Benson Turyahabwe, the Local Council I Chairman of Ruyonja Village in Ruyonja Parish, Nyarushanje Sub-county, Rukungiri District, is on the run after being implicated in a fatal assault linked to coffee theft. Turyahabwe is accused of colluding with a 28-year-old man, Robert Muhumuza, over alleged coffee theft.
On the night of June 1, 2025, at around midnight, Turyahabwe, together with Christina Turyahabwe and others, stormed the home of Hillary Mwesigwa in Ikondere Village, Ibanda Parish, in the same sub-county. Mwesigwa had hosted Muhumuza after a social gathering in Nyarushanje Trading Centre.
According to reports, the group ordered Mwesigwa to open his door and demanded he produce Muhumuza. Upon coming out of bed, Muhumuza’s hands were tied, and he was accused of stealing coffee belonging to Benson Turyahabwe. The LC1 chairman then led the assault on Muhumuza, beating him until he lost consciousness.
Muhumuza succumbed to his injuries on the evening of Tuesday, June 3. Kigezi Region Police Spokesperson Elly Maate confirmed the incident, adding that after learning of Muhumuza’s death, Turyahabwe fled his home. Police are now hunting for him and other suspects involved in the incident.
Coffee theft has become rampant in Rukungiri and neighboring districts of Kanungu and Rukiga. In late May 2025, two residents of Yakisa Village in Kashekye Parish, Kamwezi Sub-county, Rukiga District—James Kiromba and Denis Beinomugisha alias Murefu—allegedly killed 62-year-old Milton Bagambira alias Obote after he caught them stealing coffee from his garden. The suspects reportedly mutilated the body and buried some parts in Rwanda.
In the same month, in Kihihi Town Council, Kanungu District, a sniffer dog tracked and found Oliver Kasangaki of Nkunda Village with coffee stolen from Adellah Tushabe’s home. Similarly, Hekiran Twakyire of Nkumbalaga Village in Nyakatunguru Ward was arrested after being linked to coffee theft from Emerson Muyambi’s garden.
Earlier, in March 2025, two suspects—Praise Agnes and Twongyirwe Justus from Kihembe Cell—were arrested after a sniffer dog led police to coffee stolen from Laban Tugume’s garden. In another case reported in November 2024, Phillip Twinomuhwezi of Ntabagwe Village, Kihembe Parish, Kanyantorogo Sub-county, was tracked and found in possession of coffee stolen from Onesmus Asiimwe’s garden.