Recently arrested, Dennis Kazungu, a Rwandan resident in Kigali, is currently detained awaiting his trial for murder. Authorities accuse him of killing at least twelve people in the Rwandan capital. This Tuesday, September 26, he appeared before the Kicukiro first instance court, the district where he resided and where his crimes were allegedly committed.
The continued detention of Dennis Kazungu was decided by the president of the Kicukiro court, due to the seriousness of the crimes with which he is accused as well as his lack of remorse, despite his guilty plea. The case attracted great attention in Rwanda, drawing crowds of curious people and relatives of the victims to the court gates. Facing the cameras of numerous local journalists and bloggers, Dennis Kazungu remained impassive, indifferent to the looks and cries of those who lost loved ones in this affair. Among them, Anastace Niyongira, whose 27-year-old niece disappeared last June and is believed to be one of the suspect’s victims.
The victims, mainly women working in the prostitution sector, were allegedly seduced by Dennis Kazungu in bars before being lured to his home where he robbed, raped and killed them. Twelve bodies were found in a hidden pit inside his kitchen, while authorities are still searching for two other victims, thanks to information provided by the suspect during his interrogations.
Anastace Niyongira expresses his sadness and hopes that justice will be done publicly. He also wants authorities to continue their investigations in the locations frequented by the suspect, as it is likely that there are other victims who have not yet been discovered.
Dennis Kazungu will remain in detention for thirty days awaiting trial. Before the judges, he declared that he had killed his victims because they would have infected him with HIV.
This shocking case raises many questions about the safety of sex workers, as well as the measures taken to protect citizens against such criminal acts. The Rwandan community hopes that justice will be delivered in a transparent manner, to prevent Dennis Kazungu from committing further crimes and to ensure that all victims receive justice.