MUSOMA-based human rights activist, Eustace Nyarugenda, who was found dead on Tuesday night at Bunda, was laid to rest at his home village in Karagwe District.

He was the founder of Action Based Community (ABC), an NGO based in Musoma. Speaking from Mwanza on his way to Karagwe to attend the funeral yesterday, a family spokesperson said the deceased was found dead in one of the rooms at a guest house in Bunda.

Police sources in Mara Region confirmed the death and said that investigations were going on to establish who was behind the abduction of Mr Nyarugenda and subsequent death. A bottle of beer and a poison used for killing rats were found in the room, according to investigators.

Some women who were interviewed by this newspaper from Musoma said that they strongly believe that the late Nyarugenda was poisoned. The late activist devoted his time to defending women's rights.

"We strongly believe that there was a deliberate intention to eliminate Mr Nyarugenda since his struggle to protect women and domestic workers' rights had started yielding positive results," said a domestic worker who preferred anonymity. The deceased is survived by a widow and three children.