RwandAir commemorates

RwandAir management and staff on Wednesday visited Ntarama Memorial Site in Bugesera District to pay tribute to victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Friday, May 01, 2015
Mirenge hands over the donations to the survivors. (John Mbanda)

RwandAir managementand staff on Wednesday visited Ntarama Memorial Site in Bugesera District to pay tribute to victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Alphonse Habimana, who works as a guide at the memorial site, told the visiting RwandAir staff  how the Genocide was carried out in the area. Habimana lost his family members, including both his parents during the Genocide.

 "They were killed in my presence but fortunately I managed to this church, which is now a memorial site,” he said. Thousands of Tutsi were killed at Ntarama church with about 5000 victims interred there.

  RwandAir CEO John Mirenge thanked the management of Ntarama memorial site and survivors for keeping the young generation informed about the Genocide.

  "We shall always live to remember our brothers and sisters who lost their lives in the Genocide,” he said.

The RwandAir staff went on to visit Genocide survivors in Mulambi, Bugesera and donated food stuff and other items which included 250 sacks of maize flour, beans and over 100 boxes of soap.

Survivors recounted memories of the killings and how they have managed to cope with the consequencies.

Beata Nyinawumuntu, a survivor, thanked the management of RwandAir for the love and care they showed.

 She also commended the government for the current peace and security in the country.

 Louis Rwagaju, the Bugesera mayor, thanked RwandAir for supporting Genocide survivors in the district.

 RwandAir has so far built over 60 houses for over 240 survivors in the area and connected their homes to the national grid.

 At the same church, there is a former Sunday school, where children were taken and systematically killed. Blood stained walls testify to the horror.