The Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement on Saturday, May 13, inaugurated Nyagatare Genocide Memorial in Eastern Province.

The new memorial site, worth Rwf 1.1 billion, will be the resting place for 94 bodies of victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi relocated there from other memorial sites in Gatunda, Matimba, and Kiyombe sectors of the district.

Relatives of the victims including Aloys Rutagarama, a genocide survivor from Nyagatare, said the memorial site was inaugurated to honor the memory of those who lost their lives during the genocide and to ensure that their stories are never forgotten. The site serves as a place of reflection and education for future generations to learn about the atrocities that occurred and to promote peace and reconciliation in Rwanda.

He said: "Some of the victims have been buried in sector memorial sites, others in cell memorial sites, and others in their homes. The inauguration of the memorial site will honor the memory of all those we lost during the genocide and provide a space for our families and loved ones to pay their respects."

The Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, Dr. Jean Damascene Bizimana, said the memorial site is big enough to hold the district’s history before the 1994 Genocide, during the 1994 Genocide, and the history of the country's liberation struggle.

The Minister reminded the youth that Nyagatare was used as an experiment in training youth to commit genocide atrocities, stating that it is their role to reject violence and promote unity.

He noted that the youth in Nyagatare were used as experiments in shaping those who would commit atrocities in the 1994 Genocide and urged today's youth to ensure that such atrocities never happen again, to learn from the past, and work towards building a peaceful and inclusive society.

He said: "Youth in Muvumba, Murambi, and Gituza communes were trained to kill in Gabiro military camp. As youths, it is important to understand the gravity of the situation, learn from the past, take responsibility for creating a better future for yourselves, and contribute to building a brighter future for Rwanda."

The newly inaugurated genocide memorial site is among other joint genocide memorial sites in different areas of the country that have been established to hold the history of respective districts.