Kisoro armed robberies: Police, army recover gun at DR Congo border

Following the incidents of gun violence ranging from robberies to murder, the intelligence led operation carried out by army and Police in Kisoro has yielded the recovery of a shot gun 410 of barrel number B6182 riffle with six rounds of ammunition in Bunagana Town Council, along the district border of Eastern Congo. The recovered gun was marked C34904 and cocking handle marked M.

The operation is headed by Kisoro Resident District Commissioner Shafiq Sekandi, Regional Police Commander-Kigezi Denis Namuwoza and Lt. Col Muwanguzi the commanding officer of 35th battalion 

On December 23, a boda boda cyclist identified as Sekanoheri was shot dead in Cyanika and the next day, two more people were robbed on gun point in Muramba.
According to Denis Namuwoza, the gun and empty army porch were found in the home of one Saidat Ndangiza Mukasine 71 years, a widow who claimed that the gun belonged to her late husband Siraj Ndangiuza who died in 1999.

He said the Gun is "clearly serviced" an indication that it has been in Operation. Mukasine together with other five members of her family are currently at Kisoro Central Police Station as inquiries into the matter continue.

"We have arrested five members of her family to help Police to investigate on the matter. If her husband died in 1999, why it is that she has his Gun and who has been servicing it," said Namuwoza, adding that the gun will be taken to ballistic experts to find out whether it has been under use in criminal activities.

He also wondered: "Who was responsible for this Gun and why did family refuse to report it to Police and they wanted to keep a gun of the late for how long and for which Purpose."

Namuwoza explained that over 150 people who lacked proper identification documents were arrested at Bungana border .He said some of the arrested people claim to be refugees are supposed to be in camps.

Sekandi condemned the increased crime rates in the district, calling for vigilance from locals to always report any suspicious people in their areas of vicinity.

He lauded residents for being well behaved people during the operation because they did not fight any security officer and he advised people to always work with police to curb all criminal activities in Kisoro more especially in Bunagana and Cyanika.

Local's view
Zainabu Nyirashaka the Bunagana Village chairperson explained that residents have been living in fear over increased influx of Congolese and Rwandese, whom they thought, would cause serious security threat .She called for more regular house search in the area so that more guns can be recovered and criminals arrested.