Bank of Kigali (BK) Group paid tribute to 15 former employees killed during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, and underscored its commitment to inclusive growth and financial services that benefit all Rwandans without discrimination.

The bank's executives noted this on April 12 as they held a commemoration event in honour of Genocide victims, including former employees.

The commemoration event started with members of the families of the deceased employees, and BK senior leaders laying wreaths on a memorial monument at the financial group’s headquarters in Kigali in honour of the slain employees.

Later, BK staff and leaders paid tribute to all Genocide victims countrywide by laying wreaths on graves at Kigali Genocide Memorial.

BK Group CEO Béata Uwamaliza Habyarimana said that the staff and management of the group remembers the Genocide "because it is our responsibility to remember what happened, know the role played during the Genocide, but also for the young people amongst us to know what was committed during the Genocide so that they are able to shun it.”

Regarding rekindling hope for the families of the slain workers, she said "since we started [remembering BK employees killed in the Genocide], many and various activities were carried out, including being closer to the surviving families, supporting the education of their children upon completion of their studies, and employing some of them in BK.”

"But, in line with renewal in general, we are broadening by including all people who need support because we realise that it is necessary that the youth know what happened during the genocide against the Tutsi, and be able to understand it adequately so that they can shun any source of fuelling hatred which we observe in our region, and among people who do not accept to correctly name the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.”

During the Genocide and some years before the tragedy, she said, discrimination occurred [in the country], including in BK – whether it is in job recruitment and employing workers, promotion of employees, and granting loans to Rwandans – which, she said, is no longer the case.

"Now we are in freedom, in a country that has made progress. Everyone has the right to loan access and employment in relation to their capacity and be able to achieve development, without fear of discrimination or exclusion,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of families of the deceased BK staff, Ambroise Rugambwa, commended BK for the support it extended to the families of the slain workers.

He decried the discrimination that was committed against the Tutsi, including excluding them from job opportunities, especially in BK.

"[For the Tutsi] being employed in BK was difficult,” he said, pointing out that having few Tutsi workers in BK was not because they were ignorant or unable to do the job, but was due to a discriminatory policy of the time.

Ibuka Vice President Christine Kagoyire thanked BK for supporting Genocide survivors, which she said was possible thanks to good leadership.

"As Genocide survivors, BK supports us a lot in the activities we do to preserve our history because it is among our priority objectives to preserve the history of our country,” she said, pointing out that this is in line with preventing the distortion of facts about the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

She told BK staff to always be characterised by good Rwandan values, provide good and right service free from discrimination or corruption, and shun evil.

BK registered progress

On the growth of BK 30 years since the Genocide, Habyarimana said "BK grew; we are five entities while we were one [30 years ago]. We are almost 1,400 staff, and we have presence countrywide. We are happy with the progress made.”

According to information from BK Group, it now counts five subsidiaries namely Bank of Kigali (incorporated in 1966) which provides corporate and retail banking services; BK TecHouse’s whose task is to drive digital innovation through providing connectivity solutions, software and analytics products; BK General Insurance that offers insurance packages including motor, fire, transport and money insurance; and BK Capital that offers advisory and investment services; and BK Foundation, a firm meant to support – through grants – the development of the Rwandan society under three components namely education, innovation, and environmental conservation.