Police on Sunday arrested five people in connection with last Thursday’s grenade attack in Ruhango, Southern Province in which two people were killed. A 5-year old girl was also seriously injured during the attack.

Police spokesperson, Supt. Eric Kayiranga confirmed the arrests.

"We have managed to arrest the planner of the grenade attack,” Kayiranga told The NewTimes yesterday.

During the attack, Onesphore Ngendahayo, 40, and his pregnant wife Clara Uwambayinzobe died instantly. Their daughter, Rachael Giramata, sustained injuries.

Police said the prime suspect is Wellars Habari Habimana, a former genocide convict who was released recently.
Habimana’s other accomplices; Saverie Habiyaremye and Gregory Mpayimana- a local defense officer, allegedly shared a drink with Ngendahayo hours before the fatal incident.

Police said Habimana had during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi participated in the killing of Ngendahayo’s family.

When Gacaca Courts were established, Ngendahayo accused him and the suspect was subsequently arrested.
But years later, Habimana was acquitted for lack of enough evidence.

"Ngendahayo was dissatisfied with the ruling and petitioned the Gacaca leadership. The court was going to hear this case again but the accused decided to eliminate him instead,” Kayiranga explained.

The suspects are being detained in Muhanga.
The explosion happened on Thursday evening at around 9pm in Muhororo cell, Byimana sector in Ruhango district.

According to the injured child, the attackers knocked on the door and asked the infant to switch on the light in the house, before detonating the grenade.

The late Ngendahayo had testified in several genocide trials and had alerted district authorities of his insecurity and death threats, relatives allege.

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