Remains of 90 genocide victims exhumed from Nyamata hospital premises

The remains will be accorded decent burial in different memorial sites of Bugesera district.

Construction activities of Nyamata hospital were on course during the 1994 Genocide Against Tutsi. It is said that there were three holes dug during that time as activities were underway.

The Director of Nyamata hospital, Dr William Rutagengwa has told IGIHE that Interahamwe had set a road block on the main road passing in front of the hospital to kill Tutsi in April 1994 and threw their bodies in those holes.

“We were aware of remains dumped in the premises but could not track the exact location. Construction for Nyamata hospital began in 1992. It was an incomplete building during the genocide. There were bushes in which neighboring residents hid themselves. In front of the hospital was a barricade where Interahamwe killed Tutsi. We had information that people hiding in that place and others killed around were thrown in those holes,” he said.

“The holes were not used since the hospital buildings were completed. The area was enclosed with a fence. There were three holes that we were not sure in which one the remains were. The remains of between 80 and 90 victims have been found and will be buried decently in standard memorial sites in the area,” added Rutagengwa.

The decision to exhume remains of victims from these holes for decent burial was taken during the 24th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi.