NORTHERN PROVINCE

Two people have been detained at Rubavu Police Station, in connection with the death of Marie Claire Umuhoza, a third year student at-ISAE Busogo, who drowned in Lake Kivu last week.

Forfani Muhawenimana and Eddie Habanabakize, were arrested a few days after the death of the students, but they denied responsibility for the death, claiming they instead tried in vain to save the deceased.

The Rubavu District Police Commander, Supt Emmanual Karasi, told The New Times that the investigations were complete and the two would soon be charged with murder.

He said that prosecution has collected enough evidence for the purposes of  pressing murder charges against the accused.

The deceased was part of the students’ university team which had traveled to Gisenyi for the gymnastics competitions along with Bralirwa, and another team from Burundi.

The Agro-Forestry student was a genocide orphan living with distant relatives.

Her body which was recovered on the second day after drowning by the army and police marines was later on buried at Remera burial grounds.

This was the second time in two years ISAE-Busogo has lost a student in a similar incident at the same beach.

After the tragic incident, the University Rector Dr Charles Karemangingo, said that the administration would decide on what measures to put in place in order to avoid similar accidents in future.

Area residents near Lake Kivu in Rubavu District say that TamTam beach is a deadly place which has claimed lives of many people over time. They attribute the problem to the rocks in the lake.

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