Varsity students pay tribute to 1994 Genocide victims

EASTERN PROVINCE NGOMA — Hundreds of university students in the country over the weekend converged at St Andrew Cathedral in Kibungo for a memorial service in rememberance of the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The students from Université D’ Agriculture, De Technologie Et D’Education De Kibungo (UNATEK) commonly known as Kibungo University, Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Kigali Health Institute (KHI) and Kigali Independent University (ULK), who belong to Genocide Survivors Students Association (AERG), prayed to God to give eternal rest to the souls of the victims. Father Abbe Luc Bucyana, who led the mass, urged the students, especially the survivors to dedicate their lives to God, saying they survived because of God’s will. Bucyana, who is also UNATEK’s AERG students’ patron, said there is need for students to forgive genocide perpetrators while commemorating the death of their loved ones. The mass was followed by a procession to Kibungo Memorial Site, where they lay a wreath on a grave containing remains of about 20,000 Genocide victims. They later held a vigil night at the UNATEK compass. Addressing the students, MP Libelatha Kayitesi, who is also the matron of UNATEK AERG students, urged youth to aim at having positive change in the country and to always be honest. She called on the public to render a hand in helping survivors, saying some of them are still living in misery, 15 years after the genocide. She also urged survivors to strive to live a positive life other than sinking into despair. Vincent Twizeyimana, the national AERG II vice chairman, urged students to think about how their future as they commemorate. He appealed to the government to help them achieve their targets as an association. The students said tuition fees remains a major challenge to them and a cause of school dropout. Also present at the function was MP Charles Kamanda, who represented Ibuka, an umbrella of Genocide Survivors. Kamanda is among the survivors in Kibungo sector who were saved by Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF), now Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF). The weekend’s ceremony was organised by UNATEK, AERG students in conjunction with the university. Started in 1996 with about 80 students at the National University of Rwanda (NUR), AERG now has over 20,000 members. It now operates in 15 universities and other higher institutions of learning, and in over 120 secondary schools across the country. Ends