{Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA) soldiers under the political stewardship of Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) started the liberation struggle with an onslaught on Kagitumba on October 1st 1990, a struggle that ended on July 4th 1994 with the stopping of genocide that had raged on for a hundred days, leaving over 1,000,000 dead. }
The Minister of Defense, James Kabarebe was among the fighters during the liberation struggle launched under the leadership of Major Gen Gisa Fred Rwigema who, unfortunately, died a day into the struggle. Following his unfortunate death, President Paul Kagame commanded the force till the liberation struggle ended.
Gen Kabarebe has told the youth why some young Rwandans sacrificed their lives to liberate the country, an unforgettable historical fight that characterize the RPA soldiers.
He said this yesterday as he talked to 300 students from Kigali schools in talks dubbed ‘Inter-Generation Dialogue’ organized by Miss Rwanda Mutesi Jolly.
The talk was centered on the theme ‘What is the role of Rwanda’s future youth to speed up the liberation journey’.
{{We spent long time without nationality }}
Gen Kabarebe said that Rwandans were deprived of their rights since 1959 through murders and oppression meted out on the Tutsi. He said that Rwandans were dismissed from Uganda and forbidden to return to Rwanda in 1982.
“Arriving between Rwanda and Uganda, soldiers of the time stopped us and asked us where we were going. We responded that Uganda government had dismissed us. The Rwanda government challenged us why we did go to Uganda and said that Rwanda is full with no more space for us,” he said.
Gen Kabarebe said that such contempt was followed by hurting words.
“A Sergeant soldier stood in front us and said ‘Uganda and Rwanda hate you, it means God is also going to hate you, “he said.
“They settled us in the swamp separating Rwanda and Uganda around 10:00 am till 22:00 pm standing in water in the river called Umuyanja. We could neither return to Uganda nor enter Rwanda. It means these hours we belonged to no country as we were rejected as refugees and mother land, “narrated Gen Kabarebe.
{{The best last option }}
At the time, hate speeches were spread in Rwanda by leaders comparing the country as glass full of water which couldn’t hold or accommodate any more.
Gen Kabarebe said that they returned to Uganda and president Habyarimana started negotiations with other countries to host them and grant them nationality.
They decided to head for forests realizing that they had no other choice.
“Why wouldn’t I take a gun to fight for having a nationality? Everyone has historical reasons that prompted him/her to fight for the country,” said Kabarebe.
Rwanda enemies still exist
Gen Kabarebe has told the youth that they had chances of having their country adding that many people are seeking to deprive them of available opportunities.
“People with behaviors of depriving Rwandans’ chances like those in past still do exist. When you hear FDLR in DRC, Europe, people abusing Rwanda and people proposing punishments to Rwanda; no good achievement by Rwanda is appreciated. They want to decelerate our progress . What do they want? It is Rwanda,” he said.
He asked the youth to protect achievements and the country to avoid reoccurrence of the dark past.
The president of parliamentary commission in charge of foreign affairs, cooperation and security, Mutimura Zeno told the youth that; “the country must protect its citizens , when you don’t have it you have no protection.The country is like the mother of all Rwandans and grants everything to citizens,” he said.
Miss Rwanda ,Mutesi Jolly urged the youth to strive for pride of the country preserving achievements, maintain its security and sacrifice themselves as they can.
The talks were attended by various leaders including the Minister of Sports and Culture, Uwacu Julienne and the Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Governance Board, Prof Shyaka Anastase among others.
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