RIB has disclosed that Bahati’s family has been already informed about preliminary investigation’s findings.
It is said that the missing of Bahati was filed to RIB by Joseph Hakizimana alias Rumaga Junior on 9th February 2021. He reported that his friend Bahati had gone missing since 7th February 2021 when he left home to visit friends and record his poems.
Since then, RIB launched investigation into the case and interrogated relatives and friends who last saw Bahati as they shared drinks at Nyanza Heritage Hotel. RIB was told that the poet’s whereabouts are not known and continued working with other institutions to establish whether he was not imprisoned or admitted.
As RIB disclosed, investigation indicated that Bahati used to cross to Uganda through porous border points to meet with security officials from the country and dissidents of Rwanda.
Investigation findings show that the poet used to work with Rwandans living in Belgium and the United States of America who would send him money.
According to RIB, Bahati crossed to Uganda through porous border points like other Rwandans who were recruited into rebel outfits and reported missing.
These include Gilbert Shyaka who was reported missing by dissidents of Rwanda on 22nd August 2021. He appeared on 13th January 2022 disclosing that he was lured by Uganda’s Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) into activities aimed at threatening Rwanda’s security.
Eric Uwihoreye, a brother to Shyaka was also reported missing in October 2021. He later appeared in Uganda where he joined rebel groups intending to destabilize Rwanda. He is often heard featuring in talk shows of a YouTube Channel dubbed ‘TWIBOHORE TV’.
Others include David Ngendahimana who was reported missing in 2021, Theobald Mutarambirwa reported missing in 2010 and later established that he had joined MRCD-FLN terror group.
RIB has revealed that investigation is ongoing to locate him.
“We request everyone to provide information of Bahati’s whereabouts to facilitate our investigation. The timespan for investigation on missing persons is not specific. It might take one day when the person reported missing is found or last for a year and beyond. It depends on the context of every case.”
Bahati has no criminal records before he was reported missing. RIB has disclosed that criminal acts came into existence after launching investigation.
The bureau has said that the current efforts to normalize Rwanda and Uganda’s relations might be helpful to tracing whereabouts the poet.
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