Rugombo : two men caught red-handed stealing electrical installations

Last Monday, residents at the 6th avenue, in Kagazi village, Rugombo district, Cibitoke province (northwest Burundi), surprised two men stealing electrical installation equipment. This episode almost turned into a tragedy, as the population considered taking justice into their own hands before the security forces intervened.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

The concerned people include Célestin Nimbona, alias Matara, a Regideso* collaborator, and Aaron Nsaguye, a member of the CNDD-FDD party youth league (Imbonerakure). They were caught red-handed with several conductive wires and an electric meter.

The two men are currently held in the provincial police cell, awaiting their judicial trial. According to the local head of Regideso, Georges Icintije, investigations are underway to shed light on this case. However, he rejects any involvement of his colleagues in these acts of theft.

A recurring phenomenon

This case is unfortunately not isolated. According to an administration source, the theft of Regideso equipment is increasing sharply. In just three months, the losses recorded in the districts of Rugombo and Buganda are enormous :

•Rugombo district (villages of Kagazi, Mparambo 1 and 2) : 20 electricity meters and 18 water meters stolen.

•Buganda district (villages of Gasenyi, Kaburantwa and Ndava-village) : 23 electricity meters and 16 water meters stolen.

Some of the stolen objects are reportedly resold in the DR Congo, on the other side of the river Rusizi, or in Bujumbura, the commercial capital.

Consequences and expectations

This situation occurs in a context where the demand for electricity and water meters is constantly increasing. Residents express their exasperation at these repeated thefts, which they attribute in part to the complicity of certain agents of the company in charge of distributing water and electricity.

They urge competent authorities to take dissuasive measures to stem this scourge. “It is urgent that those responsible show rigor in order to restore confidence in public services,” said a resident.

Georges Icintije, the head of the Regideso branch in Cibitoke, confirms the arrests while emphasizing that judicial investigations will make it possible to determine responsibilities.

A fight to be intensified

While investigations continue, the fight against the theft of equipment remains a priority for the population and local authorities. The challenge is to identify and sanction involved networks while strengthening surveillance on the ground. Expectations are high that concrete actions will be taken to preserve electrical and hydraulic installations, which are essential to local development.

Regideso * : Water and electricity distribution authority in Burundi

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A street in the district of Rugombo where the theft of electrical installations has become commonplace (SOS Médias Burundi)