EASTERN PROVINCE

BUGESERA — The staff of Rwanda National Office of Tourism (ORTPN) on Friday visited Ntarama memorial site, in Bugesera district to pay their respect to victims of 1994 Rwanda Genocide.

Led by Rosette Chantal Rugamba, the Director General of ORTPN, the delegation donated over Frw4m towards the rehabilitation of the memorial site and to help 38 child-headed families who lost their parents during the genocide.

Rugamba and other ORTPN senior officials laid a wreath on the grave that containing remains of more than 5,000 genocide victims.

"We come here not only to donate to the orphans and survivors but to learn from you. I appeal to you to remain strong, don’t lose hope because now I can see signs of development in the country," Rugamba said.

The delegation then toured the former church turned into a memorial site for about 40 minutes before emerging out filled with grief. Many of the skulls inside bear large holes an indication of how the victims were probably speared to death. Rugs of clothes of the victims hang in all corners of the facility.

About Frw2 million of the money donated to the orphans would be used to buy a milling machine to generate income for the children, according to Rugamba. Talking of the machine, Rugamba said it would help the children meet their daily needs without waiting for external aid.

They also donated relief items worth over Frw1million which included 38 sacks of rice, 38 sacks of beans and 38 five- liter jerry cans of cooking oil.

According Cecile Gahongayire, the Ntarama sector official in charge of social affairs the Catholic Church was turned into a memorial site because many of the victims were killed there.

"They came here thinking it would be their sanctuary but to their surprise their fellow Christians and neighbors turned against them and killed them."

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