Gasabo man on the run after hacking wife with machete
Friday, June 22, 2018
Robert Rutaganira

A woman is fighting for her life in Rwanda Military Hospital after being hacked and left for dead by her husband.

The attack took place Thursday morning, in Rusororo sector, Gasabo district.

Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has mounted a countrywide search for the man who has been identified as Robert Rutaganira.

He is believed to be a cab driver.

According to sources close to the family, the suspect came home in the morning, waited for their children to go to school and timed when his wife was out of the bathroom, he started chopping her. She was still in her towel.

They had seven children together. The kids are now with family members.

Grisly pictures from the hospital show more than five deep cuts on the arm which could barely hold to the body.

The source said there were similar cuts on different parts of her body and there is a high probability that both her arms will be amputated, if she survives.

The victim was identified as Asterie Kubwimana a nurse at the Rwanda Military Hospital attached to the maternity section. 

The source told The New Times that it appears the suspect had meticulously planned to murder his wife.

Prior to the attack, he deleted pictures from his social media accounts.

On the fateful morning, after the attack, he locked her inside the house and fled with the keys.

Passersby saw blood flowing from their home, causing suspicion. They immediately alerted the police and broke into the house.

She was found barely alive and was immediately rushed to the hospital in critical condition. By press time, she was still under intensive care.

The source said that she was lucky to be alive and probably survived because of the curious passersby. It was within less than an hour, between the attack and when she got to the hospital.

Modeste Mbabazi, RIB spokesperson told The New Times that his full identification and the details of his car have been shared so the public can help catch the suspect.

"We have launched the hunt for the suspect as we continue to investigate the motive behind the attack,” he said

Mbabazi urged the public to be on the lookout and alert any security agency should they have any information that can lead to his arrest.

"Anyone with information that can lead to his arrest should inform us,” he said.