Rwandan fashion designer Moses Turahirwa recently took to social media alleging that he was attacked by a gang in Musanze District. According to his post on February 24, the assailants killed his dog, stabbed him, and left him with serious injuries. However, Rwanda National Police have refuted these claims, stating that the incident was a dispute with local residents and not a targeted attack. ALSO READ: Police investigate attack on fashion designer Moses Turahirwa Speaking to The New Times, Superintendent of Police (SP) Jean Bosco Mwiseneza, the Northern Region Police Spokesperson, clarified that the incident occurred on Sunday, February 23, in Gatovu Village, Gataraga Sector, and was linked to a disagreement over livestock. “Turahirwa was walking from his construction site with his dog when it startled a tied-up sheep, causing it to break free and run away,” Mwiseneza explained. “The people in the area started looking for the sheep, believing it had been bitten by the dog. Eventually, they found that a resident had tied it up, claiming it had damaged his crops and demanding compensation before releasing it,” he added. According to the police spokesperson, Turahirwa agreed to resolve the issue and left one of his workers behind to discuss the matter. However, bystanders misunderstood the situation, assuming he was walking away without paying for the damages. Tensions quickly escalated, and some individuals confronted him, demanding immediate compensation. During the altercation, a relative of the sheep’s owner began beating Turahirwa’s dog. “When Moses realized they were arguing and attacking his dog, he ran away and immediately called the police,” Mwiseneza said. “The police responded and launched an investigation into the matter.” Contrary to the allegations of a violent assault against Turahirwa, Mwiseneza stated that he was not beaten or physically harmed. However, his dog was killed during the dispute. Authorities have since arrested three individuals, who are currently detained at Muhoza Police Station in Musanze as investigations continue. “Moses did not deliberately release his dog to harm the sheep,” Mwiseneza emphasized. “Even if there was a disagreement, it should have been settled peacefully through dialogue rather than taking matters into their own hands, attacking the dog, and attempting to confront him. He could have faced serious harm while trying to escape the situation.” While the investigation is still ongoing, police have urged the public to resolve disputes lawfully rather than resorting to violence. Turahirwa, who has been a key figure in Rwanda’s fashion industry, has not made any further public statements following the police clarification.
