{{The Kwibuka Flame of Remembrance today reaches Ndera in Gasabo District, the 29th stop on its tour of Rwanda.
The flame will return to the Kigali Genocide Memorial on 7 April 2014, the start of the national mourning period and twenty years since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.}}
You can view an interactive map of the tour here. The flame travels next to ETO Kicukiro in Gasabo District on 5 April 2014.
Today’s event is hosted by Mayor Willy Ndizeye and will reflect on the events of the 1994 genocide as well as the journey of unity and renewal in Gasabo and Rwanda since.
The Flame of Remembrance will be received by two 20 years olds, Afisa Tuyizere and Emmanuel Karenzi. A children’s choir from Groupe Scolaire Ndera will sing ‘Urumuri Rutazima’ (Never Ending Flame) to welcome the flame. The special guest is the Minister of Defence, Hon. James Kabarebe. The Mayor of the City of Kigali, Fidele Ndayisaba, will also speak.
Genocide survivor Josephine Murebwayire will give testimony at today’s event. Josephine took refuge at the Ndera Hospital for Mental Health and was the only person to survive the massacres there. Gaspard Kalisa was born in 1961 in the former Rubungo Commune in Kigali.
During the genocide, Gaspard saved approximately 30 families. He was awarded by IBUKA (the umbrella organisation for survivors groups in Rwanda) in recognition of what he did in 1994 and will also speak.
Gasabo District is composed of the former Kacyiru, Rubungo, Gikoro, Gikomero and Rutongo communes. Before 1994, Gasabo was a mostly rural area except for the Kacyiru commune. Many Tutsi lived in Gasabo District, most of whom were killed in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
At the Ruhanga memorial 32,257 victims are buried. A large group of Tutsi took refuge at a Protestant church there. After a brief resistance, they were attacked and killed by Interahamwe militia, backed by government soldiers.
Tutsi in Jali took refuge in the Catholic Church there and were killed by soldiers from Jali Military Camp backed by militia from around the area. The remains of more than 26,000 Tutsi lie at rest there.
When the genocide started, Tutsi from Remera, Kimironko and Gacuriro fled to Kibagaba Catholic Church. They were attacked by soldiers from Kami Military Camp and were killed by grenade attacks and bullets. More than 24,000 victims of the genocide are buried in Kibagaba.
On the 7 April 1994 in Ndera, Tutsi and moderate Hutu fled to Ndera Neuropsychiatric Hospital, which was run at the time by white catholic clergy.
On 11 April 1994, one thousand innocent civilians who had sought refuge at a school known as Petit Seminaire, Ndera were murdered.
On the 17 April 2014 more than 20,000 people who had sought protection in the hospital were also killed.
Belgian Commandos were sent in, but they only rescued foreigners and left hundreds of Tutsi to die at the hands of soldiers and militia.
Ndera stands as a reminder of the failure of the international community during the Genocide against the Tutsi.
Today, more than 20,000 victims are buried at the Ndera Genocide Memorial.
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