Hundreds turn up for Genocide commemoration in Uganda

Hundreds of mourners yesterday thronged the Lambu Memorial Centre in Uganda to pay tribute to victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis.The ceremony was marked by prayers and hymns as well as laying of wreaths on mass graves at the centre.

Friday, April 08, 2011
Mugambage (second left) is joined by PS James Mugume (with hoe) and other officials in planting a landmark tree at Lambu Memorial (Photo G Muramira)

Hundreds of mourners yesterday thronged the Lambu Memorial Centre in Uganda to pay tribute to victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis.

The ceremony was marked by prayers and hymns as well as laying of wreaths on mass graves at the centre.The mass grave contains thousands of victims who were killed and thrown into rivers,and bodies ended up on the shores of Lake Victoria.

In his speech as guest of honour, the Permanent Secretary in Uganda’s Foreign Ministry, James Mugume, called for concerted efforts in ensuring that the Genocide never happens again anywhere in the world.

"We must act together whenever we see signs of Genocide,” Mugume told the mourners, who included members of the diplomatic corps and Rwandans living in Uganda.

Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Uganda, Frank Mugambage called on the people to spare no effort in telling the truth on what happened during the Genocide.

He added that it is through this openness that the world will restore the dignity of the victims of the Genocide.

"Those who continue to propagate falsehoods about Rwanda will never succeed. We are resolute in taking achievements already registered to another level,” he said.

Mhamood Noordin Thobani, a Ugandan businessman who played a significant role in preserving the bodies, said that his final mission is to construct structures at the Ggolo Memorial Centre in Mpigi District, which shall include a prayer house and an auditorium for screening documentary films about the Genocide.

Ends