Kisoro businessman arrested over shooting that claimed cyclist's life

Police in Kisoro have arrested a businessman for the alleged murder by shooting a 20-year-old bodaboda cyclist identified as Erasmus Sekanoheri. The murder took place at Rukoro Village, Nyakabingo Parish, Cyanika town council in Kisoro district on December 23.

According to Charles Okoto, the Kisoro district Police commander, the detained man is suspected to have useful information concerning the murder of Sekanoheri.

Without divulging details, Okoto said said: "We are having in custody a suspect connected to the recent shooting in Cyanika and we are still interrogating him."

He added that Kisoro is unique due to the fact that it borders two countries (Rwanda and DR Congo), arguing there are a lot of rebel activities in Congo which make thugs in the district easily access guns.

He explained that some guns entered the district in 2012 and 2013 during wars where some soldiers ran out of the DR Congo to Uganda and the guns left behind have since been used to rob and kill people in some areas of the district. He, however, said some guns have been recovered from communities.

"Close to a year now, we have recovered over nine guns from the district and now, these other guns have remained in hands of wrong elements who are trying to disorganise the country. However, we are not seated as security; we have intelligence on ground and we are making a follow up to crack down these criminals," said Okoto.

The Kisoro resident district commissioner (RDC) Shafiq Sekandi told New Vision that there was too much excitement towards Christmas season characterised by massive shopping sharing money from local cooperatives which made some to be targeted by robbers.

"We warned people to take pre-cautions, but robbers took advantage and trailed some people escalating to the armed robberies and murder," he stated.

Sekandi urged communities to embrace neighborhood-watch and co-operation with security agencies by reporting any suspicious characters as a way of controlling the further occurrence of crimes.

"We decided to carry out operations before Christmas and about 120 people were nabbed by Police. 12 sub-counties in the district had peaceful Christmas apart from some parts of Chahi and Nyarusiza in Bufumbira South Constituency," he added.

The Bufumbira South MP Sam Bitangaro called for increased joint patrols between Police and the army. He also said more sensitisation concerning the prevention of crime should be carried out by leaders.

"People must be security0conscious because criminals take advantage of festive days to cause mayhem.

So far I have heard of three insecurity cases; the other day a lady was shot in legs and she is now in Mutolere Hospital, then the bodaboda rider was killed in Cyanika and now last night was murdered in Nyarusiza sub-county, Rukongi Parish," he explained.