Rwanda: Taekwondo federation under investigation for sex abuse

Rwanda Investigative Bureau (RIB) is investigating the local taekwondo governing body officials who are accused of sex abuse.

It is reported that six female taekwondo athletes, that include underage teens, whose identities have been kept anonymous, have accused their coaches and Federation officials of forcing them to sleep with them in exchange for favours, which included enrollment in the national team to attend international competitions.

Modeste Mbabazi, the RIB acting spokesperson confirmed the development to Sunday Sport, saying that, “Thorough investigations are on-going under the RIB department of child abuse and gender based violence.”

One of the federation officials who was summoned by RIB for questioning, is Rwanda Taekwondo Federation president, Placide Bagabo.

While exclusively speaking to Sunday Sport yesterday, the former national team captain said he was shocked to hear the claims reported by the girls, and the federation is cooperating with the investigators in order to make sure the truth comes out.

“We were also ordered to conduct an internal investigation into the allegations but we don’t have the required professional capacity, so as a committee we accepted to let RIB carry out the investigation so that we find out whether the allegations are true or false. And we are willing to cooperate,” Bagabo said.

In Rwanda, taekwondo was officially listed as a national sport in 2011.