Nation honours its heroes

President Paul Kagame has paid tribute to Rwandan heroes and the enduring “Rwandan Spirit”. In a post on his Twitter account, Kagame wrote: “Happy Heroes Day. We celebrate Rwandan heroes, the resilience of the Rwandan Spirit and hard work of Rwandans in our country’s transformation”. It is a message that echoed the discussions held at the grassroots level around the country as Rwandans celebrated the Heroes Day. Ugandas high commissioner to Rwanda and head of the diplomatic corps, Ambassador Richard Kabonero, lays a wreath at the Heroes Mausolem Remera, Kigali. In Kigali, Senate President Bernard Makuza led several government officials in laying wreaths at the Heroes Mausoleum in Remera, Kigali, before families of the heroes buried there did the same later in the afternoon. Makuza and other top government officials laid their wreaths at around 11a.m before the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to Rwanda, Uganda’s High Commissioner Richard Kabonero, paid tribute to the Heroes on behalf the diplomatic community. A moment of silence in honour of the country’s heroes followed. Senate President Bernard Makuza greets the speaker of Parliament Mukabalisa Donatille on his arrival at Heroes Mausoleum in Remera. “The heroes and heroines to whom we pay tribute today paid with their lives for something bigger than one’s self; to make our country what it is today,” the Minister for Sports and Culture, Joseph Habineza, told reporters after the wreath-laying ceremony. The Chairperson of Chancellery for Heroes, National Order and Decoration of Honour (Cheno) Augustine Iyamuremye, told The New Times that Rwanda’s pride is derived from the acts of several heroes who sacrificed their lives for a good cause. “The heroes we honour today represent the acts of many who sacrificed their lives to see a liberated and united Rwanda.” Senate President Bernard Makuza who was the guest of honor arrives at Heroes Mausoleum in Remera Nyange heroes Among the heroes honoured yesterday include the students who were killed by the Interahamwe militia at Nyange Secondary School in 1997. It was on the night of March 18, 1997 when the insurgents, then known as Abacengezi, who were remnants of the Interahamwe and ex-FAR, penetrated through Mukura Forest from DR Congo, and attacked the school. Rwanda Defence Force Band sing the National Anthem during the occasion of laying wreath at the Heroes Mausolem Remera. They indiscriminately hurled grenades at helpless students who had refused to separate themselves along ethnic labels, courageously telling the killers that they were all Rwandans. Theodette Abayisenga, one of the survivors of the 1997 school attack, said that Heroes Day reminds her of how far Rwanda has come and the need to maintain the momentum of unity among nationals. RDF Chief of Defence Staff General Patrick Nyamvumba (C) salutes during the National Anthem as Defence minister James Kabarebe (L) and speaker Mukabalisa Donatille look on “This day reminds us of our individual and collective responsibility to stay united as a people,” said Abayisenga whose right leg was amputated as a result of grenade fragments during the Nyange school attack. Another survivor of the Nyange attack, Beatrice Mukeshimana, also told The New Times that Heroes Day reminds her of the cause for which her classmates died for. “The only way to honour our colleagues is to work hard and ensure that we make Rwanda a better place,” she said. The heroes laid at the Mausoleum include Maj. Gen. Fred Gisa Rwigema and the ‘Unknown Soldier’, both of who are in the Imanzi category, the highest honour to be awarded. Sports and culture minister Joseph Habineza talks to press at Heroes Mausoleum. (All photos by Timothy Kisambira) The Unknown Soldier represents all those fighters who died during the 1990-1994 Liberation Struggle. Those in the second category (Imena) include King Mutara Rudahigwa III, Michel Rwagasana, former Prime Minister Agatha Uwiringiyimana, Felicite Niyitegeka and the Nyange Secondary School students. This year’s Heroes’ Day was marked under the theme, ‘Rwandans’ Heroism, Our Dignity’ The Ministry of Public Service and Labour last evening declared today a public holiday since the Heroes Day fell on a Sunday. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Nation honours its heroes