They are appreciated for their commitment to resist evil and fighting against the execution of Genocide.
He delivered the message today as he presided over the ceremony closing the commemoration week that also coincided with the remembrance of slain politicians killed over opposing plans perpetrate Genocide against Tutsi.
The ceremony took place at Rebero Genocide Memorial where over 14,000 victims including Tutsi killed in Kigali as Genocide began and politicians that opposed Genocide plan.
Dr. Iyamuremye explained that remembering these politicians is essential because Genocide was not executed by accident.
“As proven by expert and researcher on the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, Genocide can’t be executed without support of leadership. Genocide against Tutsi was also planned and executed because bad leadership utilized maximum resources, political parties and other Government’s entities,” he noted.
Dr. Iyamuremye said that these politicians remembered stood against hatred, divisionism and Genocide preparations and were aware that they could lose life but kept the bravery spirit due to the love for Rwanda and Rwandans.
“They were not hunted for ethnic groups but for their virtues to stand against hatred, ethnic divisionism and Genocide ideology. We should not however forget that there are some that were killed for being good politicians and Tutsi. Those killed trying to save Tutsi and resisting Genocide ideology are also found among other categories of Rwandans. They were also characterized by self-less dedication until they accepted to sacrifice their lives to save hunted Tutsi,” he stressed.
Dr. Iyamuremye requested Rwandans to uphold the good legacy left by politicians.
“We should uphold the legacy of politicians we remember today striving that genocide never happens again, desisting propagandists denying and trivializing Genocide and those fueling their destructive ideologies. This will give the right meaning to our theme of remembering while rebuilding,” he noted.
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG), Dr. Jean Damascène Bizimana has said that political parties held mobilizations to incite hatred and killing of Tutsi between 1990 until 1994.
He explained that Rebero Genocide Memorial accommodates over 14,000 Genocide victims killed in different parts of Kigali including Nyamirambo, Gitega, CHUK and Cyahafi among others.
The former Prime Minister, Agathe Uwiringiyimana, leaders of PL political party including Landouard Ndasingwa, Kabageni Venantie, Charles Kayiranga, Jean de la Croix Rutaremara, Augustin Rwayitare and Aloys Niyoyita are among 12 politicians killed during genocide and buried at Rebero memorial.
The financing and technical cooperation agreement is the outcome of the Inter-Governmental Negotiations that were concluded last Year between our two respective Governments.
59 million Euros of the grant agreement will be provided through KFW Development Bank and will support various initiatives including technical and vocational training, promotion of export oriented SMEs, through the support to Export Credit Facility in Rwanda under BRD, promotion of green investments as well as ICT support. The remaining 19 million Euros will be channeled through GIZ and will support decentralization and good governance, prevention of sexual and gender based violence among others.
Speaking after the signing event, Minister Ndagijimana said the financial support extended to Rwanda will support key areas that are critical to the attainment of the country’s development objectives.
“This support comes at a critical juncture given the effects COVID-19 has had on our social –economic advancement. We look forward to boosting these important areas that are in line with our National Strategy for Transformation. We thank Germany for the strong cooperation and solidarity especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,“ Minister Ndagijimana said.
The German Ambassador to Rwanda Dr. Thomas Kurz stressed: “These Agreements underline the long-standing and proven cooperation between our two countries based on friendship and mutual trust. Germany is committed to support Rwanda in its Economic Recovery Process and the implementation of NST 1 in order to reach the SDGs and to leave no one behind.“
The Division of Labor allows Germany development cooperation programme to be active in Education (including TVET); Decentralization and Good Governance, Private Sector Development and Youth; Public Financial Management (PFM); Financial Development. Germany also supports Regional Projects: Centre of Excellence for Health, Improvement of the Investment Climate, Microfinance sector-MIFSSA, ICGLR and Energy.
Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube are amongst the top social media platforms used by a large number of propagandists, undermining and denying the Genocide against Tutsi that took lives of over 1 million in 100 days.
Most of them use abusive words that are intended to hurt Genocide survivors and moreover fuel ethnic divisionism among Rwandans, ignoring the truth to which they have facts and evidences.
Ujeneza has authored books including ‘De l’autre côté de l’Ecran, SIMBI’. She is the daughter of Boniface Ngulinzira who served as Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs between 1992 and 1993.
Ngulinzira was among politicians that distanced themselves from the ruling political party, MRND that masterminded Genocide.
He played a pivotal role in Arusha Peace Agreements during his officer term. Ngulinzira later kept a close eye to their implementation which infuriated the Government of the then President Juvénal Habyarimana.
Even though he was not among hunted Tutsi, Ngulinzira was assassinated on Nyanza hill in Kicukiro on the evening of 11th April 1994 over his firm beliefs to stand for the truth and to strive for harmony among Rwandans.
Ujeneza has, via her twitter wall, blamed people – whom the majority is the youth, using social media platforms to spread hatred and denial of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
She further said that such deniers warmly welcome whoever alludes to the Genocide against Tutsi as ‘Genocide in Rwanda’.
“It is not unusual. Most of these young people didn’t lose parents or relatives during that time. They don’t remember anyone who hunted or chased them out of their houses,” she observed.
“Unable to remain silent, they come here on Twitter to ridicule survivors of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi. Between April and July 1994, a genocide was perpetrated against one ethnic group: Tutsi. It is indubitable,” added Ujeneza.
The genocide was planned for long that politicians against the then Government’s cruelty were assassinated.
“Hutus from different categories had heavy responsibility during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi. These include intellectuals, public servants, business people, teachers, believers, soldiers, members of Gendarmerie [Rwanda’s Policing unit during the pre-Genocide], men, women and children,” stressed Ujeneza.
The author went on to describe what she personally witnessed what happened during Genocide at the age of 13.
“I saw it with my own eyes. These perpetrators were the people we knew that turned into cruel monsters,” she noted.
“Tutsi in advanced ages in 1994 had experienced massacres and violence in the 1950s until 1960 and 1970s when they lost relatives, were deprived of land, livestock and other possessions. Such killings and violence were precursors of the execution of Genocide in 1994 that targeted one ethnic group. Tutsi. During that time, no one fled Rwanda because he/she was Hutu,” emphasized Ujeneza.
Considering the aforementioned eye witness, Ujeneza said that misinterpreting ‘Genocide against Tutsi’ as ‘Genocide in Rwanda’ is going beyond limits, undermining history which she also considers ‘an insult’.
“No one was killed for being Rwandan in 1994,” she stressed.
Rwanda is commemorating the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi for the 27th time. The commemoration began on 7th April with lighting the flame of hope at Kigali Genocide Memorial and later followed by talks held at Kigali Arena bringing together top Government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, Rwandans and friends of Rwanda.
The commemoration that lasts 100 days is taking place for second time during Coronavirus pandemic whereby talks are delivered virtually through mainstream media including televisions and radios as well as other social media platforms.
Over the years, people have been reported and arrested for threatening genocide survivors, uprooting their crops, stabbing their livestock or destroying their houses among other violent acts during commemoration period.
Among others, it has been observed that propagandists, roaming perpetrators and their supporters often use this time to spread genocide ideology, deny and trivialize the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi which continue to pain survivors who endured with both physical and psychological trauma.
It is a worrying situation that such propagandists intend to mislead people especially the youth considered the backbone of the national development and hold back the strides Rwanda has made in unity and reconciliation.
Those arrested include Francois Munyaneza, 33, and Jean Mbarushimana Cyumbati, 48, apprehended in Amashya Village, Agahabwa Cell of Kigembe Sector, while the third suspect, Francoise Nyirakamana, 40, was apprehended in Agahehe Village, Higiro Cell in Nyanza Sector.
The Southern Region Police Spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire, said the group was ambushing smugglers and confiscating their goods, if they failed to give them a certain amount of money.
“Police received information from residents that Munyaneza and Mbarushimana brought six bales of secondhand clothes smuggled from Burundi, which they kept in the houses of one Nyiramasabo Francine and Eliab Rukiriza,” SP Kanamugire said.
Nyiramasabo is a mother to Munyaneza while Rukiriza is Francoise Nyirakamana’s husband.
“Police officers recovered five bales of the smuggled clothes from the house of Rukiriza, who managed to escape but his wife Nyirakamana was apprehended. Another bale belonging to Munyaneza was found in his mother’s (Nyiramasabo) house. The prime suspects; Munyaneza and Mbarushimana were also located and arrested,” the Spokesperson said.
It is said that Munyaneza and Mbarushimana ambushed a group of casual labourers hired by one only identified as Hakizimana, a resident of Nyaruguru District, to smuggle the bales into Rwanda from Burundi.
Munyaneza and Mbarushimana demanded Rwf400,000 so as to conceal information on Hakizimana’s unlawful business.
“When the smugglers failed to pay the agreed amount of money (Frw400, 000), Munyaneza and Mbarushimana confiscated the bales as leverage until the money is paid. We are also still searching for one Hakizimana, the rightful owner of the bales and all other people connected to this smuggling ring,” SP Kanamugire said.
Those arrested were handed over to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB).
Under the East African Community Management Act, which is also applicable in Rwanda, seized smuggled goods under article 199, are auctioned.
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A taxpayer, who commits fraud, is subject to an administrative fine of one hundred percent (100%) of the evaded tax. With exception to that penalty, the Tax Administration refers the case to the Prosecution service if the taxpayer voluntarily evaded such tax. In case of conviction, the taxpayer can be imprisoned for a period between six months and two years.
The President reiterated the commitment yesterday as he participated in the meeting bringing together heads of state and Governments, as well as heads of different institutions and international organizations assessing how Arica can manufacture COVID-19 vaccines.
The meeting held virtually was organized by African Union (AU) in collaboration with Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
In line with the agenda of increasing domestic health financing, Kagame highlighted that it is important for Africa to forge strategic public-private partnerships for vaccine manufacturing on our continent.
“Vaccine production goes hand in hand with increased investments in domestic health systems, as well as building an efficient and autonomous Africa CDC, which I think is the way we are headed. Rwanda is ready to play a role in this effort, together with other member states and partners,” he said.
Kagame further stressed that Africa needs to expand production capacity for vaccines and other essential medical products.
He said that he contacted and discussed with manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines who insisted that Africa can make it.
“In the past few weeks and months, I had the opportunity to initiate contacts with different manufacturers of vaccines, specifically focusing on the Messenger RNA (mRNA) technique used by Moderna and Pfizer. We have been involved in discussions and I have briefed a few colleagues on our continent, but we want to take this forward by discussing it with others,” he said.
“There is a company that is capable of this technique, just as Moderna and Pfizer have been doing, that is ready and willing. I will brief those responsible very soon. I am sorry that I have not done that before we had this discussion,” added Kagame.
The President stated that Africa can apply techniques of these manufacturers complementing with other ways like the adenovirus method, in the vaccines used by Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca.
“And therefore, for Africa to move from being very sorry for ourselves, which is the case today — and I think no one single person takes the blame for that — but we have to take the blame for that, and move from what we know has not worked well for Africa to something we can do, using the examples President Ramaphosa mentioned, by partnering with these industries,” he noted.
“The African Continental Free Trade Area makes these investments even more attractive. The Africa Medicines Agency Treaty is a critical part of the institutional framework, and I urge African member states to ratify this, as many as we can have ratify, as soon as possible,” he added.
The meeting was also attended by President of DRC Felix Tshisekedi who is the current Chairperson of AU and his counterpart of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa.
Nsabimana learnt about the incident yesterday morning as he visited the garden.
The executive secretary of Nyamabuye sector, Gakwerere Eraste has told IGIHE that investigation have started to identify culprits.
“We have learnt about it this morning that a genocide survivor visited the garden located at the place where his grand-father used to liven and found eight banana stalks cut down. He alerted us that we immediately started investigation to identify culprit in collaboration with relevant authorities,” he said.
He explained that the act reflects that some people still have Genocide ideology and expressed optimism that culprits will be finally apprehended.
“Despite what happened, security of Genocide survivors in Nyamabuye sector is guaranteed and whoever with problems is assisted to sort them out,’ noted Gakwerere.
The statement released last night shows that 109 people caught the virus, 29 recovered while 8 are critically ill.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 23535 people have been tested positive of whom 21272 have recovered, 1947 are active cases while 316 have succumbed to the virus.
Figures from the ministry show that 348,926 people have been vaccinated since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation program on 5th March 2021.
Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
Rwandans are urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.
Until today, church leaders are blamed to have played a role during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi mobilizing followers to kill fellows.
In 2016, the Catholic Church apologized on behalf of its members that participated in the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi through the statement signed by nine bishops.
“Even though the church sent no body to do harm, we, the Catholic clerics in particular, apologize, again, for some of the church members, clerics, people who dedicated themselves to serve God and Christians in general who played a role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi,” reads part of the statement.
In April 2016, the Association of Pentecostal Church of Rwanda (ADEPR) also apologized for complicity of its members during Genocide against Tutsi.
IGIHE has talked to church leaders including the Archbishop of Kigali Diocese, Cardinal Antoine Kambanda and the spokesperson of ADEPR, Pastor Ndayizeye Isaie to hear their message to Rwandans and hint on learned lessons and teachings churches should promote.
Cardinal Kambanda said that Genocide against Tutsi is beyond imagination considering the fact that Christians also took part of it.
“Genocide against Tutsi reflected extreme cruelty. The saddest thing is that it was perpetrated by Rwandans including Christians. This hurts us. What happened in Rwanda is beyond imagination had it not been the Mercy of God,” he said.
“That is why we take time, during this period of commemoration, to pray so that God can defeat the evil and hatred to resurrect from death to lead new life. This is what Jesus Christ came to teach us when he was oppressed and accepted to die in solidarity with all oppressed and killed over their innate personality,” added Cardinal Kambanda.
He highlighted that it is saddening for a Christian to take lives of fellows yet they are aware that ‘life’ is the greatest gift God gave people.
“The blood of victims is a tear that reaches God. During this period, we take time to comfort genocide survivors and pray for Genocide victims to continue resting in eternal peace,” said Cardinal Kambanda.
Pastor Ndayizeye Isaie genocide victims suffered a lot without anyone to comfort them.
“Survivors endured extreme sufferings during Genocide when they had no one help or comfort them. We comfort them and remind that Christ is around to comfort and soothe their hearts despite endured difficulties,” he said.
The Bishop of the Anglican Church in Kigali , Rusengo Nathan Amooti has observed that Genocide against Tutsi uncovered the status of Christianity among Rwandans noting that they turned into ‘Judas’ (Iscariot) and perpetrated killings.
“Genocide reflected the extent of Christianity among Rwandans. It weighed us, Rwandans and Christians. Rwandans became Judas, betrayed and killed fellows,” he said.
“We should admit our weakness and committed evils that also led us to killing the son of God. We offended our fellows and God,” added Rusengo.
Judas Iscariot was one of the Twelve Apostles. He is notorious for betraying Jesus by disclosing Jesus’ whereabouts for 30 pieces of silver. Judas brought men to arrest Jesus and identified him with a kiss. Jesus was then arrested, tried, and executed.
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Cardinal Kambanda has said that Christians should be taught to love each other and avoid whatever that could lead divide them.
“Priority teachings should mobilizing people to stand against discrimination. Our bond of unity is much valuable than differences. The difference rests in economic status but we are flowers as Mary of Kibeho told us. The beauty of flowers lies in the mix of varied of colors. This should apply to us to stand united,” he said.
“Our uniqueness is the beauty and our strength. Saint Paul says it well alluding to an example of a body composed of different parts which form its strength,” added Cardinal Kambanda.
Pastor Ndayizeye also highlighted that preachers should strive to instill good values among Christians.
“We should be careful and follow up whether our teachings transform people into Church followers or followers of Christ. This point should be given much relevance to avoid bystanders,” he said.
“It has been observed that such virtue was missing during Genocide against Tutsi. It is important to analyze the transformations brought by messages delivered nowadays bring to lives of Christians and how they can resist the evil regardless of the forces behind,” added Ndayizeye.
Bishop Rusengo also observed that Christians should repent and take on their responsibility as Christians to perceive fellows in the image of God.
In July 2019, President Paul Kagame blamed preachers who played a role to turn churches into killing fields saying that Rwandans are not short of lessons showing them how to do it because there is more strength they should use to build the Rwandan family and make a contribution on the global scale.
He made the observation in his concluding remarks following the training of leadership dubbed ‘Purpose Driven Leadership Gathering’ organized by PEACE Plan Rwanda at Kigali Convention Center (KCC).
The training was attended by close to 2,000 people from the public, private and faith based sectors for the Purpose Driven Leadership Gathering led by Pastor Rick Warren.
At the time, Kagame reflected on the country’s tragic history that led to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi taking lives of over 1 million victims saying it should leave a considerable lesson.
“You cannot call yourself a believer and behave as someone who is not a believer. I have still not understood how churches were turned into killing fields with those who taught the word of God choosing who should be killed,” said Kagame.
“It is a failure that will continue to leave a mark on our history. That is why Rwanda has to make extraordinary choices to heal from the tragedy and failures of our past,” he added.
The ceremony to remember these victims took place on Sunday at Nyanza Genocide Memorial observing COVID-19 preventive measures with few representatives of different groups.
Some mourners who spoke to IGIHE said that visiting memorials is a way to honor genocide victims.
The mayor of Kigali City, Rubingisa Prudence said that Rwanda is commemorating for the 27th time during Coronavirus pandemic but observed that honoring genocide victims should not be disregarded.
“I would like to comfort those who could not attend this ceremony because we are commemorating during unusual times preventing the spread of COVID-19. We have represented others so that we can lay wreaths, pay tribute to victims and remember Genocide against Tutsi,” he said.
Rubingisa reminded the youth to make a step forward to learn Rwanda’s history to be able to resist people denying and trivializing the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
“We still experience cases of Genocide ideology and trivialization but we won’t remain silent. We encourage the youth to visit memorials, learn history, to witness how victims were brutally killed. They should learn this truth so that they can resist people denying and misinterpreting history,” he noted.
The President of Ibuka in Kigali City, Egide Nkuranga called for intensified efforts to resist people who continue to fuel genocide ideology especially during commemoration period.
The President of Ibuka in Kigali City, Egide Nkuranga called for intensified efforts to resist people who continue to fuel genocide ideology especially during commemoration period.
“It has been 27 years since Genocide against Tutsi was stopped but we still have people denying and trivializing the Genocide especially during commemoration period. This means, there are some people with persistent and destructive ideologies and others intending to exterminate surviving Tutsi,” he said.
“It should be everyone’s responsibility to resist genocide deniers,” added Nkuranga.
Mukayiranga Spéciose, who represented families with relatives laid at Nyanza memorial in Kicukiro said that honoring victims soothes their hearts.
“We were hopeless during Genocide but we feel relieved when we visit this place. It makes us happy and soothes our hearts when we come to this place where relatives are laid to rest,” she noted.
Mukayiranga thanked the Government of Rwanda for having built memorials that helps them to remember fallen relatives.
Rwanda is commemorating for the 27th time under the them ‘ Rember-Unite-Renew’.
Nyanza-Kicukiro is distinctly known as one of the places where thousands of people were massacred a few days after the beginning of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
When the genocide began on April 7, over 3000 Tutsi from Kicukiro sought refuge at a former technical school, Ecole Technique Officielle de Kicukiro (ETO), in the belief that they would be protected by the United Nations peacekeeping forces for Rwanda (MINUAR) that was based there.
MINUAR would however desert them a few days later, despite the tension that had built up as the Interahamwe militia and government soldiers had surrounded the school.
Following the departure of the UN troops, government soldiers and Interahamwe took control of ETO Kicukiro.
In the school, Tutsi were taken by government soldiers and Interahamwe to Sonatube to be murdered there but the then mayor of the city, Lt. Col. Tharcisse Renzaho, ordered that they instead be taken to Nyanza and killed from there because Sonatube was too visible along the road to the airport.
The Tutsi were then forced to march back, all the way to Nyanza, amid a heavy downpour. Many had not eaten for a couple of days. Those too weak to walk were killed on the way. When they arrived at Nyanza, the militia asked them to present their IDs to ensure that no Hutu were among the group.
Mass killings then began and many of them were killed using machetes. The next morning, as the killers attempted to finish off those who were still alive, the Rwandan Patriotic Army soldiers arrived and rescued the few who had survived the massacre.
These abandoned Tutsi were killed on 11th April 1994.
The passing of singer Tom Close’s father in law has been revealed by Tria via Intagram account.
“What I feared since my childhood has happened. May God welcome you my dear Father,” she said.
Muyombo Thomas alias Tom Close and Niyonshuti Ange Tricia held their religious wedding at Saint Etienne in Biryogo in 2013and have since had three children including Ineza Ella born on 16th August 2014, Imena Elan born in June 2017 and Ellana.
Singer Tom Close currently serves as the Blood Transfusion Division Manager at Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC).
