Remains of 279 victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi were, over the weekend, accorded a decent burial in Rusiga Sector in Rulindo District.

Thousands of emotional mourners paid their respects to the victims at a ceremony that begun with a requiem mass.

According to district authorities, the remains were retrieved from two sectors following testimonies from some survivors and intense investigations by security officials.

"It was revealed by various genocide survivors, at the beginning, but after thorough investigations, we eventually recovered the bodies," Rulindo Mayor, Justus Kangwage said.

Addressing the mourners who included members of parliament, the mayor called for more support to vulnerable survivors, saying that the district had, so far, raised over Rwf2 million for the cause.

After 17 years, it was evidently difficult for some survivors like Coletha Nyirarukundo, to forget how horrible her family members were killed.

"I watched in horror as my parents were slaughtered in queues they were ordered to make; men and women were ordered to line up separately and men were killed first,” said Nyirarukundo, who was 12 at the time.

The Northern Division Commander, Brig Gen. Alex Kagame, warned the residents against promotion of the Genocide ideology, challenging them to instead foster unity and reconciliation.

"You should always put into practice all the religious teachings related to unity and reconciliation as we build our dignity,” he said.

Kagame assured the residents of security and urged them to ignore subversive media.

The Northern Province Governor, Aime Bosenibamwe, urged the mourners to strive for the development of the country.

Ends