FEATURED: Kwibuka28: MKUR students urged to fight against genocide ideology

The Vice-Chancellor of Mount Kenya University Rwanda (MKUR), Prof Edwin Odhuno urges the people especially the youth to recognize their role and contribution to national building as well as fighting against the genocide ideology. He made this call during the commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi by MKUR students and staff on May 26. Odhuno further commended all people who joined the university in commemorating the Genocide victims as well as RPF for stopping the Genocide and giving Rwandans the hope for life. In addition, by comforting the survivors, he shared a story of one genocide survivor family which initially faced terrible genocide consequences but with the help of the society, the family now has hope for a better life. Speaking at the event, Jean Claude Munyantore, Kicukiro District Education Officer, calls the audience as educated people to fight against anything that can make the genocide happen again. Munyantore emphasized the role played by some lecturers, university students, and other educated people in organizing and executing the genocide. In addition, he commended the University for being a good partner of the district and called upon the youth to reject any form of divisive ideology among Rwandans. Eric Muhaturukundo, who represented the Ministry of Unity and Civic Engagement, and was also the chief guest, took the audience through Rwanda’s history and pointed out the role of colonialism in the demolition of Rwandan unity. In addition, he urged the MKUR community to reject all kinds of discrimination, stating that it is the responsibility of every Rwandan citizen to do so. “The Rwandan government has agreed to eradicate all kinds of discrimination in our country. The new rules we have are to help us build a policy of unity of Rwandans and continue to support it,” he said. Christian Ngombwa, who spoke on behalf of Ibuka, the umbrella body for genocide survivors, emphasized the importance of remembrance and also commended the University for organizing such an Event. Ngombwa pointed out that remembering is a must and comforting the genocide survivors saying that they are not alone. “They lost their families. But there’s one family they didn’t lose – their country.” He said During the event, the GAERG (Groupe des Anciens Etudiants et Elèves Rescapés du Genocide) Coordinator, Josue Niyomutabazi, revealed that Genocide denial and revisionism hinder the country’s reconciliation, development, and prosperity. He further pointed out that Rwandans have chosen to reconcile and be one people as well as a nation. Jean Sauveur Christian Tuyishimire, from AERG pointed out that the fact that Rwandans always put unity first will help in fighting against the genocide ideology and achieve the development we want. Tuyishime also calls on the students, lecturers, and other officials present to fight against the denial and the ideology of genocide, especially on social media. He further commended the university management for supporting the survivors through the AERG, which is the association of students who survived the Genocide. The event also included a briefing on the 1994 Genocide through a short movie as well as laying wreaths on the grave of more than 250,000 victims laid to rest at Kigali Genocide Memorial.

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FEATURED: Kwibuka28: MKUR students urged to fight against genocide ideology