HUYE - First Lady Jeannette Kagame, yesterday, visited Abasa, an association of women who were sexually abused during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and donated Rwf2m on behalf of Imbuto Foundation.

On arrival at Sahela Village in Mukura Sector, the First Lady toured some of the 52 houses that were built with the support of the Foundation to which she is patron.

The houses are occupied by 60 families made up of women and girls who suffered various forms of sexual abuse during the Genocide against the Tutsi.

Mrs Kagame pledged Imbuto Foundation’s continued support to the association and promised to donate one cow per family to improve their welfare.

"We have come to show you that we love you, we will continue to support you so that your lives improve,” said the First Lady.

In an animated interactive session, members of the association expressed their gratitude towards the First Lady and Imbuto Foundation.

"The support that we received from the Foundation has changed our lives,” said Rose Burizihiza, the chairperson of the association.

"We have been given a new lease of life, we can now look forward to the future with confidence and much hope because of the love and support from the Foundation.”

In a heart rending account of what happened to her during the 1994 Genocide, 74-year old Suzan Mukabaganwa revealed how she suffered as a result of being gang-raped during the Genocide.

Many of the rape victims gave birth to children whose fathers they do not know and 10 of them contracted HIV as a result of the multiple rapes.

‘Those who contracted HIV have been placed under treatment, they are now receiving Anti- Retroviral drugs (ARV’s),” said Radegonde Ndejuru, the Foundation’s Coordinator.

Since the start of its cooperation with Imbuto Foundation in 2004, Abasa Association members have made great strides to rebuild their lives that had been shattered by the Genocide.

To improve their welfare, members of the association have started income generating projects with over Rwf3million provided by Imbuto Foundation that include bee keeping, livestock farming and trading.

"We are now able to earn some income which has enabled us to sustain ourselves, we no longer have to beg to survive,” said Francoise Muraraneza, a member of the association.

On top of the promise of a cow per family, the Foundation has promised to provide water tanks to each homestead to harvest rain water.

The village will also soon receive electricity, according to the Provincial Governor Fidele Ndayisaba, who accompanied the First Lady during the visit.

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