EASTERN PROVINCE KIREHE— Close to Rwf.5.5m was collected in cash and pledges during a fund raising drive towards the rehabilitation of Nyarubuye Genocide Memorial site in Kirehe District. The money was raised yesterday in Nyarubuye sector as the district paid tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, who were killed at Nyarubuye parish. Nyarubuye is one of the memorial sites in the country currently in a sorry state. About 25,000 people were killed in Nyarubuye within three days under the orders of Silvestre Gacumbitsi, the then Bourgumestre of commune Rusumo. The victims were from parts of Rukira, Zaza and Kayonza who had sought refuge at the parish. Rwf.1. 6m was raised from all the 12 sectors of the district while the district pledged Rwf.1m. Another Rwf.2.8m was collected from schools, health centres and other well wishers. The campaign dubbed “support Nyarubuye Memorial site” was launched late last month and a bank account was opened in Bank Populaire Rusumo for any one wishing to contribute support. Mayor Protais Murayire, said that through this campaign the local authorities sought ways of urgently rehabilitating the memorial site. Once the rehabilitation starts, Murayire added, it will be complete within a period of three weeks. “This money is enough to rehabilitate this memorial site and there is no doubt that in a period of three weeks everything will be in a good state.” The Wednesday ceremony was attended by thousands of residents from different parts of the district. The event was preceded by prayers led by religious leaders from different denominations. In a related development, the district has postponed the reburial of remains of about 38 Genocide victims who were killed at Nyarubuye parish, until the site is fully rehabilitated. “We will give a decent burial to remains of these people immediately after the site has been rehabilitated,” Murayire said. Ends
