Residents of Nduba Sector in Kigali City say they have been living in fear for the past two years due to a series of robberies carried out by gangs armed with machetes, dogs, and other traditional weapons. They report that despite urgently trying to alert local authorities, their calls go unanswered, leaving the community unprotected and vulnerable to repeated theft.
In Gatunga Cell, particularly in Amataba , Agasharu Village and neighboring areas, residents say the gangs strike at night in groups of four or more, ransacking homes and stealing televisions, clothing, household tools, and construction equipment, including mutarimba a traditional tool used for digging. Some residents report that the gangs even entered a large compound with many people, stealing chickens clothers, rabbits ans more , yet calls to local authorities were ignored.
One resident, who requested anonymity, told mbwira.com that he once collaborated with a professional neighborhood patrol after hearing the thieves approach. He called them, and they arrived to chase the robbers away and recover some of the stolen items, including a phone taken by the thieves.
“We called the patrol, they came and chased the thieves, and we recovered some of the stolen items, including a phone,” the resident said. “We handed the phone to the village leader for investigation, but to this day, no action has been taken.”
Other residents, especially those fetching water early in the morning, said they frequently encounter the gangs armed with machetes and accompanied by dogs.
“Meeting people with machetes and dogs at dawn is terrifying,” one woman from Gatunga said.
Some community members also expressed concerns that local leaders at the cell and village level might be complicit in these activities.
“It is possible that some lower-level officials know more about these incidents, because help is often delayed or absent,” another resident said.
Residents also say that some have decided to stop contributing money for local security because they see no tangible results.
“We pay for community security but get no protection. We are considering stopping these contributions,” another resident said.
Despite repeated attempts to call local leaders during attacks, no one responds, leaving the community exposed. mbwira.com also tried multiple times to reach the security official in Nduba Sector, but calls went unanswered.
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Nduba Sector, located on the outskirts of Kigali, has been struggling with this wave of armed robberies for the past two years. Residents are urging security forces and local authorities to increase patrols, conduct thorough investigations, and provide timely responses to restore community confidence in their safety.