Rwanda National Police

Police in Nyagatare is holding a 40 year old woman identified as Leoncie Mukanzobe for allegedly killing and dumping her own baby girl in a pit latrine.

Mukanzobe, a single mother of four children was arrested on September 2.

Police said the incident came to light after the eldest daughter of the suspect became suspicious and decided to call the police 112 emergency line.

“Police officers immediately intervened, collaborated with area residents and retrieved the body of the victim from approximately 20 meter pit-latrine,” IP Emmanuel Kayigi, Police spokesperson for the Eastern Province, said.

Mukanzobe, who acknowledged dumping her ten days baby girl, however, argued that the deceased was already dead at the time she dumped her in a pit.

She alleged that the baby had died of natural illness although she couldn’t explain why she took the inhuman decision to dump the body in a pit.

She is currently detained at Rwimiyaga Police Station as investigation into the matter is still ongoing.

“This is a wild act that shouldn’t be entertained in a Rwandan society,” IP Kayigi said.

“It is unbearable that a parent who should be assuming full parental responsibilities could turn evil against her own child. Every born child has a right to live, what this woman did is a criminal offence, such acts are unacceptable and cannot be tolerated,” he said.

He hailed the bravery of the daughter, who fought for the life of the new born sister, “although it is unfortunate that the life wasn’t saved” and appealed to the general public to “pick a lesson” and stand up for any illegal or criminal acts.

It is said that the eldest daughter saw her mother carrying something is the cloth and dumping it in their pit few metres away from their house in Rwimiyaga in Nyarupfubire cell.

After failing to locate the baby girl in the house, she approached her mother, who reacted angrily towards her, which prompted her to use the help of Police.

Statistics from the Rwanda National Police Anti-GBV and Child Protection Office indicate that between 2012 and 2014, at least 40 cases infanticide were reported, each year.

At least 69 cases of parents or guardians abandoning their defendants were also recorded during the same period.

Killing own child, also known as infanticide, is punishable by a life sentence, under article 143 of the Rwandan penal code.

Child abandonment, on the other hand, attracts a term of imprisonment of between two to five years and a fine between Rwf20, 000 and Rwf100, 000.