Remains of over 2,000 victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi have so far been exhumed from two separate mass graves in Rubavu District, in an effort to accord them a decent burial.

The exercise to exhume the remains started on Saturday last week, beginning with the infamous Commune Rouge, a mass-grave where thousands of Tutsi were thrown by the militia, some alive.

Rubavu officials say though the exercise had initially targeted this particular grave, which was dug up by prisoners in 1994 specifically to serve as a dumpsite for the Tutsi, they have  since identified other mass graves in the district.

 "We thought remains of the victims were only dumped in Commune Rouge but after investigations, we discovered others were dumped elsewhere,” said Mayor Hassan Bahame, adding that they mostly used Genocide convicts to show them where other victims were buried.

Bahame said that over 5,000 Tutsi are believed to have been dumped in different areas in Gisenyi town, mainly in the area around the public cemetery.

 Innocent Kabanda, the head of Ibuka, the umbrella body of Genocide survivors’ associations, in the district said it was a great opportunity for survivors to finally see the remains of their loved ones, 20 years after the Genocide.

 "Some survivors have seen the remains of their deceased relatives. Many were identified by the clothes they wore the time they were killed, we expect more survivors to come and identify the remains of their loved ones,” he said.

He said after all bodies have been exhumed, they plan to accord them a decent burial at a memorial next month.

 "The construction of a memorial site for the victims is in the final stages. We  plan to honour them on June 21,” he said requesting district officials to offer support in expeditiously completing the memorial.

The memorial site will cost over Rwf150 million upon completion.

Among people dumped in Commune Rouge is Félicité Niyitegeka, who features on the list of national heroes in the ‘Imena’ category.

Niyitegeka was born in 1934 to  Simon Sekabwa and Angelina Nyirampabuka.

She was killed on April 21, 1994 during the 1994 Genocide.

Niyitegeka is remembered for refusing to part ways with the people who found refuge at Centre Saint Pierre in Gisenyi (currently Rubavu District).

She was just a janitor when her brother asked her to separate from the Tutsi since the military was aware of her activities, but she declined and was killed alongside 30 people whom she was trying to protect.