Staff Reporter
Residents of Kamonyi Village, Northern Division, Kisoro Municipality, are in shock following the sudden death of a man in his 40s, identified as Ntirivamunda Elias, who reportedly choked on a piece of meat.
Sources reveal that Elias, commonly known as “Akanovera,” was a resident of Rugarama in Burera District, Rwanda. However, the exact reason for his presence in Kisoro remains unclear.
According to his daughter, Nzasabimana Delephina, she had traveled to Kisoro to meet her father to request school fees, as he had not visited them in Rwanda for some time. After searching for him, she eventually found him and took him to a bar where he bought her meat from one Hamis Bakunda. Tragically, after consuming the meal, the meat became lodged in his throat, causing him to lose consciousness and die on the spot.
Hamis Bakunda, the restaurant owner who served the meal, said that while they were seated in a bar owned by a woman named Beatrice, he served the food. After the meal, Ntirivamunda’s condition deteriorated, and Bakunda was called to assist. Upon arriving, he found the man unconscious.
Eyewitnesses described Elias as a habitual drinker, earning him the nickname “Akanovera” due to his daily habit of drinking without eating.
Local Council I (LCI) Chairperson, Maniragaba Benon, reported that he was called to the scene but arrived to find Ntirivamunda already deceased. He was unable to identify the body as Elias was not registered in the village. Benon criticized local landlords for failing to register their tenants, noting that this oversight is causing challenges in the community.
