In a written proclamation, residents of the districts of Rusizi and Nyamasheke have castigated Catholic priests; Thomas Nahimana and Fortunatus Rudakemwa over their divisive remarks published recently on their website, "Leprophete.”

The two priests, who hail from Rusizi District, Western Province are believed to have fled to France.

The comments were made recently at a meeting that brought together district leaders, senior government officials, opinion leaders and representatives from the Catholic Diocese of Cyangugu.

Rusizi and Nyamasheke district residents describe the two Catholic priests as agents of divisionism, genocide ideology and falsehoods they peddle against the government.

In a joint statement, the prelates’ former close associates described them as advocates of divisionism and corruption during their time in the country.

The younger brother of Fr. Nahimana also castigated the latter for his bad conduct and controversial behaviour.

When Rudakemwa was head of St Alloys Junior Seminary, he sowed seeds of divisionism among the students using journals and newspapers published before the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, his young brother said in the statement.

Nahimana, is alleged to have fled the country after embezzling large sums of money from Asofi Sangwa Muyange Microfinance.

The money was meant to cover medical insurance for girls at Muyange Parish, where the priest worked.

The men of God were blamed for hindering the development of Rwanda and Rusizi and Nyamasheke, in particular.

Rusizi and Nyamasheke vowed never to relent in their disassociation from the duo and their partners.

Not so long ago, the Cyangugu Diocese denounced the two fathers, calling their activities, "ungodly and out of the Catholic Church’s teachings.”

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