PARLIAMENT - Lawmaker Bikoro Munyanganizi has resigned from his parliamentary seat just a few days after the Lower Chamber of Parliament lifted his immunity. He tendered in his resignation yesterday evening.

Parliament lifted his immunity to facilitate investigations into allegations that he evaded taxes. When contacted, Bikoro confirmed he had thrown in the towel but could not reveal further details.

"Yes, I have resigned…the parliament should tell you reasons for my resignation, I am not telling you more,” said Bikoro during a phone interview last evening.

Deputy Speaker in charge of legal affairs and supervision of government activities, Denis Polisi, confirmed the new development.

"He indicated in his letter that his resignation was based on personal reasons,” was all Polisi could say.

Bikoro’s immunity was lifted on the request of the Prosecutor General’s Office which sent a file detailing how the lawmaker allegedly evaded taxes.

It claimed that the legislator was involved in the case of a Spanish national, Luis Duenas Herrera and Rwandan Jean Bosco Bavakure, who were arrested after a tip-off by Rwanda Revenue Authority.

Herrera was the head of Espina Obras Hidraulicas, a water purifying company, while Bavakure, is an engineer with the National Drinking Water Purification Programme (PNEAR).

Espina was contracted to purify water from Nyabarongo River before being channeled to Electrogaz (National Power and Water Utility) system.

Bavakure is alleged to have helped secure a tax exemption for the company’s equipment to be used in purification works, but part of the consignment included house tiles that are suspected to have been used to build Bikoro’s house.

Bikoro is a first term lawmaker and a former Minister of State for Environment, Water and Mines in the Ministry of Natural Resources. He is also a senior agricultural scientist who has headed several government organs in Rwanda.

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