SOUTHERN PROVINCE

MUHANGA — Gemma Uwimana, the leader of Ruli cell, Nyamabuye sector has been summoned by Muhanga police for allegedly inciting violence.

Uwimana appeared before police on Saturday October 11 and was interrogated for hours on why she stopped local defence personnel from demolishing her illegally constructed house in Ruli cell.

Sources say she incited area residents against the local defence personnel who had been sent to demolish her house last month- leading to aggression and sharp verbal exchange.

The local defence personnel were acting on the orders of the district lands office.
Police sources were mum to comment on the charges, but other sources said that Uwimana has been accused by the district lands office of sabotaging the new construction regulations.

According to the sources, the lands office has written to the Mayor of Muhanga calling on Uwimana to resign or get imprisoned for the alleged action.  

However, Uwimana denied the allegations and said that the residents only came to her rescue after the local defence personnel injured her during the demolition.

"I didn’t incite anybody. Residents are mature enough to know what is right and wrong. I was caught up in a situation as I tried to express my views, and when I was beaten up, the residents ultimately intervened causing chaos,” Uwimana said while being held at police.
"It is okay if I am to resign but in this case it is unfair because I built that house as a needy genocide survivor and its demolition is like a double tragedy,” she added.

In a previous interview, the district lands officer, David Dushimimana, criticised Uwimana’s act of building illegally and resisting the demolition, saying it offered a bad exemple being a leader.

"Strict measures were to be taken against all cell leaders so as to avoid illegal constructions and for residents to abide by the new housing regulations,” Dushimimana stated.

However, residents in the area say that there is no prior information and sensitisation about the district master plan.

"There are many shanty buildings in the area because it is a remote area for the poor and some people have been caught up because they can’t complete their houses.

But I think it is unfair to demolish a poor persons’ house even if constructed illegally,” a resident noted.

The house demolition exercise that started late last month in Nyamabuye sector, has met resistance and lots of complaints from residents who allege corruption and unfairness in the process.

Residents of Ruli have also asked that the case of Uwimana should be tabled in a meeting between all residents and the district lands office, and her resignation has not been welcomed by residents.

Ends