Missing for three months, Pastor CISHAHAYO Nestor, a father of six, remains unaccounted for. The question remains: where is he, and what happened to him?
We recall that CISHAHAYO Nestor, 46, a father of six children, is originally from Ngayane Hill, in the former Gitaramuka Commune, Karusi Province. He later moved with his family and was living in the Maramvya neighborhood, Ntahangwa Commune, Bujumbura Province.
He was a pastor at ENHAKOKORE Church, located in Buganda, Cibitoke Commune, Bujumbura Province. He was appointed to lead the church in December 2025 and was also entrusted with the supervision of all ENHAKOKORE churches operating in Cibitoke Commune.
According to information gathered, disagreements reportedly arose within the church’s leadership following the replacement of the former leader. These tensions have been cited as a possible factor in Pastor CISHAHAYO Nestor’s disappearance. However, these allegations remain to be verified by the competent authorities.
Pastor CISHAHAYO was reportedly abducted after leaving his church
On Sunday, May 10, 2026, Pastor CISHAHAYO Nestor reportedly left his home to travel to ENHAKOKORE Church in Buganda, Cibitoke Commune. He was riding his motorcycle, registration number J 1846 A, which he regularly used for transportation.
According to the information gathered, he arrived safely at the church and carried out his religious duties. However, he reportedly had to spend the night there because of his responsibilities related to church activities.
The following day, Monday, May 11, 2026, Pastor CISHAHAYO reportedly informed his family that he would soon return home. However, from around 12:00 p.m., his relatives were no longer able to reach him by phone.
According to the information available to us, earlier that same day, before noon, the pastor reportedly left the church temporarily and went to the center of Rugombo to withdraw money from his bank account at BANCOBU. The money was reportedly intended for someone to whom he wished to entrust certain matters on his behalf.
He reportedly traveled to Rugombo on his motorcycle before returning to the church, where he then prepared to return to Bujumbura.
However, after leaving the church, Pastor CISHAHAYO Nestor reportedly never reached his family in Bujumbura.
The information gathered indicates that, while traveling along the road toward Bujumbura, near an area known as Ndava, he was reportedly intercepted by individuals described as intelligence service agents operating in Cibitoke Commune.
According to these testimonies, the individuals were using a white double-cab vehicle with tinted windows. They reportedly stopped the pastor, removed him from his motorcycle and forced him into the vehicle. His motorcycle was also reportedly loaded onto the back of the vehicle, which then drove toward the center of Rugombo, Cibitoke Province.
Since this alleged interception, his family says they have searched various detention facilities and contacted several services, but have been unable to obtain reliable information about his whereabouts.
To date, no official information identifying the location of Pastor CISHAHAYO Nestor has reportedly been provided to his family. His motorcycle also remains missing.
The prolonged disappearance has caused deep concern among his relatives and those who know him. Six children are still waiting for news of their father, while his family continues to call for any information that could help establish his whereabouts to be made available.
OUR APPEAL
On behalf of King Umurundi Freedom, we urgently call on the competent authorities to shed full light on the disappearance of Pastor CISHAHAYO Nestor, to publicly disclose his whereabouts and, if he is indeed being detained, to ensure that he has access to justice and all protections guaranteed under the law.
If he is being prosecuted or accused of specific offenses, we call for those allegations to be formally established and for him to be brought before the competent judicial authorities in accordance with the law and due process.
Three months have passed. Three months of waiting and anguish for his family. Six children are still waiting for their father to come home. We call for the truth to be established and for full light to be shed on the fate of Pastor CISHAHAYO Nestor.