Following claims by the family of late Assinapol Rwigara linking the decision by the City of Kigali authorities on the redevelopment of their plots in Kiyovu, to the death of the businessman, Rwanda National Police (RNP) and the City of Kigali (CoK) clarified that issues surrounding the incident were handled "professionally.”

Rwigara died in a fatal road accident in Kagugu Cell of Kinyinya Sector in Gasabo District in February this year.

There have been circulating reports by family members, including the wife of the deceased, Adeline Mukangemanyi, challenging the structural audit and decision by the City of Kigali which has since directed that two sections of the commercial building in Kiyovu constructed without authorization and at risk of collapsing, be razed down.

However, the two public organs have challenged these allegations saying all issues surrounding these incidents were handled professionally and followed standard procedures.

"Immediately after the unfortunate road accident that claimed the life of Assinapol Rwigara, Police intervened and conducted its investigations and family members were informed on every development. Even when the family raised other concerns surrounding the incident later, further systematic and thorough investigations were conducted and findings were also shared with the family, who expressed that their concerns were addressed and revealed that their accusations were just based on hearsay,” CSP Celestin Twahirwa, RNP Spokesperson, said.

"Last week, Mukangemanyi was summoned following utterances against the State associating City of Kigali decision to the death of her husband.”

Meanwhile, authorities in the City of Kigali have also clarified that the building in question was erected without following the granted construction permit guidelines.

"All decisions that were taken against the building and even another undeveloped plot in Kiyovu, followed proper procedures,” Fidèle Ndayisaba, the Mayor of City of Kigali, said.

The undeveloped plot has since been confiscated by Nyarugenge District after the owner failed to meet the deadline for developing it.

Under normal circumstances, every acquired plot is supposed to be developed within a period of three years, and Mayor Ndayisaba clarified that the owner had exceeded the deadline before the final decision was taken.

"Spreading rumours and attempt to alarm the population is an act punishable by the law. Rwanda is a country which respects rule of law. Rwigara’s family is not above the law despite what has befallen them. It doesn’t change respect of the law,” CSP Twahirwa said.

He appealed to the general public to always abide by the law and work with relevant institutions to resolve any problem at hand, instead of resorting to spreading rumours with unfounded claims through any means of communication.

Genesis of the problem 

One of the properties in question is Premier Hotel which was found to have not met the minimum requirements for safety regulations.

The building on plot number 652 in Kiyovu Cell, Nyarugenge District in the City of Kigali (CoK), was initially the family’s residence but the owners later changed it into a hotel.

In a letter dated July 14, the City Mayor Fidele Ndayisaba, instructed the family to remove the illegally built 'sections A and B' of the structure not later than August 15. The sections were build without city authorisation.

City authorities earlier commissioned a consultant, Saint Joseph Engineering Company (SJEC), to carry out a structural audit to ensure that the building’s structure is safe and serviceable.

The consultant found that the owners allegedly were not willing to share the paper work indicating the structural adjustments as the building was remodeled in into a hotel.

As per a consultant’s report seen by The New Times, changes were done on the structure in various steps of reconstruction.

The SJEC report dated June 30, 2015 further indicates that today, the finishing works "are ongoing and the client has a building with basements and three to five floors.”

"To serve this purpose, the client provided additional columns passing through the existing slab, and he cast a new one above. The old columns remained part of the structure on the top,” reads part of the report.