Rwandan police probe shooting of former Paul Kagame doctor

Rwanda President Paul Kagame at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi during Jamuhuri day celebrations on December 12, 2014. FILE PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• Dr Gasakure was in police custody as part of investigations into offences including illegal entry on other person's property.
• According to reliable sources, Dr Gasakure was a long serving personal doctor of President Kagame and his family until as recent as January.

By EAST AFRICAN CORRESPONDENT
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Rwanda National Police are investigating circumstances under which President Paul Kagame’s former personal doctor was shot dead by a policeman on duty Wednesday evening.

Dr Emmanuel Gasakure, who was until recently President Kagame’s personal cardiologist, was allegedly shot by a policeman at Remera Police Station in Kigali in a reported act of self-defence.

“Last evening at 1835Hrs, an unfortunate incident happened at the Remera Police Station when a suspect in detention was fatally wounded during a scuffle with a police officer on guard duty.

“One Dr Gasakure has been in police custody as part of investigations into offences including illegal entry on other person's property, causing damage to property, illegal confinement, uttering verbal threats under the influence of alcohol or other stupefiants,” Police Spokesperson Chief Supt Celestin Twahirwa said in a statement.

SCUFFLE
According to the police, the deceased requested to go for a short call, was allowed but on getting out of the cell he assaulted the officer on guard and tried to disarm him.

“In the ensuing scuffle the deceased was fatally wounded while the police officer sustained serious injuries and was rushed to hospital. Investigations into the incident have since been launched.

“The police regrets this incident and will keep the family informed as the investigation proceeds,” the Police publicist said on Thursday.

A relative of the deceased who spoke to The East African on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the incident said thorough investigations should be carried out.

According to reliable sources, Dr Gasakure was a long serving personal doctor of President Kagame and his family until as recent as January.

MISCONDUCT

He was allegedly relieved of his duties over alleged misconduct.

“He was getting in many drunken scandals which stained his image as well as that of President Kagame,” a source in Presidency told The East African.

Available reports state that Dr Gasakure was arrested on Monday 23 after an altercation with one of his neighbours in the plush Kimihurura residential area.

A senior cardiologist who served in different institutions before joining the presidential ranks, Dr Gasakure appeared in news in December 2011 after he allegedly lost official documents and a work iPad in Uganda where President Kagame and his family had visited over Christmas.

It is reported that President Kagame sacked the doctor after a tour to the United States early this year over alleged misconduct.