The memorial site comes as a response to bodies which were buried in unsafe graves in sectors of Muyira, Kibirizi, Busoro, Ntyazo and Kigoma.
Over 100,000 Tutsi were killed in these sectors formerly known as Amayaga region.
After the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi, some bodies were found and buried in different graves across different sectors.
In Muyira sector alone, there are two graves with each having remains of over 26,000 victims. Another grave is in Nyamure Sector with over 22,300 bodies.
Speaking to IGIHE, the Executive Secretary of Muyira Sector, Valens Murenzi said that in the post genocide period, the government had no means of constructing memorial sites, but today it has started to construct it to accord decent burial to genocide victims.
“In Muyira Sector alone, over 52,000 Tutsi were killed during the genocide. Remains of over 89,000 victims bodies who were killed in Amayaga region will be interred in the memorial which will be completed at a cost of Rwf400 million,” he explained.
He said that construction activities are ongoing and the memorial is expected to be completed by 2019.
“The memorial has two phases, the first phase is construction of mass grave which has started and the second phase is the construction of a history gallery which will be funded and constructed in next year’s budget,” he explained.
Genocide survivors welcomed the memorial saying that their slain families will be rested in a dignified place.
“Having genocide victims rested in a safe and dignified place makes us happy, it comforts us and then we work towards development,” said André Ntambara a genocide survivor from Muyira Sector.
Leave a Reply