MP Mporanyi, Gakenke Mayor, appear before Gacaca court

HUYE - Theobald Mporanyi, a legislator from the Chamber of Deputies, on Wednesday appeared before the Ngoma Gacaca court to answer charges related to his alleged role in the Genocide committed at the National University of Rwanda where he was a student. Mporanyi who was a second year nutrition student at the National University of Rwanda in 1994 is accused of torturing Tutsi students at the University, inciting people to kill and being a member of a clique of students who committed Genocide at the University. According to Gacaca sources, Mporanyi, who was a member of the CDR political party, allegedly tortured Tutsi students at the University after the death of one Martin Bucyana who was the President of CDR in the area. It is also alleged that in an announcement aired on radio Rwanda, Mporanyi expressed support for the interim government after the death of the then President Juvenal Habyarimana. He denied all the charges.Appearing before the same court, Pierre Damien Hakizayezu, the Mayor of Gakenke District in the Northern Province also denied any role in the Genocide at the University. Hakizayezu, who was a final year student in the department of Economics, was an alleged accomplice during the Genocide at the Huye based University which claimed over 400 students and staff. He told court that he belonged to the MRND political party – a party made of people mainly from the Northern Province but denied any involvement in Genocide. The Mayor, who appeared composed, told the court about the events during the Genocide period at the National University and gave names of people who played a key role in the killings. The trial of the two officials was adjourned until next week. Ends