Three killed in spate of domestic violence in Rwamagana District

Police in Rwamagana District are holding three suspects for allegedly killing three people, including an infant, following a two-day wave of domestic violence that has shocked residents of Karenge, Musha and Kigabiro sectors.

Monday, November 23, 2015

Police in Rwamagana District are holding three suspects for allegedly killing three people, including an infant, following a two-day wave of domestic violence that has shocked residents of Karenge, Musha and Kigabiro sectors.

According to Police, Jean Pierre Kamonyo, 44, a resident of Nyakabanda Cell in Musha Sector, was allegedly killed by his wife on Sunday at their home.

Police say that she found her husband drunk, killed him using an axe and later dragged and buried the body in their bedroom.

Police found the body following a tip off from neighbours, who reported a foul smell emanating from the home of the deceased.

The Eastern Region police spokesman, IP Emmanuel Kayigi, who confirmed the different incidents on Monday, said domestic violence was cropping up  in the area again.

It is alleged that the woman, along with her accomplices, killed her husband on the suspicion that he was having extra-marital affairs.

"We are holding four suspects in total, but investigations may lead to more arrests. It is regrettable that we lost three people in just two days…the first death was on Saturday  followed by two others on Sunday,” he said.

Meanwhile, Police have discovered remains of a two-year-old child, Hadijja Niyomukamisha in Karenge Sector. They say that she was killed with a machete.

According to police account, Niyomukamisha’s father killed the child ostensibly to punish the child’s mother after a disagreement.

Kayigi described the incident as horrible. 

"The man had engaged the wife in a fight days before, but local leaders thought the dispute had been settled. But then,  later, when he couldn’t find his wife, he turned on the child and hacked her with a machete... He wanted to inflict pain on the mother of the child.’’

Kayigi said, in another incident, in Rusave Cell of Kigabiro Sector, Police found the body of a  young man, identified as Tito Bizimana, 24, dangling from a rope.

"The whole family had been engaged in violence for days…it’s this environment that led the young man to commit suicide. If information had been shared, we would have probably prevented the death.”

Kayigi urged the public to always share information, with police and local leaders, which could prevent such tragedies.

The Mayor of Rwamagana District, Abdul Karim Uwizeyimana, said that the death had shocked residents.

 "We shall continue to sensitise communities against domestic violence, which in all its manifestations, should not be tolerated,” he said.