At the event in Rugango Parish, pardoned were also allowed to access Catholic Church sacraments.
Pardoned are 16 men and two women who reconciled with 60 survivor families.
Speaking at the event yesterday, one of the pardoned Gaspard Ntakavuro said that during the genocide, he was a cell head, among masterminds behind the attacks that killed over 500 Tutsis who had fled to Rugango Parish.
Ntakavuriro recalls that he participated in killing seven relatives of Speciose Mukamugema and five relatives of Mukaremera.
Stood between both survivors, Ntakavuro said that it was his time to live comfortably in the society.
“In the attack we killed many people, but I remember family members of Mukamugema and Mukaremera. I dared to seek pardon after understanding Father Ubald Rugirangoga’s lectures which encourage the benefits of being pardoned. Today, I am light-hearted because I live peacefully with survivors,” he said.
Béatrice Mukangamije, a survivor, said that it was so difficult to live together with people who killed her family, but, after being requested for pardon and being told about how all things went, the situation changed.
“That man who killed my family was imprisoned but I didn’t know that he’s the one who killed them. After being released, he told me how everything went. It was so difficult to understand.. I requested him to leave and go back once again. Soon after, he came back and I pardoned him,” she said.
The Executive Secretary for the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC), Fidèle Ndayisaba hailed perpetrators and survivors for the good gesture and urged them not to waver from the journey of unity they have embarked on.
“You should strive not to get discouraged; the government will support you throughout the journey. As you know, our country chose the unity of Rwandans. Our unity is our strength and our journey towards building the nation,” he said.
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