Jean-Bosco Uwinkindi (59), former Pastor in charge of the Pentecostal Church at Nyamata, Kenzenze Commune, Kigali Rural préfecture today pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against him by the Prosecutor. He entered the plea during his initial appearance before Judge Dennis Byron, the President of the Tribunal.

Uwinkindi is charged with three counts of genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide and extermination as a crime against humanity. The Accused is alleged to have led a group of killers to exterminate Tutsi in Kanzenze commune and at his Kayenzi church. The Accused is said to have stated that the Tutsi were ‘inyenzi’ (cockroaches) who occupied his country and Hutu must resist them. In particular, the accused is charged with using his church as a sanctuary for genocidaires and a place for slaughtering Tutsis in 1994.

Uwinkindi is also alleged to have led a group of killers and to have addressed people at a roadblock mounted before Kayenzi Church ordering them to prevent any Tutsi from passing throught the roadblock.

Uwinkindi, who was born in Rutsiro commune in Kibuye préfecture, was arrested on 30 June 2010 in Kampala, Uganda at the request of the Tribunal following an arrest warrant issued by the ICTR on 31 August 2001. On 2 July 2010 he was transferred to the UN Detention Facility in Arusha.