Priest summoned again over Genocide charges

MUHANGA – A Gacaca Court in Kabgayi, on Sunday, summoned yet again Father Jospephat Hitimana, a former catholic priest, over the death of a Genocide victim, Thomas Ruhakana. Hitimana, who is also the former Rector of the Catholic University of Kabgayi (UCK), had on July 29 been cleared of the charges due to insufficient evidence, by a Kicukiro Gacaca Court. However, Augustine Ngamba Ngayaboshya, a family member of the victim, appealed against the verdict. Ngamba has made a submission that he has fresh evidence linking the accussed to the death of the victim. He informed the court that Ruhakana was killed because the accused deliberately refused to rescue him. During Sunday’s hearing the accused stood his ground denying the charges, saying he was never involved in the killings at Kabgayi Diocese. He argued that he instead risked his life by saving people.Defence witnesses including survivors also attest that Hitimana saved most of them and was not involved in the alleged killing. The case resumes on Saturday September 5, with more witnesses expected to testify.