Police Officers Arrested for Covert Burial of Detained Congolese National

Three police officers attached to the Nyabwishenya Police Post in Kisoro District and two civilians are in custody following the death of a Congolese national in police detention. The deceased, identified as Uwimana, 30, died on May 7, 2026, a day after reportedly being assaulted by two civilian suspects and others still at large.

Uwimana was allegedly attacked at a drinking spot on May 6 for threatening the suspects. He was subsequently handed over to Nyabwishenya Police Post and detained on charges of threatening violence. The following morning, he was found dead in his cell.

According to Kigezi Police Spokesperson, ASP Elly Maate, instead of reporting the death to the District Police Commander, the arrested officers, along with the two civilians, proceeded to bury the body secretly under the cover of darkness. They allegedly informed the deceased’s relatives that he had been released.

Tensions rose on Friday, May 8, when a group of Congolese nationals entered Uganda and confronted the police post, demanding information about their compatriot. This incident prompted an investigation ordered by the District Police Commander, leading to the arrests and the discovery of the clandestine grave.

An exhumation is currently underway to facilitate a postmortem examination before the body can be repatriated to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Police authorities have strongly condemned the actions and vowed a thorough investigation into the matter. “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 stated.