RUKUNGIRI, Uganda — Police in Rukungiri district have apprehended four Rwandan nationals in connection with the death of their colleague during an altercation reportedly sparked by a dispute over a matchbox.
The deceased, 19-year-old Diana Wase, also a Rwandan national, had been employed as a barmaid at a local establishment owned by a man identified only as Kashaija in Nyarushanje Stage village, Ibanda Parish, Nyarushanje sub-county.
According to Elly Maate, the Kigezi Region police spokesperson, the incident happened on Friday 11, July 2025 evening. The arrested suspects, identified as Elikoze Zuwaheze (18), Mutesi Zane (17), Muhawenimana Kolodina (19), and Omutono Owase Pasikalina (19), allegedly requested a matchbox from Wase to light cigarettes. A disagreement escalated into a physical confrontation.
During the course of the fight, Wase was reportedly struck around the neck and subsequently collapsed, as stated by Maate.
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She was initially transported to St. Andrews Health Centre in Nyarushanje trading center and later referred to Kisizi Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Police swiftly responded to the incident, taking the four suspects into custody. They are currently being held at Rukungiri Central Police Station as investigations proceed.
Maate confirmed that statements have been collected from witnesses, and a postmortem examination has been conducted to ascertain the precise cause of death.
