Yuhi V

He came to power as a teenager in 1896 after a palace coup, as a result of which his half-brother Mibambwe IV, who had not long reigned, was deposed. During his reign, he struggled with three main problems. The first was the question of legitimacy. The overthrow of his predecessor was organized by members of the Bega clan, including Kanjogeru, his mother and widow Kigeli IV . Such a rise to power cast doubt on the legitimacy of Musinga’s claim to the throne, which usually goes to the heir under a strict ritual protocol. The second problem affected the relations of the royal court with certain regions of the country, since after the death of Kigeli IV, many areas occupied by his armies split off, reducing the ownership of the kingdom. Thirdly, Musinga's coronation was soon followed by the arrival of German troops in the area, along with the powerful missionary order, “Missionaires d'Afrique” (“ White Fathers ”), creating a colonial context for his rule.

He went into an alliance with Germany, the settlers controlled the economy, they tried not to interfere in the affairs of the royal family and government. As a result, the German military was used to regain royal power over many autonomous regions, and court officials served as colonial administrators, especially under Belgian rule after World War I. However, such a policy of cooperation with European players led to a split in the royal court, as political factions fought for power and united in different ways with external players and local allies. Despite the fact that the Belgian mandate of the League of Nations was based on a “mission of civilization based on an indirect management system,” the new colonial authorities did not hesitate to intervene in the affairs of the kingdom, curtailing more and more the prerogatives of the Mwami. The Belgian administration supported missionary orders that opposed what they considered paganism and sought to eradicate old beliefs and customs called "superstitions." The sons of Juha V. were secretly converted to the Catholic faith .

Another important event in the reign of Juha V was the Great Famine of 1928-1929.

In November 1931, due to conflicts with the leaders and the refusal to accept Catholicism, the king was ousted by the Belgian administration (officially for “selfishness and lust”) and replaced by his son Mutara Rudahigva, who took the name Mutara III . Expelled first to Kamemba in southwestern Rwanda, and then to Kilembwe in southeastern Congo, he died on January 13, 1944.

• Frank K. Rusagara (2009). Resilience of a Nation: A History of the Military in Rwanda. Fountain Publishers. p. 99.

• HM King Yuhi VI . The Kings of Rwanda - Fathers of a Nation Part II: Beneath the Banner of Christ the King