of Rwanda Defence Forces may be dismissed due to gross misconduct.

It reads that gross misconduct leading to dismissal has to be approved by the competent authority.

Among others, officers are dismissed by a Presidential Order while Non Commissioned Officers and troops are dismissed by an Order of the Minister.

As for rescission of service contract, the article 105 of the Presidential Order Nº 044/01 of 14/02/2020 indicates that the Minister rescinds, when considered necessary, the service contract entered into with a soldier.

It further states that the soldier whose service contract is rescinded is entitled to a rescission of the contract package equivalent to a quarter (1/4) of the end of contract package.

Maj Gen Muganga served as the Acting Reserve Force Chief of Staff (RFCOS) from November 2018 prior to his latest appointment as the Commander of Mechanized Division in April 2019.

Brig Gen Mutiganda once served as the Acting Director General of the external security department at the National Intelligence and Security Service before he was called back to RDF headquarters in 2018.