HUYE - Students and staff at Groupe Scolaire Officiel de Butare were left in shock after one of the students at the school was found hanging in a nearby forest on Saturday.

The deceased, Kizito Maniraguha,  19, a senior four sciences student is believed to have hanged himself after being sent home over a theft case.

According to the school director, Father Celestin Rwirangira, the deceased student was sent home together with three others after they were suspected to have stolen property belonging to fellow students.

"As a disciplinary measure, we sent the quartet home to bring along their parents so that we could discuss their discipline problems. We were shocked to learn that one of them had taken his life,” said Father Rwirangira.

He described the deceased as ‘a well behaved boy’ and a ‘sportsman’ who played volleyball and handball on the school team.

"I met him at the volleyball courts on Thursday, I encouraged him to continue practicing so as to cement his place on the school team,” said the director.

"It is regrettable that he took such a decision, we are devastated by his death,” he added. 

A suicide note was found under the tree in which Maniraguha’s body was found hanging. On it, he wrote that he ‘was fed up with life on earth.’ Also inscribed on the note was his sister’s telephone number.

The body of the deceased was laid to rest in Kigali yesterday.

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