Kisoro District Police Commander, Bernard Mugerwa has commended residents who have helped police with leads in the murder of a 64-year-old retired Primary School teacher.
Mr Mugerwa, while appearing on Voice of Muhabura on Tuesday evening said that police managed to arrest five suspects following a tip off from concerned residents.
The five suspects who allegedly strangled to death the late Joy Nyiramugisha, a resident of Kamonyi cell, Kamonyi Ward, Northern Division in Kisoro Municipality, were arrested from different locations in Kisoro Municipality.
The suspects include; Peter Ndagijimana, 20, a resident of Karumena Cell, Central Division, Kisoro Municipality, Isaac Nkurikiyimana, 27, a butcher, Angela Utuje, 22, a Rwandan bar attendant and resident of Kekubo, Karumena Ward, Northern Division, Angela Muhawemana, 20, a Rwandan bar attendant and resident of Chahi village, Nyagashinge ward Northern Division in Kisoro Municipality, and William Nzamuye, 28, a boda boda rider.
However, Mugerwa says police is still hunting for other accomplices that are on the run.
“We managed to arrest these murderers due to community input. You should help us to help you. We can only get wrong elements if you tell us. I insist that you should alert me or my colleagues at police for enhanced safety,” said the DPC.
The suspects have since confessed to having been behind the demise of the retired teacher, on 26/06/2024, whom they strangled from her residence and hid the body in the boys’ quarters.
The suspects on Tuesday July 9th, took police detectives and scene of crime officers (SOCOs) to the crime scene.
They revealed how they mooted their plans and executed the evil acts in broad daylight. They also named all accomplices and what role they played in the act, with one being a God-child to the deceased.
The suspects confessed that their motive was to steal Shs 16 million which the victim had raised through her land sale.
Some exhibits of a TV screen, a remote and a decoder that were stolen from her were recovered from them.
Among the suspects is a Rwandan bar attendant who forged a sale agreement for the TV screen as evidence of ownership before they could sell it.
According to police, the suspects recount having used two females to trick the deceased as beggars, before the male assailants approached her from behind to strangle her.
After ensuring that she had breathed her last, they dumped the body in the boys quarters and started to search for the money from the house and took off with the items that included beans.
According to police, the deceased’s body was discovered after a young child she was staying with returned from school and failed to trace her grandmother.
Meanwhile, local council leaders have commended police for enhanced night patrols in criminal prone areas around Kisoro Municipality.
Emmanuel Nkurikiye, the LCII chairperson of Nyagashinge Ward in Kisoro Municipality, says improved patrols during night time are the only solution to criminal elements that move at night.
This was complemented by Karumena LCI Chairperson Daudi Line, who says most criminals, especially the youths are terrorizing people who move during late hours.
“All the people arrested during night patrols are youths. We are really not sure what they do at night and they provide no valid explanations.” He said.
On his part, Munezero Sam of Kisoro hill village urges police to map out crime hotspots in Kisoro Municipality to save innocent inhabitants.
The trio spoke to Voice of Muhabura as they engaged police to release some of their residents who had been netted during Monday night patrols.
According to IP Boaz Arinaitwe, the Kisoro Police Community Liaison Officer (CLO), the force will continue clamping down on any incidents of insecurity, but insists this requires concerted efforts from the community and local leaders.
Mr Arinaitwe adds that although a dozen of those arrested during Monday’s night patrol were released, their respective LC1 Chairpersons witnessed, and second time offenders will be charged accordingly.
“You cannot always be a victim of night patrols. You will have to tell us why you are arrested from dark spots, especially those around the sewage plant, we shall see.”
“In Kisoro, cases of waylaying people and murders are on the rise. Young people beat or kill you to take your belongings. The people who killed this woman were 28 years and below. Why can’t they work?” said IP Boaz.
According to Boaz, heightened patrols will continue to ensure safety for the people and their property.
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