GICUMBI – Two people including a sector agricultural officer in Gicumbi district are in Byumba Police custody for allegedly selling a total of six bulls, meant for poor residents under the Ubudehe program.

According to Ildephonse Butera, Gicumbi district Vice Mayor for Economic Affairs, the duo, Jean Paul Nshimiye, officer in-charge of health, and Giti Sector agronomist John Kabaharira were arrested following the ongoing campaign to redistribute cows.

Byumba Police said the suspects’ files are complete and have been forwarded to Gicumbi prosecution department. ‘They face charges of misappropriation,” said the police source.  

Butera added that Kabaharira is said to have conspired with the former Giti Sector Executive Secretary to sell off the bulls.

They sold the bulls on grounds that the animals had grown old, he said.

"It is only the Ubudehe committees comprised of local poor residents that have powers to sell off the bulls and use the money for other priorities, but not the sector authorities.”

Meanwhile, Butera disclosed that over 1800 cows have so far been returned out of 2014 cows which were in wrong hands.

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