MUHANGA- The Prefect of the former Gitarama province, Fidele Uwizeye, has denied charges leveled against him that he participated in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Fidele is instead defending himself saying that he took a hard stance against the Genocide and disagreed with the former Prime Minister, John Kambanda over the killings, at a meeting held in Murambi in late April 1994. “All my deputies and Bourgmestries (Mayors) revolted against me and they were involved in killings without my consent,” Uwizeye told the Gacaca Court in Muhanga, on Tuesday. “I was not aware of the radio announcements. All I did was to help transport potential victims to safety which I believe was a right cause,” he added. Uwizeye is implicated in the death of over 560 Tutsi who were killed at the ADEPR Church in Nyabisindu. His testimony comes weeks after various pastors and Christians have been summoned to testify in the case. The complainants allege that the accused through a radio announcement, lured victims to a rally at the ADEPR Church in Nyabisindu, where most of them were later on killed. During the Tuesday hearing, the former Mayor, Jean Baptiste Gatsinzi also gave testimony in which he denied responsibility for any killings. However, survivors accuse church leaders; most of whom have been lined up for trial, of concealing information about the Nyabisindu killings- which they say derails the reconciliation drive in the area. Ends
