KARONGI - Police in Karongi District are holding two women who allegedly attempted to bewitch another woman with the intention of killing her.

Daphrose Nkundunkundiye, 39, and one only identified as Gatarina, both residents of Kagabiro cell, Mubuga Sector were arrested and handed over to police by local leaders and concerned residents.

They were found in possession of witchcraft paraphernalia which triggered off immediate action from the concerned residents.

According to Charles Rusine, the coordinator of Kagabiro cell, Nkundunkundiye attempted to escape before she was cornered. After being pinned down she accepted to reveal the intentions and whereabouts of her colleague.

"When I suspected that she was up to no good and I tried to get close to her, she ran off before I called out for help from the locals. But we eventually caught up with her. She is well known for engaging in such practices,” Rusine said.

Meanwhile, further reports have revealed that Nkundunkundiye’s husband identified as Baragahoranye Habyarimana is also on the run after he was implicated in genocide related crimes.

"Perpetrators of the Genocide who are at large use such people to finish off survivors for fear that they could testify against them in case they are arrested,” Rusine claimed.
However, after the arrest, Nkundunkundiye denied that her intentions were to murder a Genocide witness, saying that she is actually  a traditional healer.

Residents say witchcraft is a common practice in this area.
Early this year, the residents said, a family was bewitched leaving one member dead and another paralyzed while another girl recently became mentally disturbed after succumbing to alleged witchcraft.

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