Five suspects accused of strangling 64-year-old retired teacher Joy Ntwari Nyiramugisha in Kisoro District have been charged and remanded. The suspects are Angela Utuze, 22, and Angela Muhawemana, 20, both Rwandan nationals; William Nzamoye, 28, a boda boda rider; Isaac Nkurikiyimana, 27, a butcher; and Peter Ndagijimana, 20, a resident of Karumina Village, Central Division, Kisoro Municipality.
The incident occurred on June 26, 2024. Ntwari, a former teacher at Seseme Primary School, was found lying in the boys’ quarters of her home in Kamonyi Village, Northern Division, Kisoro Municipality, with visible signs of strangulation. She had recently sold a piece of land for 16 million shillings.
Investigations implicated the suspects after a television remote controller was recovered in a bar where they reside in Kamonyi Village. During police interrogation, all the suspects admitted to strangling Ntwari with the intention of stealing the 16 million shillings from her.
Appearing before the Grade One Magistrate’s Court on Friday afternoon, the suspects were charged with murder, contrary to sections 188 and 189 of the Penal Code. His Worship Dismus Mucherure, the Kisoro Grade One Magistrate, did not allow the accused to take a plea, stating that his court has no jurisdiction to hear the offense due to its grave nature. He remanded the suspects to Kisoro Government Prison until July 31, 2024, when they will be committed to higher courts.
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