Some residents of Kayonza District say they are increasingly worried about thieves who allegedly use drugs to make people fall asleep before stealing their belongings. According to these residents, the criminals spray or apply substances that render victims unconscious, and by the time they wake up in the morning, they find their houses completely emptied.
These concerns were raised at a time when the Rwanda National Police (RNP) and the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) were addressing journalists at the RNP headquarters in Kacyiru, where they revealed that the most common crimes recorded in 2025 are theft and drug-related offenses.
In Kayonza, residents confirm that theft has become a serious challenge, with criminals allegedly using substances to incapacitate victims. One of the affected residents is Umulisa Patricia, a shop owner in Ntinyi village, Rurambi cell, Nyamirama sector. She explained that thieves broke into her shop, stole goods, and even took the mattress she was sleeping on.
Speaking to TV and Radio 1, she said:
“I woke up lying on the ground. My mattress had been taken, and all the items in my shop had been stolen. Someone who came early in the morning to milk cows woke me up and asked why I was sleeping on the floor. I told him I don’t drink alcohol or get drunk, so I couldn’t understand what had happened. They had even broken the padlock. I just found myself lying on the ground.”
However, the Rwanda National Police spokesperson in the Eastern Province, SP Hamdun Twizeyimana, says claims of people being drugged might not be entirely accurate. He suggests that in some cases, negligence or simple mistakes may be the cause of the thefts.
He explained:
“I heard this from one resident. Security organs—including the Nyamirama Police Station and local leaders—visited the scene to verify the claims, and they found no evidence showing that the person had been drugged. Theft can occur in many ways. Someone might forget to lock their house or fall asleep from exhaustion. People quickly conclude they were drugged, but no formal complaint with evidence has been filed.”
SP Twizeyimana urged residents to report theft cases immediately so that stolen belongings can be recovered quickly.
Under Rwanda’s Penal Code, Article 166 states that anyone convicted of theft is liable to one to two years in prison, a fine ranging from one million to two million Rwandan francs, and community service for six months, or one of these penalties.
Article 167 provides that these penalties are doubled if the theft involved breaking into a house, climbing, or using any tool to gain unauthorized entry. Penalties are also doubled if the theft occurs in a residential house or its surroundings, if it is committed at night, or if more than one person is involved.
