The trial involving two senior officers in Rwanda’s military will reopen on May 20, after several postponements.

The hearing was postponed for the sixth time last week, after one of the defendants appealed to the court for more time to get a new lawyer.

Sgt (Rtd) Francois Kabayiza, the former driver of Brig Gen Frank Rusagara, told a military court in Kigali last Monday that he was denied a chance to discuss his case with his new lawyer.

“My lawyer came to see me and he was denied access by military police,” said Mr Kabayiza, who is accused of conspiracy to cover up crimes.

The former soldier, who said that he was tortured in detention, is accused of concealing and transporting two guns belonging to his boss to Col Tom Byabagamba’s house, where they were hidden.

The court said that Mr Kabayiza had changed lawyers without informing them or the prosecution, leading to the military police blocking his new lawyer Milton Nkuba Munyandatwa. Mr Munyandatwa replaced Pierre Celestin Buhuru.

Col Byabagamba, a former commander of President Paul Kagame’s elite presidential guard, was arrested in August 2014, along with Brig Gen (Rtd) Rusagara and subsequently charged with inciting insurrection among citizens, engaging in activities aimed at tarnishing the name of the country, its leadership, and illegal possession firearms.

Col Byabagamba is the brother of the prominent Rwandan exile and presidential critic David Himbara. Mr Rusagara retired from the army in 2013 and is the brother in-law of Mr Himbara and Col Byabagamba.

Valery Mukunzi, Col Byabagamba’s lawyer, said that the military court has delayed the process to accord his client justice, noting that some of the causes that led to the postponement of the hearing on several occasions could have been avoided.

“My client is ready to stand trial but it is frustrating that every time we come to court the hearing is adjourned, which has cost us a lot of time,” Mr Mukunzi said.

The lawyer had previously applied to court to have the cases separated.