Rwandan journalist John Williams Ntwali who died this week will be laid to rest on Sunday at Kamonyi cemetery about 45 minutes from capital Kigali, according to a burial program released by his family.
Ntwali, editor of The Chronicles newspaper was killed on Wednesday when a speeding vehicle rammed a motorcycle he was riding, police said.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) René Irere, the spokesperson of Traffic and Road Safety Department, the accident happened on January 18, at 02:50a.m in Kicukiro District as a result of over speeding between a vehicle and a taxi-motorcycle. Ntwali was the passenger on a motorcycle. He died instantly.”
“Ntwali didn’t have any identification on him,” the officers said, adding that he was identified on Thursday.
“We immediately informed his relatives.” said Irere.
The driver involved in the accident is in police custody, the officers told the local media.
During his two-decade career as a journalist, Ntwali owned the channel Pax TV on YouTube which had established itself as a rare outlet in Rwanda.
According to the burial program which will take place on Sunday, at nine o’clock in the morning, family members will pick the body from Kacyiru hospital in Kigali City.
At eleven o’clock, prayers will be held to say goodbye to the deceased at the Ruyenzi Seventh Day Adventist Church in Kamonyi District.
At two o’clock there will be a funeral service for Ntwali John Williams at the Kamonyi cemetery, where he will be laid to rest.
Moments after it was reported that esteemed journalist Ntwali had died in a road accident; tributes to the social media began pouring in online.
Journalists and friends have expressed shock over his death.
Bryson Emmanuel Bichwaa a local journalist described the later as a great journalist and friend, he wrote on Facebook “R.I.P my friend John William tayari tumekumiss”
The Chronicles news site also confirmed his death in a tweet when they had been the publications editor since 2021.
“SAD NEWS: The Chronicles with great sadness announces death of our Editor Mr Ntwali John Williams” the tweet read.
Association of Journalists in Rwanda wrote “ We are saddened by the death of journalist John Williams this week in a road accident. Our condolences go out to his family, the wider media community and friends and relatives. May God rest him in peace”
He is survived by a wife and a daughter.
