A former member of Rwanda’s ruling party has been apprehended for possessing illegal weapons, according to authorities. Eugene Barikana, 57, who served as a lawmaker for the Rwandan Patriotic Front party from 2013 until his resignation prior to the arrest, was taken into custody by police.
The Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) revealed that Barikana is facing charges related to the unlawful possession of weapons. In a statement released late Monday, RIB indicated that Barikana claimed to have acquired the weapons while residing among soldiers and inadvertently failed to return them.
Although the exact date of the arrest and the types of weapons seized were not disclosed by RIB, local reports cited police sources stating that a grenade and an AK-47 rifle were found during a search of Barikana’s residence.
Reports suggest that Barikana was arrested on Saturday and is being held in custody as investigations continue to ascertain how he obtained the firearms and why he possessed them without legal authorization.
Authorities did not provide further details when pressed by media outlets for additional information on the case.
If convicted of illegal arms possession, Barikana could be sentenced to up to two years in prison and fined between one and two million Rwandan francs ($770-$1,540).
Barikana, who has held relatively low-profile political positions including director of cabinet in the prime minister’s office and permanent secretary in the ministry of local government, has not garnered significant attention in Rwandan politics.
Rwanda, governed by President Paul Kagame’s RPF party since the aftermath of the 1994 genocide, remains vigilant in enforcing laws pertaining to weapons possession and public safety.
