Residents of Rwankuba Sector in Karongi District woke up to a tragic incident after a 37-year-old woman was brutally killed by a man she had lived with for more than six years in an unregistered union. The 42-year-old suspect is accused of hacking her to death with a machete after allegedly becoming jealous and suspecting she was being unfaithful.
Events Leading Up to the Killing
The incident occurred on the night of November 18, 2025, in Winzira Village, Munini Cell. At around 9:40 p.m., the woman returned home from a local bar, only to find the man she lived with waiting for her with a machete. He attacked her immediately, inflicting fatal wounds.
According to information shared with local authorities, the couple had earlier been at the same bar. The man reportedly overheard the woman speaking on the phone with another man believed to be courting her. This reignited existing suspicions that she was seeing someone else, fueling his anger and pushing him to commit the crime.
Suspect Had Abandoned His Legal Family
Neighbors revealed that the suspect had a legally recognized family elsewhere, which he had abandoned before moving in with the victim. The two had been living together for more than six years without any legal recognition or protection.
After committing the crime, the suspect fled the scene but was arrested the following day, November 19, in Gitesi Sector at around 11:00 a.m. He is currently in police custody as investigations continue.
Authorities Call for Peaceful Conflict Resolution
The Executive Secretary of Rwankuba Sector, Nsabimana Félicien, expressed condolences to the victim’s family and condemned the act as both tragic and preventable. He urged couples to seek mediation instead of resorting to violence when faced with conflicts.
He stated: “Whenever disagreements arise within families or couples living together, there is leadership available from Isibo level to the Sector ready to offer guidance before situations escalate. We encourage people to resolve conflicts peacefully rather than resorting to violence.”
Nsabimana also advised residents to avoid illegal cohabitation and to refrain from taking the law into their own hands, noting that such choices often lead to devastating consequences for families and communities.
