Kibungo Sector leader arrested for theft

EASTERN PROVINCE NGOMA — Executive Secretary of Kibungo Sector, Jack Bakundukize has been arrested over alleged theft of fertilisers. He was arrested a day after his transfer from the Remera Sector where he allegedly committed the offences. According to the police charge report, Bakundukize stole about 9.8 tonnes of fertilisers and 250.635 tonnes of organic manure meant to benefit farmers with terraced land in the Sector. The organic manure, according to police report, was used on his coffee farm in Rurenge Sector. The stolen fertilisers are part of the 24.5 tonnes the Sector received from the Rwanda Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) between December 2 and 4, 2008. His co-accused, Pacific Uwayisaba, is still at large. Uwayisaba was the agronomist overseeing terracing in the Sector who received the fertilisers. It is further alleged that Bakundukize never gave the fertilisers to the beneficiaries, but instead distributed them to his close friends in the Remera Sector, who are organised in a maize cooperative society with a French acronym COPCMR. Other charges include grabbing land from some area residents, claiming that it was a wetland, but he later put it to his personal use. Police say he will soon appear in court to answer the charges levelled against him. According to the law, once he is found guilty of theft of the fertilisers, he could be sentenced to between five and 25 years in jail or pay a fine of Rwf50, 000. Ends