NORTHERN PROVINCE

GICUMBI – The Minister for Cabinet Affairs Dr Charles Murigande on Tuesday castigated former  colonial masters for devising and applying the divide and rule policy which created ethnic hatred among Rwandans that culminated into the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.

He was speaking on the occasion to mark the beginning of the 15th Commemoration of the Genocide which was held in Mutete Sector of Gicumbi district in Northern Province.

"Genocide did not occur accidentally, it was prepared, taught and put into action by the past regimes that were taught ethnic hatred by the colonial masters,” said Murigande.

He said that occasions like these should be utilised to teach Rwandans on how Genocide was prepared and executed to avoid its re-occurrence.

"Commemorating the Genocide is the only way to fight its ideology and Genocide denial’, said Murigande who later launched the "One Dollar Campaign” in the area to assist Genocide survivors.

The Governor of Northern Province Aimé Bosenibamwe called upon Rwandans to embrace unity, fight Genocide deniers and work hard to develop the economy.

"Those who claim there was double Genocide in Rwanda are perpetrators and deniers of the Genocide against Tutsi, that claimed many lives and devastated the economy’, stressed Bosenibamwe. 

The Governor further called upon those present to render assistance to Genocide survivors, mainly orphans and widows who are still experiencing trauma and poverty as effects of the Genocide 15 years later. 

The representative of IBUKA, a Genocide survivors’ umbrella organization, Emerthe Nyirarukundo, called upon residents to cooperate in identifying remains of the Genocide victims in the sector so that they are accorded descent burial.

She added that many Genocide survivors in the district still lack proper accommodation and are unable to access basic medical facilities.

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