Rwanda National Police (RNP) arrested 94 people on Sunday, January 31, in Musanze District for holding prayer gatherings contrary to the government directives meant to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The violators were found in the two separate houses in Bikara and Karambi cells of Nkotsi Sector.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Alex Rugigana, the Police spokesperson for the Northern region, said that Police received information from local residents about people, who were gathered praying.
“At about 10am on Sunday, Police found 89 people in the house of one Uwitije Alphonsine and five others in the house of Uwamungu Jean Claude, praying.
They had violated all the COVID-19 prevention guidelines,” CIP Rugigana said.
The violators are from different religious denominations, they came from various sectors of Musanze District and included the young people as well as children.
“Of the 89 people found congested in the house of Uwitije, 49 of them had no face masks, but even those that had them were not wearing them. They were congested in a small room, no social distancing and they did not wash their hands,” the spokesperson said.
He added that Uwitije and Uwamungu have been caught in similar violations in the past and educated on the directives and health guidelines hoping to change their behaviours.
“Musanze is one of the districts where cases of COVID-19 infections are detected almost everyday. It’s absurd that in light of such situation, there are people, who can still think of holding gatherings where one infected person can easily spread the virus to everyone.”
At least 16 positive cases have been registered in Musanze District between January 25-30.
CIP Rugigana urged the public to adhere to the directives and health guidelines for their safety and thanked those who report such violations.
All the violators were taken to Ubworoherane stadium where they will be educated on the COVID-19 prevention measures but also penalised accoirdingly for flouting the directives. (End)