Residents of Kiyanja Village in Nyamirama Sector, Kayonza District, want newly elected village leaders to prioritise security amid growing concerns over theft of crops and household property. The concerns came into focus on October 24, the election day, when village leaders and residents helped recover household items allegedly stolen from a resident’s home, including a mattress, bedsheets and other belongings. A suspect was apprehended and handed over to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) officers for questioning. Violet Nyiranshuti, a resident of Kiyanja, the area where the alleged theft took place, said repeated such offences had left families worried about their property and livelihoods. “New village leaders should be strong enough to help address these issues,” she said. Joel Mutabaruka, whose house was burgled, said he returned from work to find his belongings missing. “I am not the only victim; we have experienced such cases in the past,” he said. He thanked fellow village leaders for alerting him about the incident and helping bring the case to light. Theogene Karegeya, the village leader, said they launched an investigation after receiving information about the burglary and suspicions that the person responsible lived in the village. “We conducted an investigation after a resident informed us about theft at his home and believed the thief resides in our village. The quick sharing of information enabled us to monitor movements and unusual activities and behaviours until we came to find the thief,” he said. “At around 4am in the morning, we intervened and intercepted the stolen items, including the mattress, bedsheets and other goods.” Karegeya said the suspect had recently moved to the village from the Southern Province but had refused to disclose who allegedly sold him the mattress. He urged residents to help prevent crime by sharing information promptly and ensuring that newcomers are registered.
