Rwandan singer and government critic Aimable Karasira has died while being released from prison in Kigali, according to the Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS). Authorities said the 48-year-old died at Nyarugenge Hospital after allegedly overdosing on prescription medication. RCS spokesperson Hillary Sengabo stated that Karasira suffered from diabetes, high blood pressure, and mental health issues, adding that a post-mortem examination would be conducted.
Karasira was widely known for his YouTube channel “Ukuri Mbona” (“The Truth As I See It”), where he openly criticized the Rwandan government and the ruling RPF party. Arrested in 2021, he was sentenced in 2025 to five years in prison for inciting division. He had also previously worked as a computer science lecturer at the University of Rwanda before being dismissed. Supporters remember him as a vocal figure who challenged official narratives surrounding Rwanda’s history and governance.
His death has sparked strong reactions from activists and critics of the Rwandan government, with some calling the circumstances suspicious. Human rights activist Denise Zaneza called for an independent investigation, citing concerns over repression, lack of transparency, and previous deaths involving government critics. Karasira, a survivor of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, had spoken publicly about the deaths of members of his family, claiming they were killed by RPF fighters during the conflict — allegations that remain highly sensitive in Rwanda.