Tom Byabagamba: key obituary facts
Is Tom Byabagamba dead? Yes. Tom Byabagamba died on August 25, 2026, at age 59.
Cause of death: Tom Byabagamba's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Tom Byabagamba known for?
He was a former Rwandan colonel.
More about Tom Byabagamba
Gender: male.
Born: 1967 (age 58–59).
Occupations: Former Colonel of the Rwanda Defense Force and former head of the Presidential Guard Unit.
Tom Byabagamba, a Rwandan military officer and presidential bodyguard, died on August 25, 2026, aged 59.
A former colonel in the Rwanda Defense Force, he also served as head of the Presidential Guard unit, a role that placed him in President Paul Kagame’s personal protection detail. Byabagamba later faced arrest and conviction on charges including inciting insurrection and tarnishing the government’s image.
His sentence was reduced from 21 years to 15 years on appeal in Kigali in 2019, while his conviction was upheld and his rank was stripped. News of his death was disclosed by his elder brother, David Himbara, in a social media post on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.