Rapist, Mbani, Arrested in Buhweju
Police in Buhweju District have arrested Herbert Mujuni also known as Mbani on allegations of raping two minors and impregnating one of them. Mujuni, a resident of Rukyeri village in Kashenyi-Kajani Town Council, had been hiding prior to his arrest on Sunday October 24 after residents, following a tip-off, apprehended him and handed him over to Nsiika Police Station.
Local residents describe Mujuni as a serial rapist who has terrorized the community for some time. Several women claim to have reported his assaults to the police, but they allege that investigations into their cases have been compromised with files going missing.
His first victim, 17-year-old (name withheld), a student at Butare Senior Secondary School, was raped nine months ago and recently gave birth to a baby boy at Butare Health Centre III. Both mother and child are reported to be in good health.
The second victim, a 17-year-old P7 pupil (name withheld) at United Junior School was assaulted on October 9, 2024. She was approached by Mujuni while returning home from a nearby trading center where she had gone to buy salt and was allegedly offered a bottle of soda and lured into a situation of molestation by the suspect.
Julius Mwesigye, the first suspect’s father, shared that his daughter had experienced severe stomach pains for a week which kept her from attending school. It was only later that they realized she was in labor. Mwesigye revealed that Mujuni had threatened his daughter with death and money to prevent her from reporting the incident.
The mother of the second victim said that her daughter was seriously injured while she made attempts to resist and needed medical attention and psycho-social support to heal from the ordeal.
Buhweju District Police Commander Timothy Sekamanya Ndawula confirmed that Mujuni is currently in police custody and stated that an investigation into the allegations is underway. The community is hopeful that this time, justice will be served and the pattern of abuse will be addressed adequately.
