The event took place at Nyarubuye Genocide Memorial Center in Kirehe District, Eastern Province.
A wiped out family means the family where no member, from parents to children survived the genocide. Currently, a total of 9706 families have been identified in 19 districts.
The event was marked with a walk to remember from Nyarutunga centre to the memorial located in former Rusumo Commune.
GEARG President, Olivier Mazimpaka said that though the families were wiped out, their lights are still shining in the hearts of survivors.
“Remembering wiped out families remind us the genocide plan which targeted the whole family from father, mother and all children,” he said.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of National Commission for the Fight Against the Genocide (CNLG), Dr. Jean Damascène Bizimana revolved around how Tutsi were persecuted in different parts of the country, being called auspices of RPA Inkotanyi especially in former Kibungo Prefecture.
He said that a total of 6120 were imprisoned in Kigali, 623 in Kibungo, 320 in Byumba, 304 in Gisenyi and 251 in Butare.
Bizimana reminded people to use appropriate appellations of the scenarios of what happened in the genocide.
“Saying that people were dead is not appropriate because people might die natural death, we should say that Tutsi were killed. Also, saying that Tutsi passed through the journey to the cross is not appropriate because that happened to Jesus and he had chosen so,” he explained.
The Eastern Province Governor, Fred Mufulukye called upon parents to teach children on good choice.
“We should question the role of parents, we should ask ourselves whether those who perpetrated the genocide had been appropriately educated. Let’s teach our children on good values,” he urged.
The 9706 wiped out families that have been identified had a total of 42, 647 members and the census have been conducted in 19 districts, but the mission is to reach all districts.
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