KIGALI - President Paul Kagame, yesterday, led thousands of youth in the ‘Walk to Remember – East Africa’, a march organised by Rwandan youth to pay tribute to the over a million Tutsi who were killed in the 1994 Genocide. 

The walk was also attended by various cabinet Ministers and other senior government officials.

It was held under the theme; ‘Uniting East African Community and empowering youth to stand against genocide,’ and  similar walks have been organized to take place in all capitals of the five East African states. 

The activity, which started from the Parliamentary Buildings in Kimihurura lasted over half an hour and ended at the Stadium where candles were lit in memory of the genocide victims.

Some names of those who lost their lives during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi were also read out at the well attended event.

In his address to the youth, Kagame thanked those who organised the event and told them that as they remember what happened, they should also keep in mind their responsibility in building the future.

President Kagame urged the youth who had converged at the parliamentary buildings to work hard, with all their knowledge and energy so that they can be of importance to their country.

He challenged them to do everything with caution and discipline to be able to work towards a better future for the country.

At the Stadium, President Kagame joined the youth to circle around the foot ball pitch holding hands in a sign of unity.

According to the organizers of the march, a similar event was simultaneously held in Bujumbura the capital of Burundi.

"Youth teams travelled around the East African countries to connect with their counterparts in these countries so as to mobilize for the walk in demonstration against divisive ideology which can lead to genocide,” read a statement from the organizers.

The same walk will take place in Nairobi, Kampala and Dar-el-Salaam on April 10 and thousands of youth are expected to participate.

According to the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG), Jean de Dieu Mucyo, Rwandan youth have a great responsibility.

"The youth of Rwanda have the great responsibility of - and opportunity to - learn from the past and work together to build a united country, free of genocide ideology,” said Mucyo.

He added that walk to remember was a great way to raise awareness about the negative effects of genocide while encouraging youth to be better leaders of the future.

Walk to remember East Africa was championed by CNLG, Peace and Love Proclaimers, Aegis Students and As We Forgive Rwanda initiative.

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