The trial of the former head of Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s elite guard, Colonel Tom Byabagamba, has resumed at the Military High Court in Kigali.

Col Byabagamba is accused of “inciting rebellion against the government and disturbing public order and illegal possession of weapons”.

He appeared before the court Monday alongside his co-accused, Gen (Rtd) Frank Rusagara and Sergeant (Rtd) François Kabayiza.

They pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution said its evidence against Col Byabagamba was based on testimonies of four officers who heard him claim that the Rwandan government was behind the murder of Mr Patrick Karegeya.

Mr Karegeya, who was the Head of Intelligence, was on January 1, 2014 found dead in his hotel room in Johannesburg, where he had fled after falling out with President Kagame.

READ: Rwanda now dismisses murder of ‘sworn enemy’ Karegeya

The prosecution in the Byabagamba trial claims that his comments were made while serving in a government position at a UN mission.

Also according to those testimonies, Col Byabagamba had suggested to some members of the military to "avenge" the death of Mr Karegeya.

However, his lawyers argued that “hearsay cannot be used as evidence,” and noted that there was no real evidence presented against Col Byabagamba other than testimonies.

The trial of the three men, who were arrested in August last year over “suspected involvement in crimes against state security" has been marred by delays, which the judges have blamed on the lawyers.

Defence lawyers have previously argued with the military judges in a bid to separate the trials of their clients, and even challenged the competence of the court, but the court has on all occasions ruled against them.

Their trial will resume on Friday.