On 18th March, 1997 infiltrators stormed Nyange School and requested them to divide into two groups of Hutus and Tutsis, a request students rejected knowing really that it could affect them. Seven of these students were killed while 40 others survived the raid but left them with severe wounds on their bodies and minds.
Eighteen years later, some of the survivors of the raid are living with some aggravated sicknesses. The President of the country’s Chancellery for Heroes, National Orders and Decorations of Honor, Dr. Pierre Damien Habumuremyi said that they are advocating for survivors to facilitate their access to medical care from abroad.
He was responding to questions regarding poor conditions of life including sicknesses and various challenges affecting surviving heroes of Nyange raid.
Dr. Habumuremyi said that their sicknesses worries them, but advocacy is being carried out to get health care overseas in collaboration with the ministry of health, King Faysal hospital ,Kanombe military hospital and others.
“We are advocating for them in collaboration with other stakeholders to get health assistance overseas. We hope it will be successful since we have put in much effort,” he said.
Dr. Habumuremyi said that these heroes don’t receive extra support because of their bravery but they normally benefit from development projects like all other Rwandans.
Nyange surviving heroes come together in Komezubutwari Association through which, the government says, follows up their daily lives to enhance their progress.
They have been declared heroes under Imena category of braves.
The National Heroes’ Day will is annually celebrated on 1st February. This year’s celebration will be held around the theme ‘Struggle for bravery, building the future’ (Duharanire ubutwari, Twubaka ejo hazaza).
Various events have been organized to prepare for the National Heroes’ Day including talks that will be held one week before the celebration from 22nd to 31st, January, and a concert expected to be held on 31st January, 2016.
On 1st February, 2016 wreaths there will be a ceremony of laying wreaths at the Heroes’ Square, an activity that will be done by relatives of heroes among others. Ceremonies will end at village levels throughout the country.
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