Denis Kazungu

Denis Kazungu
Born	c. 1989 (age 35–36)
Years active	2022–2023
Criminal status	Incarcerated
Conviction(s)	Murder x14
Criminal penalty	Life imprisonment
Details
Victims	14
Country	Rwanda
State(s)	Gashikiri, Kicukiro District, Kigali
Date apprehended	5 September 2023

Denis Kazungu is a Rwandan serial killer who murdered 14 people, most of whom were women. At the time of his arrest, he ran a motorcycle spare parts shop.

Murders

From April 2022 until the day of his arrest, Kazungu rented a house in Gashikiri,[1][2] in the Kanombe sector of Kicukiro District, where he lured his victims.[3][4] At least three women were able to escape from the house. Neighbours informed Mutwarasibo, a local leader, but the events were dismissed as mere disputes between Kazungu and sex workers.[4]

Kazungu had been arrested in July 2023 on suspicion of rape, robbery, theft, and use of threats. However, he was granted bail due to lack of evidence until 5 September, when the police arrested him again.[5][6] Two days later, it was announced that fourteen bodies had been found in a hole in the kitchen of his home he rented.[7][8] When Kazungu was arrested, he stated that he lured his victims from a bar to his home then raped, robbed and murdered them.[5] On 21 September 2023, Kazungu pleaded guilty in the murders.[9] Kazungu was sentenced to life imprisonment on 8 March 2024.[10]

See also

• List of serial killers by country
• List of serial killers active in the 2020s

References

1. Hudson Kuteesa (6 September 2023). "Kicukiro: How alleged serial killer picked his victims". The New Times. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
2. "Life Sentence for Denis Kazungu in Landmark Kigali Trial". The Rwandan. 9 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
3. Aurore Teta Ufitiwabo (8 March 2024). "'Serial killer' Kazungu sentenced to life in prison". The New Times. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
4. Hudson Kuteesa (8 September 2023). "How three women escaped death at the hands of Busanza 'serial killer' Kazungu". The New Times. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
5. Kuteesa, Hudson (6 September 2023). "Kicukiro: How alleged serial killer picked his victims". The New Times. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
6. Gahigi, Moses K. (7 September 2023). "Rwanda probing agency arrests man suspected to be serial killer". The East African.
7. "Rwanda police arrest serial killer suspect after finding bodies in kitchen". Al Jazeera. 7 September 2023.
8. Ssuuna, Ignatius (7 September 2023). "Suspect serial killer arrested in Rwanda after over 10 bodies found in a pit at his home". AP News.
9. "A suspected serial killer pleads guilty in Rwanda to killing 14 people". AP NEWS. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
10. Bucyana, Yves (8 March 2024). "Denis Kazungu yahanishijwe igifungo cya burundu ku byaha byinshi byo kwica no gufata abagore ku ngufu". BBC (in Kinyarwanda).