Police officers arrested for secretly burying Congolese suspect who died in custody

Three police officers attached to Nyabwishenya Police Post in Kisoro District and two civilians have been arrested for secretly burying a Congolese who died in custody.

Kigezi Police Spokesperson, ASP Elly Maate, said the five, who are being held at Kisoro Police Station, secretly buried Uwimana, 30, on a land belonging to Bufumbiro North Member of Parliament, Mr Nizeyimana Kamara.

ASP Maate said the deceased was assaulted on May 6th, 2026, by the two civilian suspects and others who are still at large at around 9:00 pm from a drinking place after he threatened them.

He added that the suspect, now deceased, was handed over to Nyabwishenya Police Post, where he was charged with threatening violence and detained.

However, on 7th May, 2026, at around 8:00 am, he was found dead in custody.

ASP Maate said instead of informing the District Police Commander, and following due procedure, the officers, who include two Constables and a Corporal, together with the two civilians, buried his body silently under the cover of the night.

He added that when relatives inquired about the suspect`s whereabouts, the officers informed them that he had been released.

However, on Friday, May 8th, a group of Congolese crossed into Uganda, attacked the officers from the post, demanding their compatriot, forcing police authorities to intervene.

This prompted the arrest of the suspects on the DPC`s order, leading to the discovery of the grave, with an exhumation exercise underway for a postmortem.

‘’As I talk, efforts to exhume the body are being made so that the body is medically examined after which it will be handed over to relatives and repatriated back to its country of origin.” ASP Maate said

Committing that, “As police, we condemn this in the strongest terms, and we are going to do everything possible to ensure that we investigate this case to establish why these personnel did that.’’ ASP Maate said on Sunday.