Paying tribute to former MINISANTE employees was preceded by a visit to Ntarama memorial in Bugesera district where over 5000 victims of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi are laid to rest.
They also visited Aheza Healing and Career Center where they received explanations of services offered at the center.
Nshimiyimana Emmanuel, the Executive Secretary of Groupe des Anciens Etudiants et Elèves Rescapés du Genocide (GAERG) explained that the center handles trauma cases, especially among genocide survivors.
GAERG is an organization founded by Rwandan graduates Genocide survivors with a mission of creating a world in which the memory of genocide is preserved and a self-sustaining genocide survivor’s community.
A recent research by the Ministry of Health revealed that one of 3 genocide survivors always has depression while only one of ten among the rest of the population is depressed.
“All these are problems affecting us. We wonder how we can address them with partners. Over the past 25 years after the genocide, the government of Rwanda has been closer to Rwandans especially genocide survivors in building resilience, but the trauma cases are persistent,” he said.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Diane Gashumba has said that MINISANTE and related institutions have allocated Rwf 6.3 million of need Rwf 63 million to help genocide survivors suffering from trauma.
“The changes saw Major General Jean-Jacques Mupenzi promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and appointed Army Chief of Staff (ACOS) while Lieutenant General Jacques Musemakweli has been appointed Reserve Force Chief of Staff (RFCOS),” reads a statement released by RDF.
Before his appointment as the Army Chief of Staff in 2016; Lt.Gen Musemakweli was Commander of the Republican Guards.
Among other changes, Major General Aloys Muganga has been appointed Commander of the Mechanised Division.
The appointments and redeployments take immediate effect as per a statement released by RDF.
Maj. General Muganga was previously the Acting Reserve Force Chief of Staff. He is among senior officers promoted in January last year from the rank of Brigadier General to Major General.
Maj General Muganga holds a master’s degree in project management from Maastricht University in the Netherlands and is a graduate of the United States of America War College (USAWC – 2007).
His other previous postings include Defence Liaison Officer for Rwanda at EAC – Arusha among other RDF command and staff responsibilities.
The decent house was constructed to replace the existing old one that was about collapsing.
Xaverine Kankuyu, the beneficiary who received the house is one among people who survived in former Muhazi commune. She survived with two children while five others and her husband were killed during the genocide.
Her new house is built in Akanogo village, Bwinsanga cell of Gishari sector in Rwamamgana district. It is constructed with cooked bricks, has three wide rooms and a sitting room.
The Chief Finance Officer of Bella Flowers, Muganga Walter said the idea of building the house emanated from close collaboration with Gishari sector which selected the beneficiary.
“They led us to this old woman who survived the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi. He was living in a seriously destroyed house. It was likely to fall in case it rained. Then we decided to build another house and demolished the old one,” he said.
Muganga explained that the company is committed to contributing to the welfare of the community where it pays Mutuelle de Sante for its 600 workers and 300 residents in Gishari sector.
Kankuyu has thanked FPR-Inkotanyi for rescuing her and continuous support from the government comforting her from the dark past she passed through. She explained that the previous house had been built by Caritas and was damaged that it would collapse one day.
“I sought support from sector officials. The conducted advocacy leading to building this house. I have a thankful heart because I had never dreamt sleeping in such a house,” she revealed.
The mayor of Rwamagana district, Radjab Mbonyumuvunyi lauded Bella Flowers for efforts to support needy Rwandans beyond businesses.
“When we officially inaugurate such house, it means that we restore life to genocide survivors, taking care of them, that government leadership hears their concerns and never forgot them,” he said.
Mbonyumuvunyi called on other development partners to root on current progress to build the desired nation.
Bella Flowers practice agriculture of flowers on 40 hectares with 600 workers.
The court ordered their immediate release after finding no evidence pinning them. The prosecution is allowed to have appealed against the release in no more than 30 days.
The duo was arrested two weeks ago over alleged embezzling of public funds as per the National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA).
Information from the prosecution indicated that the duo was being interrogated for alleged complicity in the misuse of funds worth Rwf 249 million in One Laptop Per Child Project that is under REB.
John Rutayisire was the first director of REB when the institution was created in 2011, out of merger of different institutions under the education sector including Rwanda National Examinations Council (RNEC), Teacher’s Service Commission (TSC), The National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) and Student Financing Agency for Rwanda (SFAR).
He served until 2015 when he handed over to Gasana who served until 2017.
Gasana was replaced in February 2017 by Dr. Irenée Ndayambaje who is still in service.
The ceremony that coincided with the beginning of commemoration week took place in the multipurpose room of Shenyang Crown Plaza Hotel.
It was characterized by talks on genocide history and observing a moment of silence in honor of over 1 million victims killed in 100 days and lighting the flame of hope.
The youth were tasked to consolidate Rwanda’s achievements and put more efforts in learning genocide history to draw lessons leading to re-building the nation.
Participants also watched a documentary depicting the resilience process, unity and reconciliation among Rwandans over the past 25 years.
The president of Rwanda’s diaspora in Shenyang, Medard Mwongereza highlighted that the reconciliation process of Rwandans made Rwanda a role model across the World.
He urged Rwandans to uphold values of forgiveness wherever they are.
“Our parents passed on a good legacy to us. We must always learn to forgive. What we have learned today is the life they passed through. They endured suffering but looked forward to the future of the country and ours. Our daily lives must
be characterized by such great values,” said Mwongereza.
Artistes were part of the cohort of people who were involved in the preparation and execution of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi which Rwanda is commemorating for the 25th time.
One of them is Simon Bikindi who released different songs mobilizing Hutus to kill Tutsi.
Talking to IGIHE, Dominic Ashimwe said that artistes have the power to change people’s mindsets but their message can be destructive if wrongly used.
“The power of an artiste to fans negatively impacts the community if wrongly used and contributes to building the nation if the talent is used well,” he said.
Ashimwe requested fellow artistes to focus on works of arts conveying messages building peace among world population.
“Artistes’ work requires vigilance through their work of arts (music, poems, drawings, and plays among others). The message conveyed should bear good fruits to Rwandan society and the rest of the world and strive to become the right channel enhancing harmony among people,” he advised.
The ceremony took place in the former Camp Kigali where the 10 Belgian soldiers who guarded the then Prime Minister Agathe Uwiringiyimana were killed. It was organized by the Kingdom of Belgium.
The ceremony was attended by the Belgian Prime Minister, Right Honourable Charles Michel, who was accompanied by a large delegation of around 130 persons from Belgium (including family members of the 10 Belgian peacekeepers who were killed in Rwanda) and the Right Honourable Prime Minister, Dr. Ngirente Edouard.
During the ceremony held yesterday, Michel said that by the end of April 2019 Belgium will have voted for passing a law against denial of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
Michel said that there was evidence that genocide was being prepared at the time through his country and the international community never acted against it.
“As we pay homage to our soldiers, we reassure that it won’t happen again. We want to show that the memory of our heroic women and men is kept alive,” he said.
“Denial and trivialization of crimes against humanity in Rwanda must desist. I would like to inform that the Belgium parliament will pass a law against the denial of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi before the end of this month,” he said.
Rwanda’s Premier Dr. Edouard Ngirente said that Rwandans will always remember the bravery of Belgium soldiers who sacrificed their lives standing against the evil and hailed Belgium contribution to Rwanda in the resilience process. He noted that the relations between both countries are the right honor these soldiers deserve.
“This will always be the memory to honor Belgium soldiers killed during the genocide. However, the great honor we should respect is good relationships between both countries’ citizens,” he highlighted.
Belgium courts in 2007 handed 20 years sentence to Major Bernard Ntuyahaga, senior officer of the former government was in 2007 for being behind killings of Belgium soldiers.
Belgium also remembered 12 citizens who were killed in Rwanda during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
Different reports indicate that France was aware of the plan of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, supplied arms to the government which planned and executed genocide, declined to rescue Bisesero residents and provided passage for fleeing genocide perpetrators among others.
During a press conference yesterday, President Paul Kagame revealed that he has talked enough on the role of foreign countries in genocide.
During the 20th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, Kagame talked on the role of France, Belgium and Catholic Church in genocide and said “Les faits sont têtus.” A message he reproduced in English at the 25th commemoration on Sunday saying “The facts are stubborn.”
Speaking to the media yesterday, President Kagame said it is not necessary to repeat the same thing over time.
“Once you have stated the facts that live on as long as the problem lives on, does it makes sense that I have to keep repeating it? Because if I have said it more than once or twice, then you assume it was for the purpose of reminding people but you can’t just keep reminding people. Sometimes you give them room to think for themselves,” he noted.
Commenting on people who have asked whether what Rwanda needs from France or anybody else has been an apology, Kagame said it is not true.
“You can’t ask people to apologize or keep asking them to apologize or tell them how to apologize. That after all kills the whole meaning of an apology. For an apology to have meaning, it must come from somebody who is apologizing,” he said.
“You can’t ask the person who is offended whether he needs an apology or not. What would be the meaning of an apology extracted by somebody who deserves an apology? If you put all these things together you will realize that it is up to anyone. It is up to France, individuals to write the wrong they think they would agree they have inflicted on other people. This has been our approach,” added Kagame.
He, however, noted that it is not to deny the fact that the presence of Macron to the office because there has been very significant progress in terms of complicated environment of politics and all kinds of things.
“We still make progress from things that you know that happened including the way archives have been treated, being treated because they contain truth that people can make interpretation of. Thinking about bringing up the truth even making one step, next day two, all the steps required is good progress and we have seen that happening,” highlighted Kagame.
He also lauded the commission set up by Macron to investigate France role in the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
The ceremony which took place at Nyanza Genocide Memorial yesterday was attended by government officials, representatives of umbrella organizations of genocide survivors, representatives of international organizations and envoys to Rwanda.
The garden is one of parts making Nyanza memorial where over 11,000 genocide victims are laid to rest.
Nyanza is particularly known as the place where thousands of Tutsis were killed after they were abandoned by UN peacekeepers.
They had sought refuge at the former ETO-Kicukiro, (currently IPRC-Kigali), which was protected by UNAMIR peacekeepers, until the Belgian contingent decided to leave the country, leaving them in hands of Interahamwe militia.
Jeannette Kagame said the memorial was built to demonstrate a place where tragedies took place that “it is an unforgettable symbol reminding us that life went on.’
She laid a foundation stone to the garden in 2000 six years after the genocide was stopped.
“When we laid the foundation stone at this garden, it was few years after stopping the genocide which took lives of our beloved ones. It was too earlier that people didn’t think that life would be possible,” she noted.
“As years passed, the hope for life improved and the country progressed. Then we thought that the garden should be part of the memory and hope for life,” added Jeannette Kagame.
The memorial will portray truth on genocide, share testimonies of survivors and resilience with the aim of eliminating genocide ideology. It also reminds us of the task to preserve history, remembrance and promoting humanity.
“We need a place like this in a garden helping us to come together and keep the memory of those who departed,” said the First Lady. were killed for innate personality.
The architect Bruce Clarke, conceived the design of the garden after engaging with genocide survivors on creating other forms of keeping the memory and after visiting genocide memorials and historic sites.
He closely worked with IBUKA, umbrella of genocide survivors during the project.
Bruce Clarke said that the garden was sophisticatedly built and depicts hard times Tutsi passed through.
“Each symbol in this garden represents sorrow, loss of hope and rebuilding of hope. It is not an achievement of one person,” he said.
The president of IBUKA, Jean Pierre Dusingizemungu said that those visiting the garden will find the right place to reflect on what happened during the genocide. “We will be in conversations with ours in comfortable place having symbols of life. It will be a moment for everyone to understand that life exists and building hope for the future,” he observed.
The memorial garden is made of different sections including stones depicting victims killed during the genocide, how environment took part in rescuing hunted Tutsi, open holes representing where some genocide victims were thrown and rivers flowing through marshlands and the section of forest to remember among others.
The memorial garden built on around three hectares is expected to be completed within a year at Rwf 700 million.
He has made the revelation today in a press conference with local and international media covering the 25th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
Following the meeting with representatives of Ibuka-France on Friday last week, President Macron said that the committee of eight experts led by Prof. Vincent Duclert will assume the task of ‘Assessing writings kept in France related to genocides between 1990 and 1994 to analyze the role of France activities during that period and contributing to better understanding of Genocide against Tutsi.’
President Kagame said that the commission is a good stride by France leadership in response to repeated questioning of the role of France in the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
“The commission set up by President Macron is a significant milestone in France leadership to address the issue because they do more solving problems of their concern. However, that is a milestone in matters concerning Rwanda,” he said.
“If they made that milestone, it is because they want more improvements. Let’s wait and see what will happen. But I think it emerged with new leadership, new moment and the right time that must characterize new cooperation different from the previous one. At this time the situation can even improve more,” added Kagame.
Since Macron became the President of France in May 2017, President Kagame said that he has ushered transformations in France’s international relations especially with Africa.
Apart from the establishment of a commission to probe France role in the genocide, President Macron also unveiled that a platform to explain the history of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi and mobilizing people to engage in research projects on genocide with an emphasis on Tutsi genocide is set to be established.
