The body of a 30-year-old Congolese national who died while in detention at Nyabwishenya Police Station and was allegedly secretly buried by police officers and civilians linked to his arrest has been exhumed. The deceased, identified as Uwimana Ntirenganya, a resident of Mataba Village in Nyamagana-Busanza Groupement, Rutshuru Territory, North Kivu Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, died in police cells on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at around 8:00 am.
On Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at around 9:00 pm, Uwimana was drinking alcohol on the Ugandan side of the border with a group led by John Bosco Nsabimana and Mpunuseni Hakuzimana, both residents of Nyabwishenya Sub-county. During the drinking session, the group accused Uwimana of threatening them. They reported him to Nyabwishenya Police Station, and he was arrested and detained on allegations of threatening violence.
However, during the arrest, Uwimana was allegedly severely beaten by both civilians and police officers. After Uwimana was found dead in police detention, police officers identified as Corporal Wickliffe Musabimana, the Officer-in-Charge of Nyabwishenya Police Station, Police Constables Apeti Kizito and Moris Yebuze, together with complainants John Bosco Nsabimana and Mpunuseni Hakuzimana, allegedly secretly buried the body on land belonging to retired Rev. Christopher Mbereye.
When Uwimana’s relatives learned about his arrest and followed up on the matter at the police station, hoping to resolve it amicably, officers allegedly informed them that he had already been released. However, the relatives and other Congolese nationals became suspicious and continued searching for him. On Friday, May 8, 2026, a group of Congolese nationals crossed into Uganda and confronted the suspects, demanding to know Uwimana’s whereabouts. Police officers at Nyabwishenya Police Station reportedly managed to calm the situation, but allegedly failed to inform their superiors about the incident.
The matter later attracted the attention of Sowed Kyaise, the Busanza Border Internal Security Officer, who received intelligence that Congolese nationals were planning to attack the police station. He immediately alerted top district security authorities. Security officers who responded to the scene reportedly described the matter as scandalous and ordered the arrest of Musabimana, Kizito, Yebuze, Hakuzimana, and Nsabimana. On Tuesday afternoon, the suspects reportedly led Kigezi regional police officials to the burial site where Uwimana had allegedly been secretly buried. His body was exhumed and taken to Kisoro Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination.
Senior Superintendent of Police Benon Wathum, who led the operation, asked residents to remain calm and continue trusting security agencies despite the incident. Wathum encouraged the public to continue reporting challenges to the police, noting that Nyabwishenya Police Station has since received new officers. He said the deceased’s body will be handed over to relatives for a decent burial after the postmortem examination is complete.
Retired Rev. Christopher Mbereye, the owner of the land where the body was allegedly buried secretly, said the incident has caused many residents to lose trust in Uganda’s security agencies. He called on the government to ensure the suspects are prosecuted and punished to serve as a warning to others. Mbereye also expressed concern over frequent cases of suspects allegedly being released from custody at Nyabwishenya Police Station without the knowledge of the complainants. The deceased is survived by two wives and nine children-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
