GICUMBI - A 37-year old man is being held at Byumba Police Station for allegedly defiling a 15-year old girl.
Faustin Bunane Rugigana, the chairman of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) in Gicumbi District, is said to have committed the crime last Sunday, after carrying the girl on his motorcycle from Byumba to his home in Gaseke trading centre.

"Upon reaching Rukomo trading centre, Rugigana proceeded with the girl to Gaseke trading centre along the Gatuna-Kigali highway, from where he bought the girl roasted goat’s meet in a local bar. He later proceeded with her to his house in the centre,” said sources at Byumba Police station.

The source added the suspect was arrested early Monday by Gaseke residents who were carrying out night patrol. Residents had seen him take the girl to his house the night before.

"The girl reported she was defiled by Rugigana. She was taken to Byumba Hospital for medical check up and investigations into the defilement charges are still continuing,” it added.

Meanwhile, PSD has condemned the act and disassociated itself from Rugigana’s action.

At a ‘crisis meeting’ held at their Byumba town office yesterday, party officials appointed Jules Furaha and Christine Katusiime as coordinators of party presidential campaign, in the absence of the district party chairman.

The meeting also appointed Aloys Muhire as the Treasurer and Dieudonne Ndereyimana as the secretary.
"Rugigana is not a person of integrity. He is a drunkard who even left our official documents in a Kigali bar recently,” said Furaha.

PSD legislator, Adolph Bazatoha, who is also the party’s Gasabo District chairman, said Rugigana’s crime should not be linked to the party.

"Let the law take its own course, because nobody is above it,” he said.

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