Mystery over death of Umutara varsity lecturer deepens
The abrupt death of a lecturer at the University of Rwanda- Nyagatare campus (former Umutara Polythenic) who died on December 3 in Uganda where he had gone to visit his relatives has taken a new twist as family members claim the death was “politically motivated.”
The death of Patrick Kagabo shocked many friends and fellow lecturers at the University who say the deceased had never complained of any illness prior to his death.
Details about the cause of his death are still scanty.In one version, the deceased died of heart related complications basing on an autopsy carried out in Mbarara Hospital in Uganda.
However, Great Lakes Voice has reliably learnt that this version has been disputed by family members who claim their relative could have been bumped off by those who never wanted Kagabo to marry his wife Florence Kobugyeyo.
Great Lakes Voice could not independently verify this claim by press time whether there was foul play in the death of this lecturer as family sources allege. All family members who spoke to us declined to go on record, saying the matter is highly sensitive.
Key event
Sometimes in 2010, a disagreement development in the family of Kagabo-few days after his wedding preparations kicked off. During his wedding preparations, family sources say, it emerged that his long time fiancée was a distant relative of the late Patrick Karegyeya.
Karegyeya, a former head of Rwanda external security chief turned fierce critic of Paul Kagame’s government was found murdered in South Africa Hotel in 2013.
His party, Rwanda National Congress which he helped found accused Rwanda’s established of sponsoring his murder. Kigali has repeatedly denied these accusations.
Around this time, sources add family relatives including Cony Bwiza an Mp approached Kagabo and dissuaded from marrying Ms Kobugyeyo.
“The MP even proposed that she would get him another beautiful girl to marry,” the source who was part of the wedding preparations said.
However, sources say Late Kagabo stood his ground and argued that Ms Kobugyeyo was the only woman of his life.
His friends say Kagabo insisted that his wife was not connected to politics and deserting her would be a highest betrayal since she was expecting a baby.
The university had pledged contributions to the wedding of their lecturer but later withdrew the pledge on account that they could not associate with anybody who was going to marry from Karegyeya’s family.
The university authorities have remained tight-lipped over the matter. They refused to comment when approached. They also declined to say why they withdrew the pledge they had earlier promised to give their lecturer.
The former deputy lector in charge of administration, Mr. Mbuguje confirmed that the contribution was held on administrative purposes. “I was prohibited from taking salary advances thus halting the whole process of contribution.” Mbuguje could not give details to who ordered the halt, and the purpose.
His friends shunned him and the Late Kagabo became sort of an outcast. At one time, the MP, Bwiza drove to Nyagatare to plead with him. Kagabo could not barge to the pressure.
Family members want an independent investigation into the matter. They claim even some people from army visited his family, telling him to separate with his wife.
Some sources at the university however downplayed the suggestion that the death of Kagabo was engineered because of the Karegyeya factor. They say it was nothing more than a natural death.
Great Lakes Voice has spent a week contacting MP Connie Mbwiza for an interview on the matter but she was not of any help. She continued saying she had tight schedules. “I can’t tell you that I have time for you in December. This is a very busy month for me,” Mbwiza added.
Late Kagabo graduated in 2008 from School of Finance and Banking and joined Umutara Polytechnic in 2009 as a lecturer. In 2010, he received a scholarship given to the university under Public Sector Capacity Building Secretariat and went for his masters at the University of Nairobi.
“It is a double tragedy for the young family and his wife left behind without anybody to fend her,” said a former classmate at SFB.
It is tragic enough that a young man abruptly lost his life, leaving behind a young widow with a kid and probably expecting another. But it is even more sad when the media begins to delve into personal family matters, making obscure references and innuendo related to the marriage choice of the late Kagabo, merely a couple of weeks into his death.
I think the family needs privacy to permit them to continue to mourn and reflect on the loss of their loved one.