Kisoro LC1 Chairperson Accused of Blocking Repatriation of Congolese Body Over UGX 200,000 Bribe

Kisoro: Residents of Busigi Village in Mupaka Town Council, Kisoro District, are accusing their LC1 Chairperson, Johnson Ngomanziza, of blocking the repatriation of a deceased Congolese national’s body to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) unless the family paid him an unlawful fee of 200,000 Ugandan Shillings.

The incident followed the death of Sadic Bunani, a 19-year-old Congolese national who passed away in Uganda on October 10, evening.

According to Florida Ntakirutimana, who is the aunt of the deceased and a resident of Busigi Village, Bunani was traveling from Kampala to his home in the DRC while seriously ill. He stopped at her home in Kisoro around 2:00 PM to rest but sadly passed away at about 6:00 PM.

Ntakirutimana said that when she reported the matter to the LC1 chairperson, he arrived with a group of men who allegedly assaulted her. She was later rescued by neighbors and taken to a nearby clinic for treatment. She further alleged that the chairperson demanded UGX 200,000 before allowing the body to be taken across the porous Uganda-DRC border for burial.

Cue in…Florida RR.

The deceased’s mother, Rose Uzamukunda, confirmed that when the family arrived in Uganda to collect the body, they were stopped by the LC1 chairperson, who insisted on payment before releasing it. Unable to meet the demand, the family was forced to return to the DRC with their traditional stretcher, leaving the body behind.

Rose added that her son had traveled to Kampala for casual work without informing the family and was returning home to seek medical treatment when he died.

Cue in… Rose RR.

Rutabagisha Emmanuel, a local leader from Songa Parish in Busanza Sub-county, Rutshuru, North Kivu Province (DRC), condemned the LC1’s actions, saying he should have acted as a role model for the community. Emmanuel said he contacted Ugandan authorities at the Mupaka border, who later intervened and allowed the body to be transported peacefully to the DRC for burial.

Cue in… Emmanuel RR.

Residents of Busigi have since called on the Kisoro District Police and the Office of the Resident District Commissioner to take action against Ngomanziza. They want him arrested, held accountable for assaulting Florida, and compelled to pay her medical bills.

Cue in… Residents Vox Pop..RR.

Our news reporter attempted to reach LC1 Chairperson Johnson Ngomanziza for comment, but efforts were unsuccessful as he did not respond to repeated phone calls.