The sudden death of Capt.(rtd) Augustine Iyako has shocked many. However, Igihe.com held an exclusive interview with Capt. Ayako a few days before his untimely passing away.
“What makes me smile today is that the liberation struggle took a short time than I expected. Another thing is that what I was calling a ‘failed state’ because of the total destruction we found here, has quickly resurrected and today, the country has a decision and a direction,” The now deceased and formerly Retired Captain Iyako told Igihe.com.
Late Capt. (Rtd) Iyako spoke to our reporter Joram Muhoozi about his involvement and contributions to Rwanda’s liberation struggle 1990-1994.
Part of content of this Article was originally prepapred among the many articles for publication during commemoration of this year’s Liberation day. below are excerpts of the conversation before his death.
Igihe.com: Tell us about your background?
Late Capt. (Rtd) Iyako : I was born in 1958; i studied in Uganda and graduated from Kyambogo University in Electrical Engineering.
I came to Rwanda in 1982 and worked with ‘Kagera Basin Organization’ for a short time and quit because I realized by that time; there will never be democracy at all, and some Rwandans will never be allowed to be back to their country. I then took the idea of liberating my country at any cost.
Igihe.com: What led you into the Rwanda Liberation struggle of 1990-1994?
Late Capt. (Rtd) Iyako: When they expelled us from Uganda in 1982, we came and occupied a forest area by that time in Kibondo, Gatsibo district in the eastern province. The then Rwanda government treated us as prisoners and never recognized us as Rwandans but instead subjected us to maximum harassment.
I remember an incident when the Army shot and killed for 4 people on spot in our camp where we had taken refuge in the same area.
This incident showed me that Rwanda was not a home for us and that’s what inspired me to join Uganda’s guerrilla war in order to attain skills of fighting back and liberate my nation because I realized that coming back to Rwanda was no any other option but an armed struggle.
Igihe.com: How did you do that and how did it help you reach your target in the long run since by that time you were just a civilian?
Late Capt. (Rtd) Iyako : In 1984 I went back to Uganda and joined National Resistance Army of Museveni and in 1986 we had captured Kampala and I then worked in the Uganda’s President’s Office in External Security.
After capturing Kampala, I and other Rwandans in Uganda’s Army including our current President and Late Maj. Gen. Gisa Rwigema and others started working on plans to return to our country Rwanda until we entered in 1990.
Igihe.com : What did you do particularly after entering the country, which has contributed greatly to the national development up to today?
Late Capt. (Rtd) Iyako :We entered Rwanda in 1990 and by 1992 I had become Chief Engineer of Radio Muhabura.
By 1994 we tried to set up Radio Rwanda because by that time Radio and Television of Rwanda had been taken by the government of ‘ABatabazi’ and I had team of Inkotanyi that had been working with radio Muhabura that I came with to set it up.
I then headed TVR and in 2002, I worked with MINADEF while constructing Pentagon (current MINADEF) and I was the Chief Engineer in charge of Electrons.
In 2005 we started Karisimbi Project which has 3 important aspects; broadcasting, digitalization and communication, navigation surveillance and air traffic management.
Igihe.com: So what makes you happy today depending on the current developments of the country as compared to the past and what can you tell the public as a liberator?
Late Capt. (Rtd) Iyako : What makes me smile today is that the struggle took a short time than I expected.
Another thing is that what I was calling a ‘failed state’ because of the total destruction we found here, has quickly resurrected and today, the country has a decision and a direction
What I can tell Rwandans as my message; there is hope and there is a way, and we have to use all the necessary powers to liberate ourselves and do social transformation to our nation.
The day before his death
A day prior to his death that is Friday 5 at 3pm, Iyako had attended the event where the Gasabo district Sectors’ Executive Secretaries were presenting the annual Contract Performances held at Kinyinya Sector Offices.
After the event, the whole team including Gasabo district Mayor went to the Chez Lando at Kisementi to cerebrate for the performances, and him too joined the group.
His words at the cerebrations ground therefore, kept on focusing the future according to the sources at the scene.
Late Iyako pointed out, “lets us work and believe that the performance contracts made by the Sectors’ Executive Secretaries will promote the district of Gasabo from the 12th position reached this year to at least the first five performing districts,” a source told igihe.com.
His death
According to the police spokesperson Supt. Theos Badege; it was the morning hours of Saturday 6, at around 3:30 am, Iyako was driving from KBC going towards town but before Kimihurura round point, another car coming from town lost control, and came to the side of Iyako and hit his car.
They were all immediately taken to the King Fisal Hospital but reaching there, Iyako had already passed away.
About the project he has been heading
Karisimbi project is a 40-meter mast, which is located at one of the highest Mountain Summits in Rwanda, has as its overall objective enhancing electronic communications and broadcasting capabilities in Rwanda and in the neighboring countries.
The Kalisimbi Project is meant to provide a multipurpose ICT transmission system to facilitate the provision of associated services in Rwanda, COMESA and the Great Lakes region.
This plan involves the supply, installation and commissioning of broadcasting, ICT, Telecom, WiMAX, Air Navigation Surveillance and Radio Frequency Management systems at the Karisimbi high altitude mountain and the associated services.
The project will provide sky safety and surveillance capability through a Communication Navigation Surveillance – Air Traffic Management (CNS-ATM), already endorsed by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
Leave a Reply