Police in Rubavu have arrested Christopher Kalisa, the former executive secretary of the district, over misappropriation of public funds and corruption-related charges. This was confirmed yesterday by Police spokesperson CSP Celestin Twahirwa, who declined to divulge further details because investigations were still ongoing. Kalisa served as executive secretary until last month when the district advisory council ordered him to resign alongside the district mayor, Hassan Bahame, and his two vice-mayors, Ezechiel Buntu, in charge of economic affairs; and Rachel Rusine Nyirasafari of social affairs. The trio was asked to step down to pave way for investigations into corruption and misappropriation of district funds. He was arrested on Monday evening but his arrest became public on Tuesday. His arrest comes days after police arrested Mayor Bahame and the district Notary, Judith Kayitesi. The duo was accused of receiving a bribe worth Rwf4 million from a local contractor who wanted land titles from the district officials fast-trucked. Kayitesi admitted the allegations maintaining that she was acting on the directive of the mayor who allegedly tasked her to meet a contractor and finalise the “deal”, accusations the ex-mayor rejected, saying the former only wanted to tarnish his image. Both are held on remand after being denied bail pending further investigations. Twahirwa, however, said that preliminary investigations absolved the two vice-mayors of any criminal responsibility. Currently, the district is provisionally led by Marie Jeane Kaduhoze. Elected last week, Kadukuze was the secretary to the District Council and head teacher at Inyemeramihigo College.
