Police in Kisoro District are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of 37-year-old Desire Irankunda, who was originally charged with aggravated robbery but later escaped from a hospital bed where she had been admitted.
Irankunda was lynched on Wednesday at around 10:00 p.m. in Bupfumfu Village, Rwaramba Parish, Nyakinama Sub-county in Kisoro District.
She had been arrested on May 13, 2025, along with five other suspects on charges of aggravated robbery. On May 20, 2025, the group was transferred to Mbarara Central Police Station at the request of the Flying Squad to facilitate further investigations into related robbery cases in the western region.
The suspects were returned to Kisoro on May 29, 2025. However, upon arrival, Irankunda reportedly developed health complications and was rushed to Kisoro Police Health Center. As her condition deteriorated, she was referred to Kisoro General Hospital for further treatment on June 2, 2025.
Two police officers, No. 75398 D/C Masereka Ronald (day shift) and No. 58490 D/C Musinguzi Alex (night shift) were assigned to guard her at the hospital. D/C Masereka handed over to D/C Musinguzi at 6:00 p.m. At around 9:00 p.m., Musinguzi reported that Irankunda had escaped from the hospital.
According to Elly Maate, the Kigezi Region Police spokesperson, efforts to re-arrest the suspect had been ongoing until around 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, when local residents spotted her in Bupfumfu Village and assaulted her to death.
Maate stated that a case file of murder by mob has been opened to aid in the investigation. The crime scene was visited, processed, and documented. The body was transported to Kisoro General Hospital for a postmortem examination.
