The ceremony was attended by families of the deceased, Ruhango residents, local government leaders, Survivor’s Umbrella Association (IBUKA) President, Prof. Jean Pierre Dusingizemungu and the Minister of Sports and Culture, Julienne Uwacu.
The remains had previously been buried in a mass grave in 1995 from where they were exhumed for a decent burial in newly constructed Mbuye Genocide Memorial Centre.
The representative of survivors in the region, Charles Habonimana said that having their fallen families buried in a dignified place relieves their hearts.
“We are happy to see our family members who had been buried in mass graves are now buried in a memorial site. It will facilitate post-genocide children learn the history of this region contrary to how it was hidden,” he explained.
IBUKA President Dusingizemungu called genocide perpetrators to reveal where they dumped victims during the genocide for them to be given decent burial.
“It is not God that will tell killers to reveal whereabouts of the remains of our family members; it is their conscience that will push them to. They should change mindsets and reveal those places so that they help survivors. Doing so, would facilitate perpetrators to reconcile with survivors,” he said adding that remembrance will continue.
Minister Uwacu said that refusing to reveal whereabouts of remains of genocide victims should be considered another crime.
“Shielding genocide history and refusing to reveal location of remains is a crime. People should not fear to be punished once they reveal them. They should do so to help survivors get relieved,” she said.
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