Fourty one bodies of genocide victims were given a descent burial on April 11 at Kiziguro Memorial site in Gatsibo District.
The 41 victims including Christine Makwindigiri the Mother of Queen Rosalia Gicanda married to King Rudahigwa lll had been buried in different places.
The ceremony was attended by the governor of Eastern Province Hon. Odette Uwamariya, state ministers, Brig. Gen. Muzung, air force chief of staff, and other army officials, Gatsibo District Officials and Members of Parliament,.
Bishop Alex Birindabagabo of Gahini Dioceses quoted the book of Proverbs “Through wisdom is a house built; and by understanding it is established”.
He said that a government that builds the nation is of wisdom as opposed to a foolish government that tears the nation down.
Gatsibo District Mayor, Ambroise Ruboneza comforted genocide survivors and promised further closeness of the district to their needs. “The RPA that rescued you is now larger in RDF” he said.
He also mentioned the district’s plan to build a standard genocide memorial that is estimated to cost Frw5,000,000 .
Col. Bagabe gave an emotional testimony of how he rescued 12 people from the Kiziguro abyss where many Tutsi’s were thrown especially those who were killed in Kiziguro Catholic Church.
“I reached here first with my soldiers. It was hard to get them out of the abyss …but harder now to retell…”. He said in tears and was overpowered by emotions and could not go further.
He talked of the ‘Maneuvers Approach’ they chose to take so as to surround the enemy and rescue many Tutsi’s because they had fully learned there was a genocide.
Governor Odette Uwamariya, the guest of honor, thanked the RPA who stopped the genocide and liberated the country.
“The enemy wanted to erase Rwanda on the world map but we still stand and now firm. The RPA is our help” she said.
She said there are 320 bodies in Eastern Province that are not yet been given a descent burial in memorials.
She also appealed to Rwandans particularly Gatsibo district to heed the sameness shared among Rwandans. “For those that still hold the genocide ideology and want to teach it to the young, I just have one plain thing to say: there is no good result out of it”.
Among the bodies that were buried was the one of Francois Murwanashyaka that had never been seen. He was found in Rwimbogo Sector, Kiburara Cell, Rubirizi Village.
Mr. John Mushumba the Executive secretary Rwimbogo Sector said “the body was discovered by the relatives who were digging in the garden after 20 years in the ground where the body had been buried by the genocidaires who wanted to hide exhibits.
There are still many people who died and their bodies have not been discovered yet. For those who were near Lake Muhazi, it is somehow thought they were thrown in the lake. It is still hard to know the exact number of the genocide victims in Gatsibo District.
Governor placing a wreath of flowers to honour the genocide victims burried at Kiziguro memorial as hundreds of residents look on
Col. Bagabe giving an emotional testimony. He rescued dozens from Kiziguro
Bishop Alex Birindabagabo of Gahini Dioceses
Kiziguro catholic church
Kiziguro Memoria grave
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