Renowned Rwandan business mogul and industrialist, Tribert Rujugiro Ayabatwa, has died at the age of 82.
The news of his death has been confirmed by state owned Rwandan publication, New Times Rwanda and the Voice of America (VOA).
According to VOA, Rujugiro died Tuesday evening at his residence in South Africa, citing family sources.
The cause of Rujugiro’s death had not been disclosed as of Wednesday, April 17, morning.
Rujugiro’s entrepreneurial success and alleged political interests in Rwanda led to a diplomatic spat between Uganda and Rwanda from 2019 spanning about three years as Kigali closed their border to Uganda.
The suspicion stemmed from report on East Africa’s war against extremism, crime, corruption, and related illicit trade that claimed Rujugiro had a hand in financing Rwandan dissidents. Rwanda asked for the businessman’s extradition from Uganda, a request the government reluctantly disagreed to fuelling tension between Uganda and Rwanda.
It would take the soft power of diplomats, regional leaders and most recently Gen Kainerugaba Muhoozi to woo Rwanda and Uganda to mend their differences.
Rujugiro was a serial industrialist in the tobacco industry, where he founded and led Africa’s largest tobacco company – Pan African Tobacco Group.