Rwanda National Police

Rwanda National Police (RNP) in partnership with other security organs and local leaders in Burera District, arrested four people in connection with stealing 550kgs of fertilizers.

The fertilizers supplied by the government to support farmers in Burera under 'Nkunganire Programme' to boost agricultural production, were at the time being smuggled to Uganda.

Burera District Police Commander (DPC), Superintendent of Police (SP) Aphrodis Nkundineza said the four suspects were arrested on Thursday, June 17, with 450kgs of fertilizers.

He identified the quartet as Fred Mbonigaba, 20, Didier Dushimimana, 20, Jean Bosco Habimana, 18, and Alphonse Nkurunziza, 20.

Other 100kgs, the DPC said, were recovered from other people on Saturday, June 19, who managed to flee during the operation.

Meanwhle, the four men intercepted with the 450kgs diclosed that they got the fertilizers from one Claude Ndungutse, who is still at large.

"Police received a call on June 17, at about 9am, from a resident of Kabira Village, Kamanyana Cell in Cyanika Sector reporting people carrying sacks containing unknown products heading to Uganda. In collaboration with other security organs, we arrested the four men with sacks of fertilizers weighing 450kgs," said SP Nkundineza.

He added: "The suspects said that they were hired by a farmer whom they identified as Claude Ndungutse to take the fertilizers to Uganda on promise to pay them Frw1,000 each, after delivering the fertilizers.

Efforts to track and arrest Ndungutse are still underway."

The DPC further explained that the 100kgs of fertilizers seized on June 19, were also being taken to Uganda.

He warned against selling or stealing fertilizers, which affects the government's agricultural output.

The DPC equally cautioned against illegal cross especially in this period which can lead to the spread of Covid-19.

The suspects were tested for Covid-19 and handed over to RIB at Cyanika stastion for further investigation.

Article 176 of law determining offenses and penalties in general states that any person who is given or entrusted with an item and who is obliged to return it or use it as instructed but who misappropriates, embezzles, scatters or gives it to another person, commits an offence.   
 
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than three (3) years and not more than  five (5) years and a fine of not less than Frw500, 000 and not more than Frw1 million.

Article 166 of the same law states that any person convicted for theft is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year and not more than two years and a fine of not less than Frw1 million and not more than Frw2 million, community service in a period of six (6) months or only one of these penalties.