COPEDU PLC staff visit Ruhanga memorial, donate to a genocide survivor

Ruhanga Genocide Memorial which is home to 36,000 genocide victims is the former Ruhanga Episcopal Anglican Church (EAR Ruhanga) and includes a mass grave inside the building.

It became a memorial site after over 15,000 Tutsi were killed at the church during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and buried there.

The ceremony held yesterday was marked by a walk to remember, honoring genocide victims and laying wreaths at the mass graves.

COPEDU PLC Ag. Managing Director, Azarie Nsengimana said that commemoration is a gesture that restores the dignity of genocide victims and strengthen survivors.

“Remembrance is the duty of every Rwandan. It is about granting dignity to genocide victims. We should not forget what happened because it must leave us a lesson helping us to uphold humanity and ensure genocide never happens again,” he stressed.

“Not only did we come to learn from genocide history at this memorial but also we have brought funds for maintenance of the memorial and expressing solidarity with genocide survivors. The donation will help to address some of challenges facing the memorial,” added Nsengimana.
COPEDU PLC also donated home equipment including mattress, beddings, and chairs and foodstuff to Juvénal Nyamusanzagwa, one of genocide survivors in the area.

Emmanuel Rutabandama who survived on Ruhanga hill shared testimonies of sufferings Tutsi endured during genocide. He recalled how Interahamwe and soldiers from Kanombe military barracks raided Ruhanga church and killed 15000 Tutsi including 18 relatives hidden inside on 15th April 1994. Rutabandama lauded RPF Inkotanyi for stopping genocide and continues efforts towards the resilience process.

The President of IBUKA, umbrella of genocide survivors in Rusororo sector, Emmanuel Nduwayezu delivered a talk on genocide history and urged everyone to fight against discrimination and genocide ideology.

He commended COPEDU PLC for donating Rwf 1 million for maintenance of the memorial and supporting a genocide survivor.

Twenty two years after establishment, COPEDU PLC has introduced new payments or withdraws methods using Debit Card and depositing or withdrawing using ‘Push and Pull’ System.