Murokozi Paul and Baraka Emmanuel appeared before the court on October 13, 2026. They are being held at Nyanza Prison over alleged offences committed in Kayonza District in April 2025.

The hearing was conducted in Swahili, with an interpreter translating the proceedings into Kinyarwanda.

Prosecutors allege that the two men deceived the women, both from Kayonza District, with promises of employment before taking them to Tanzania, where they were subjected to sexual exploitation.

“They were sent there after being promised good jobs. However, upon arrival, they found that they were expected to work in a bar and were also sexually abused by the men who had taken them there. They were then sold to other men,” the prosecutor told the court.

The prosecution argued that the women were deceived for financial gain and taken to Tanzania without their parents' knowledge or the authorities being informed.

Prosecutors asked the court to convict each accused and sentence them to 25 years in prison and a fine of Rwf 20 million.

Defence denies trafficking allegations

In his defence, Murokozi said he had been working as a sailor at the Rwanda-Tanzania border alongside Baraka when he became acquainted with the two women.

He told the court that they became friendly and rented a room where they had sexual relations.

According to Murokozi, the women expressed an interest in travelling to Tanzania, prompting him to arrange transport and accompany them.

He said they stayed in Tanzania for four days before deciding to return to Rwanda, adding that he also arranged transport for their return.

Murokozi denied that the trip involved trafficking or sexual exploitation.

“They went to a bar to drink, not because we were trafficking them. They also shared drinks, and nobody sexually abused them,” he said.

He denied committing any crime and asked the court to acquit him.

His lawyer, Mpayimana Jean Paul, argued that the prosecution had not established that his client committed a criminal offence.

He said Murokozi had simply become acquainted with one of the women, who later asked him to take her to Tanzania.

“What crime was committed if a Rwandan went out with a Tanzanian and that is what happened?” the lawyer asked.

Mpayimana also challenged the allegation that his client had sold the women, arguing that the prosecution had not identified any buyer. He asked the court to acquit Murokozi.

Baraka, meanwhile, denied involvement in taking the women to Tanzania, telling the court that he had remained in Rwanda and knew nothing about what happened there.

“What I did was have sexual relations with her. As for taking her to Tanzania to be sold, I know nothing about that,” he said.

His lawyer, Adiel Mbanziriza, argued that Baraka had no intention of committing a crime.

“The prosecution says the women were taken there to be trafficked, yet one of the women herself stated that she had gone to see what Tanzania was like,” Mbanziriza told the court.

He also asked the court to acquit his client.

The three-judge panel is scheduled to deliver its verdict on November 12, 2026.