WESTERN PROVINCE

NYAMASHEKE — Police in Nyamasheke district are holding a doctor for allegedly raping a patient who died later after an operation.

Dr Richard Kalala Mbuyi, 37, a Congolese national working at Bushenge Hospital in the Nyamasheke district, is alleged to have raped Philomene Bugenimana (36) on February 4.

Police at Ntendezi Police post where he is currently being detained told The New Times that the woman went to Bushenge Hospital after suffering five miscarriage.

Dr Mbuyi then advised her to undergo an operation because of ‘internal swelling in the uterus.’

According to police, when the woman went for the operation the doctor took advantage of her weakness to first rape her while in the theatre room, before operating her.

At that time of the incidence the lady was unconscious but later when she regained her senses she reported the matter to the hospital’s administration, police say.

After the operation however, her health deteriorated and she was transferred to Kibogora Hospital also in Nyamasheke where she underwent another operation on February 7, but she succumbed to death on that same day.

The Director of Bushenge Hospital, Dr Alfred Twagiramungu confirmed to The New Times that the deceased had reported to him the rape incidence.

Twagiramungu explained that the deceased reported that before her operation she noticed Mbuyi wearing a condom and she somehow shouted for help but her shouts were  not loud enough.

Twagiramungu further disclosed that Mbuyi had a bad track record. Months ago, he said, in late 2008, two patients including a woman and a senior four student also reported to hospital management that Dr Mbuyi attempted to rape them.

The last incidence came after he had been issued with the last warning, he added. Mbuyi has been working at Bushenge hospital for the last one and a half years as a doctor. However, speaking to The New Times from the police custody, Mbuyi denied the allegations.

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