Bururi : a man sentenced to a life jail for the murder of his wife

SOS Médias Burundi

Bururi, March 7, 2026 – The Bururi First Instance Court, in Burunga Province in the south of the small east African nation, sentenced Emmanuel Niyonkuru on Thursday to life imprisonment for the premeditated murder of his wife. The verdict was handed down following a summary trial.

According to the evidence presented in court, the man admitted to killing his wife, Gaudence Habonimana, on the night of February 27-28, 2026, at their home in Rukere village, in Matana district, in the same province.

In court, the defendant pleaded guilty. He claimed, however, that he committed the act in a fit of rage. According to his statements, the couple had been experiencing a period of tension for some time, marked by suspicions of infidelity.

After reviewing the case and hearing from various parties, the court found him guilty of premeditated murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

Following the hearing, Emmanuel Niyonkuru was returned to Bururi Central Prison, where he will serve his sentence.