Serena Hotel-Rwanda, yesterday, hosted a memorial service that brought together all religious denominations to pray for unity, reconciliation and fight the Genocide ideology in the country.

The service, which is part of the hotel’s activities to commemorate the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, was organised by the Gates of Heaven Ministries, a hotel cathedral in partnership with Ibuka,.

Pastor Maggie Mutesi Mugisha, the founder and Senior Pastor of the ministry said that churches were "involved in executing the Genocide than they were in stopping it. As churches, we can look for solutions to help those who were hurt in the Genocide.”

She said that churches should take steps in healing the hearts of those affected by the Genocide and as well take part in the country’s development.

The service was organised under the theme; ‘let the Church’s efforts that was put in planning and conducting the Genocide be the same used in rehabilitating the hearts of many.’ 

 "Even those that did not involve themselves in either implementing genocide or stopping it, it is time for them to stretch a hand to the needy and bring change,” Mutesi added.

Janvier Forongo, the Executive Secretary of Ibuka commended the ministry for organising the service.

He explained that some religions and their leaders lost their way during the Genocide. He appealed to the believers to join hands with the government to ensure the Genocide does not happen again.

Forongo appealed to religions in the country to adopt such initiatives, which he said, would help in uprooting the genocide ideology in the country.

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