WESTERN PROVINCE

RUSIZI — Police in Kamembe Sector, Rusizi District are holding two school directors for falsifying figures of students sponsored by the Fund for Support of Genocide Survivors (FARG), in an attempt to swindle money.

The suspects Alphonse Nkunzurwanda, the headmaster of Butambamo Secondary School and Damian Bizimana, headmaster of Mibirizi Secondary School were arrested on Tuesday, April 21.

"Yes it’s true we have so far arrested two headmasters accused of falsifying the number of FARG students registered in the boarding section. According to our investigations their motive was to get much money from FARG compared to the exact amount they are supposed to get,” a police source said.

It added that, Bizimana registered 17 students at the school as boarders yet they are day scholars, while Nkunzurwanda registered four day scholars as boarders.

Another head teacher, Esperance Mukamana, of Groupe Scolaire Roho Mutagatifu reportedly indicated that over 10 FARG students are in boarding section yet they are all day scholars.

Police said Mukamana is on the run and security authorities are hunting for her.

Other head teachers who are implicated in the same scam include Aaron Mupenda, of Friend School of Kamembe, with seven students, and headmistress of Ecole secondaire de Gihundwe, Esperance Nyirahabimana, with over 10 students.

Eugene Kayiranga, the Director of Nyarushishi Centre De Formation de Jeunne (CFJ), is also alleged to have included four non existent students on his list.

Speaking to The New Times at Kamembe Police station, Hakizimana admitted to the anomaly, arguing that his intention was "to convince FARG leaders at the district to allow all students at school to become boarders.”

Police say further investigations into all schools across the district are ongoing to apprehend other possible culprits.

Ends