Ululation rented the air yesterday as a huge crowd welcomed Kwibuka (Remembrance) Flame in Gisagara District, Southern Province.

The Flame continues its national tour that will see it visit all the 30 districts ahead of the national commemoration week that starts on April 7.

Its arrival in Gisagara marked its seventh stop since it departed from Kigali early this month.

"Seeing people standing together and applauding as the Flame arrived made me extremely happy,” said Therese Mukamusoni, a Genocide survivor.

"It showed me that the dark times we went through will never come back as we are united for one common purpose. We are working for a bright future for ourselves, our children and our country. What we went through should not stop us from moving on and working to better our lives.”

The call to work hard to uplift people’s living conditions and champion a prosperous nation was also echoed by almost every speaker at the event near the district headquarters.

MP Speciose Mukandutiye urged Gisagara residents to learn from the country’s dark past to build a better future.

"Let this Flame inspire the commitment to do the good and avoid the bad,” she said.

Mukandutiye told residents that 20 years after the Genocide, the country has made significant achievements in rebuilding itself and urged them to make efforts to safeguard the achievements and build from them to attain far more improved living conditions.

"Let the light with the achievements we have made be the foundation from which to base on to rebuild what was destroyed, championing peaceful communities and building better lives,” Mukandutiye said.

"This Flame symbolises our hope and commitment into a bright future. It is a sign of peace and sustainable development.”

She called upon Genocide perpetrators to seek forgiveness, saying "everyone is ready to forgive.”

The MP also called for open and frank discussions on the country’s past as a way of cementing people’s unity, urging residents to embrace the Ndi Umunyarwanda programme. 

‘Taking the light to families’

Mukandutiye said it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that the light continues shining.

She challenged the residents to take the light into their families and communities so as to "ensure that the Rwandan spirit continues to prevail and that the Rwandan values continue to guide us in whatever we do.”

"Light comes with blessings for peaceful and developed families, communities and country. It should encourage us to stand right and never commit the same mistakes we did some years ago,” she said, as she urged them to fight Genocide ideology and any form of discrimination.

Gisagara mayor Leandre Karekezi said it is time to reflect on the country’s past and reinforce the ‘never again’ resolve.

"It is 20 years now since Rwanda saw the light again after years in darkness,” Karekezi said. "It is time to continue our resolve that genocide will never happen again and emphasise the fact that what unites us is much stronger than the opposite.”

Francine Kampororo, a survivor who testified at the event, narrated the ordeal that Tutsis underwent during the Genocide until they were mercilessly murdered by Interahamwe militia and soldiers.

She recalled how Tutsis in the area were trapped and lured to gather at a place known as Kabuye with promises from former leaders that their security would be guaranteed. However, it turned out to be a trap and a strategy to have them in one place where they were killed.

"Machine guns were installed on four hills overlooking Kabuye and bullets were sprayed into Tutsis, killing many of them,” she said.

More than 50,000 Tutsis are believed to have perished at Kabuye, making it one of the worst scenes of mass killings during the Genocide.

Kampororo pointed an accusing finger at former interim president Theodore Sindikubwabo, whom she accused of ordering the killing of Tutsis in the area. Other testimonies seem to corroborate the account.

Kampororo said survivors have done their best to uplift their living conditions and that, today, many are living better.

On Thursday, the Flame will embark on its eighth leg of the tour, with a stop in Kibeho Sector of Nyaruguru District.

What the people say

Joseph Muhire, Student at Groupse Scolaire Gisagara.

‘The Flame reminds us that we should continue to work to heal the broken hearts and keep avoiding anything that could divide us. As young people, particularly, this torch teaches us that the light has come and that there will never be darkness once more. We will continue to make efforts to contribute to building united communities and we resolve to reject ideas of anyone who might want to divide us showing them that we are all one, that we are all Rwandans.’

Celestin Semigabo, resident of Ndora Sector.

The Flame reminds us of our duty to keep striving for peace and development within our communities. It is a call to all of us to make sure we live in harmony and that we support each other in our common endeavour to make this country a thriving nation.’

Emmanuel Ndayisenga, educator.

‘This Flame is a sign that there is light in this country and that no more darkness. It is a symbol that the country continues to grow and register significant achievements irrespective of the past. It is a call to continue doing what is good.’