The Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) on Friday, April 28, held a commemoration event in which it paid tribute to all victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, particularly the former employees of the then social security fund of Rwanda.

The event started with RSSB staff and the surviving relatives of the slain former members of staff laying wreaths at a monument at the social security board’s headquarters in Kigali. Events later continued at the Kigali Genocide Memorial.

While at the Memorial, they were briefed on the history of the Genocide — from the pre-colonial period when Rwandans were united as one people, to the colonial period which divided them, and the former Rwandan regimes that incited Hutu to hate and kill Tutsi, a situation that culminated to the genocide against the latter in 1994.

The RSSB also made a contribution to support the memorial.

The commemoration paid tribute to the more than 250,000 Genocide victims laid to rest at the Memorial, by observing a minute of silence and laying wreaths on their graves.

"We are remembering all the Tutsi — over a million — who were killed during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in 1994, but particularly, 19 former staff members of the then social security fund of Rwanda”, said RSSB CEO, Regis Rugemanshuro.

"As we made the last 29-year journey together, we reassure them that we will continue to be by their side, and all the survivors of the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994," he said.

He indicated that RSSB has been carrying out annual activities meant to offer support to the families of the former workers killed during the genocide and other survivors in general and that they will continue. These activities include building residential houses for the survivors.

Emilien Mugiraneza, whose mother worked for the former social security fund, commended RSSB for holding such a commemoration event in honour of their parents, observing that "it restores our hope [for the future] that they have humanity as they remember them and are together with us in their memory."

He said that RSSB also helped disadvantaged children of the former slain employees, including him, to pursue their university education.

"RSSB paid my tuition for my university education. It is one of the steps to help us prepare for our brighter future, by making progress in terms of employment and contributing to our country's development," he said, adding that he studied electronics.

Remembering, Rugemanshuro said, is necessary because it is a way of restoring dignity to those from whom it was stripped – who were killed just because of the way they were created. He indicated that as the Rwandan community, "it helps us to draw lessons and get strength to commit ourselves to fighting genocide ideology, its related acts, as well as any evil.”

"We should strive for building the Rwanda we want, free from divisionism, and fight anyone who wants to set us back from the good vision that the good leadership adopted to foster unity of Rwandans, which is the foundation for sustainable development,” he pointed out.

The remembered 19 former workers

The 19 former employees of the then social security fund of Rwanda had worked for it in different capacities and areas such as pension, employer enrolment, receiving social security contributions payments and arrears recovery, audit and accounting.

Overall, the shortest-serving one had spent three years on the fund’s service, while the longest-serving had spent 14 years, by the time they were killed in 1994.

They are Cyrille Rutayisire, 34; François Gakwaya, 52; Prudentienne Mukangoboka, 35; Evariste Twagiramungu, 34; Alfred Nzeli Ruyiranga, 35; Adele Mutangampundu, 32; Claudine Karebwayire, 27; Augustin Bicakumuyange, 37; Yvonne Umuhumuriza, 25; and Josiane Vuguziga, 31, Jacqueline Nyinawamwiza; Felix Gahama, 31; Mediatrice Kayitesi, 31; Candide Kadakemwa, 24; Leonce Gashugi, 31; Jean Bosco Rutabayiru, 37; Charlotte Imfurayabo, 31; Deogratias Rutayisire, 35; and Jean-Marie Vianney Rutaziga, 39.

The Policy Strategy Analyst at the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE), Djamali Habimana, who represented the ministry at the event, said that former regimes incited hatred against the Tutsi, and adopted policies aimed at denying them human rights, which culminated into the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

He said the Government of Rwanda decided to implement a policy which ensures all Rwandans enjoy their human rights and the achievement of inclusive development with a view to preventing genocide recurrence.