The trial run of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi started as early as October 10, 1990, just ten days after The Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF Inkotanyi) launched its struggle to liberate the country from the fangs of the genocidal regime.

Kibirira Commune, Gisenyi Prefecture in the present day Gatumba Sector of Ngororero District, was one of the first areas to experience the brutality of the regime that went ahead to massacre over one million of its citizens. Kibirira is home to Leon Mugesera, a key Genocide suspect now in court.

"They said they did not want the RPF Inkotanyi to find any Tutsi still alive in case they captured the area,” said Aimable Kabanda, one of the very few survivors of Kibirira.

Kabanda, the president of Ibuka (survivors umbrella) in Ngororero District, gave this testimony during a recent visit by the Minister for Local Government to Gatumba Memorial Centre.

"They also found another excuse that the Tutsi were getting ready to welcome the king, who they alleged was making a comeback from Europe. This was just a pretext to kill us,” he added.  

In all the 12 sectors of Kibirira, the entire Tutsi population was almost wiped out, while their houses were destroyed and property looted by their Hutu neighbours. It was only in Rongi Sector, where Thadée Ngirabatware, the half brother of Mugesera, held sway, that the killings did not take place.

"Unlike Mugesera, Ngirabatware was a kind man. He said he did not want anyone killed,” Kabanda said.

Mugesera, now battling charges related to his role in the Genocide, is remembered for his infamous hate speech in which he allegedly called for the killing of all Tutsi in Rwanda and their bodies thrown in River Nyabarongo.

Survivors of the killings sought safety at Muhororo Catholic Church. The nuns, the senior priest, Rwigenza Francois and Bishop Ludoviko Gasore were kind enough to accept thousands of the Tutsi who filled their compound to capacity.

And as was the case in the past when killers still had some respect for the church, all those who managed to reach Muhororo Church were safe.

On October 18, 1990, Mugesera and some of the ruling party, the MRND, stalwarts, approached the Tutsi and advised them to return hom, saying nothing would happen to them. Some unsuspecting people indeed heeded the call and fell victim of a well-layed out trap and were killed. According to Kabanda, 837 Tutsi were killed.

"By 1994, over a hundred Tutsi were still camped at the church together with their livestock,” said Kabanda.

The Genocide

Persecution of the Tutsi did not cease a single day in Kibirira. Some sources say, it was because Kibirira was close to the home of former President Juvénal Habyarimana in Giciye Commune.

There were other early signs of the looming Genocide. Apart from Mugesera’s speech at Kabaya (1992) manifestos of some political parties were clearly based on the Genocide ideology.

Kabanda recalls a song composed and often sang by the Interahamwe and CDR that says: "Tubatsembatsembe” (let us exterminate them).

By 1992, the business of fabricating and selling bows, arrows and spears emerged in the area among the Hutu community. This increased fear among the Tutsi, who realized that the weapons were for something sinister, not for nothing.

Like elsewhere in the country, the grand implementation of the Genocide started on April 6, 1994, in Kibirira.

The Tutsi in Kibirira neighborhood kept hope alive that the men and women of God at Muhororo Church would still protect them. And so, they tried to get there.

News of "a safe haven” at Muhororo also reached neighbouring areas of Ramba and Satinsyi communes and hundreds of refugees gathered at the church. All together there were estimates of 23,000 Tutsi sheltered in the church, the Convent, the nearby primary school and a multipurpose hall.

The first attack by Interahamwe from Kibirira was repulsed by the Tutsi who tried to defend themselves using traditional weapons.

Then, Interahamwe from Karago, Giciye, Gaseke and Satinsyi communes intervened backed by heavily armed government soldiers. They surrounded the Tutsi and killed them all, including the clerics.

"We would like to tell those who survived the Genocide here that we really care. We are concerned with the atrocities you went through and we congratulate you for having managed to forgive the killers,” said James Musoni, the Minister of Local Government mid this week.

This article is part of a series published by The New Times for 100 days from April 7 to July 4.