Residents of Kamonyi Village in Kisoro Municipality were left in shock and sorrow on Sunday after 40-year-old Elias Ntirivamunda, a Rwandan national, tragically died from choking on a piece of meat.
Elias, also known as “Akanovera,” had traveled from Rugarama in Burera District, Rwanda, to Kisoro to meet his daughter, Delephine Nzasabimana, who had asked him for school fees, as he had not visited the family for some time.
After reuniting, they went to a local bar where Ntirivamunda bought food, including meat, from a vendor. Shortly afterward, the meat became lodged in his throat, causing him to lose consciousness. Despite attempts to help, he died at the scene.
The incident has shaken the community, as Elias was known as a regular at the bar, where he had earned the nickname “Akanovera.”
Local Council I Chairperson, Benon Maniragaba, voiced concerns about the lack of proper tenant registration in the area, which complicates identification in emergencies.
As of this report, local police had not yet made an official statement on the matter.