A UPDF soldier and a police officer at the crime scene (Photo Credit Samuel Amanya)
Rubanda Police have finally arrested a businessman, who has been at large after burning his wife and three children to death. Vian Armstrong, 45, a resident of Habutorebe village in Butare parish, Muko sub-county torched his house using petrol around 10:30 PM on Saturday night.
His wife Rovinah Muheki 43, and children Edwin Tumworobere 17, Resty Akampumuriza 15, and Achila Ekinamushabire 05 burnt to death. After the incident, Armstrong fled into hiding. The Kigezi Region Police Spokesperson, Ely Maate, told our reporter that police picked up Armstrong in the wee hours of this morning from his hideout in the bushes in Habutobere village.
He explains that the suspect contacted one of Boda boda riders to help get away from Rubanda district, but the rider tipped off police.
Bernard Stephen Mbonabwiira, the Habutobere village LC 1 Chairman says that Armstrong developed a quarrel with his wife, whom he accused of managing their family shop leading to its collapse.
Mbonabwiira says that the feud between Armstrong and Muheki started about a year ago. He says that they kept counselling couple until two weeks ago when Muheki decided to open another shop, which angered Armstrong.
He argued that Muheki could have deliberately mismanaged the first shop to start another. Mbonabwiira says that Armstrong was cited a pump fuel station at Heiseseroin Muko trading center on Saturday evening buying petro.
Conrad Tumwesigye, an eyewitness says that after hearing the victims screaming for help, they rushed to their rescue but failed to contain the huge fire. Patrick Abeneimwe, the Muko sub-county LC3 chairperson says that Armstrong first locked the victims inside the house from outside to prevent them from escaping.
Tumwesigye explains that Armstrong also locked all the neighbours from outside so that they do not come to the rescue of his family members. He says that the office of the Sub County Community Development Officer tried to resolve the misunderstanding between the couple last week in vain.
