SOSUMO : three officials questioned after the unexplained disappearance of an engineer

SOS Médias Burundi

Rutana, November 4, 2026 — The disappearance of an engineer from the Moso Sugar Company (SOSUMO), in Burunga province, southern Burundi, has raised questions within the company. Three company officials were questioned on Tuesday, November 3, by the public prosecutor’s office at the Makamba Court of Appeal. The engineer has been missing since October 30.

Ismaël Mugisha, an engineer and deputy head of the agricultural equipment maintenance (MEA) department at SOSUMO, disappeared on Friday, October 30. He resided in the company housing in Gihofi v2ill, in the Gihofi zone of ​​Rutana district.

According to information gathered from his relatives, Mugisha left his home around 7:00 a.m. and went to work. He had explained to his family that he first needed to complete his biometric clocking in before returning to collect his cell phone, which had been out of order for several days, and then going back to work.

Since leaving, his family has had no news of him.

The circumstances of his disappearance remain unclear. That morning, heavy rains were falling on the region. Some of his colleagues claim to have seen him open and then close his office, while others say they didn’t see him. His last known movements are therefore not clearly established.

Disagreements over equipment maintenance

The engineer had worked at SOSUMO for about four years. According to several accounts gathered within the company, disagreements existed regarding the management and maintenance of agricultural equipment.

Internal sources explain that some equipment could be repaired by replacing defective parts, rather than by purchasing new machines. Mugisha reportedly advocated for this option when repairs were technically feasible.

Colleagues have raised suspicions of mismanagement and possible embezzlement in equipment maintenance and procurement. However, these accusations have not been substantiated by the courts.

Among those named in the testimonies are Arnaud Nikuze, head of the maintenance department and Mugisha’s direct supervisor; Jean Claude Ntwari, director of agriculture; and Aimé Clovis Irakoze, head of the legal department.

According to internal sources, Irakoze called the engineer on Thursday, October 29, the day before his disappearance. The content of this conversation is unknown, and at this stage, there is no evidence to establish a link between this call and the disappearance.

Colleagues also claim that Mugisha confided in them that he felt threatened by some of them. These testimonies remain to be verified as part of the investigation.

Three officials questioned by the prosecutor’s office

On Sunday, November 1st, two days after the disappearance, SOSUMO management distributed a notice in churches in Gihofi reporting that the engineer was missing.

This action drew criticism from some employees, who felt that the search should have been launched more quickly and that management should have provided more information about the circumstances of the disappearance. Some also questioned the format of the notice, particularly the absence of a clearly identifiable name or stamp of the signatory.

On Monday, November 2nd, agents from the National Intelligence Service (SNR) in Burunga province began an investigation. They visited SOSUMO management and the home of the engineer’s wife to gather information about his departure and who had last seen him.

On Tuesday, November 3, Arnaud Nikuze, Jean Claude Ntwari, and Aimé Clovis Irakoze were questioned by the public prosecutor’s office at the Makamba Court of Appeal in Burunga Province, where the company is located.

The hearing was conducted by Armand Bisesere, head of the prosecutor’s office. The three officials arrived in official vehicles and returned home after their questioning. Their summons does not, in itself, constitute proof of their involvement in the engineer’s disappearance.

According to internal sources, SOSUMO’s managing director, Rose Bahimbare, maintained relatively good professional relations with Mugisha. These same sources mention disagreements between her and certain officials in the agriculture and maintenance departments. This information has not been officially confirmed.

Originally from Gikurazo village, in the former district of Mabanda, now part of the district of Nyanza, in Burunga Province, Mugisha has been married for a year and four months and is the father of one child. According to people who know him, he is not a member of any political party.

Human rights organizations raise the alarm about enforced disappearances

The disappearance of the SOSUMO engineer comes amid ongoing human rights organizations denouncing enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, torture, and arbitrary arrests in Burundi. They specifically point to the lack of independent investigations, impunity, and the absence of legal repercussions in several cases. They demand that the alleged perpetrators of violations be identified and brought to justice.

These concerns are also voiced by Fortuné Gaëtan Zongo, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi. In his statements before UN bodies, he has reported information indicating enforced disappearances, summary or extrajudicial killings, torture, and ill-treatment. He emphasizes the need for independent investigations and an effective fight against impunity.

In the case of the SOSUMO engineer, the priority remains finding him alive and establishing the exact circumstances of his disappearance. His family has received no news of him while the investigation continues.

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Ismaël Mugisha, SOSUMO executive, has been missing for several days (DR/SOS Médias Burundi)