WESTERN PROVINCE
 
RUSIZI - A Banana plantation belonging to a genocide survivor has been burnt in Kamatita cell, Gihundwe sector in Rusizi district. According to police officials in Kamembe sector, the plantation was burnt at around 4:45pm last Monday.

Alloys Nsengiyumva, the owner of the plantation claimed that his plantation was set on fire by some of his neighbours who are genocide suspects after giving evidence against them during gacaca court trials.

"Unknown people burnt my banana plantation but I suspect this has something to do with the evidence I gave during the Gacaca trials” said Nsengiyumva.

Consequently three people suspected to have burnt the plantation have been arrested and they are currently detained at Kamembe police station, according to police.

The suspects include Phocas Ukwigize (51), Emmanuel Ukwitegetse (47) Claudette Nyirahabimana, 31.They were arrested on Monday evening after Nsengiyumva reported the incident at Kamembe police post.

Speaking to The New Times on Tuesday morning, Nsengiyumva alleged that the incident is a retaliation emanating from a decision by a genocide court, in which the trio were ordered to compensate him with Rwf70,000 for this house property and cows which they looted from Nsengiyunva’s home during the 1994 genocide.

"Both Ukwigize and Ukwitegetse are known genocidaires who hunted for me and my fellow family members during the 1994 Genocide.

They are among those who killed our parents and some of my brothers and sisters. I highly suspect them to be the masterminds of this act,”Nsengiyumva added.

When contacted for a comment at Kamembe police station, Ukwigize said "Honestly speaking we are not the ones who set on fire that plantation.

While it is true that we have had several sorts of  conflicts with Nsengiyumva since 1994,we are innocent on this one”.

He added that he had served his time for his past crimes whereby he was sentenced for 10 years on charges of genocide crimes at Cyangugu central and was released in 2007 on a  presidential pardon.

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