Today, residents of Kagarama Sector in Kicukiro District joined the rest of Rwanda in solemn remembrance of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, marking its 31st commemoration.
The event brought together local leaders, youth, and genocide survivors to honor the over one million lives lost during one of the darkest chapters in Rwanda’s history.
During the commemoration, Uwamwiza M. Chantal, the Executive Secretary of Kagarama Sector, emphasized the importance of positive engagement among youth. She encouraged them to utilize social media to highlight Rwanda’s remarkable progress and counter the narrative of genocide denial.
“Our youth are powerful agents of truth. You should use their voices online to showcase Rwanda’s development and challenge those who deny our history,” she said.
Residents were reminded of Rwanda’s painful past, especially how colonial powers introduced ethnic divisions that eventually fueled the genocide. Through discussions and testimonies, attendees reflected on the causes of the genocide and the importance of unity moving forward.
NGENDAHIMANA Yvan is the Vice President of Ibuka in Kicukiro District, umbrella organization for genocide survivors, expressed gratitude to the Rwandan government for its efforts in fostering national unity and reconciliation. He urged survivors to share any knowledge about sites of undiscovered bodies so that the victims can receive proper honor and be brought to the appropriate sites. “Let us continue the search for the missing. Every soul deserves dignity,” he said, while also appealing to the international community to establish strong laws against genocide denial.
Huss Monique, Deputy Executive Administrator of Kicukiro District, echoed the call for vigilance. She urged participants to confront genocide denial by learning and teaching Rwanda’s history. “We must stand together, in solidarity, and never allow anyone to take us back to a place of division and hatred,” she affirmed.
As the 31st commemoration concludes, Kagarama stands united in remembrance, resilience, and the shared promise of “Never Again.”
Gabriel UZABAKIRIHO / KIGALI TIMES