Rukumberi to host Ngoma’s official memorial site

NGOMA - A memorial site is set to be built in Rukumberi Sector in Ngoma district of the Eastern Province. According to Iphigenie Mukandera, the vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs, a fundraising drive for the project will begin in Kigali later this month. She said that Rukumberi, was earmarked for the site due to its history during the genocide, adding that past massacres preceding the 1994 Genocide also lends more credence to the selection of the site. Mukandera said that over 30,000 Tutsi were mercilessly tortured to death in Rukumberi alone, the highest number in any single sector in Ngoma district. “Mentioning the sector itself, people get the feeling of Tutsi suffering during this trying period. In fact, 10th and 11th April are special commemoration days of the sector, because that is when full swing massacres occurred,” she said. Meanwhile, Japhet Murisi the Executive Secretary of the National Youth Council, in Ngoma said that Muhurire Genocide memorial grounds would be re-located to Kibungo. He said that the cemetery is in a very bad state, since it was built hurriedly after the Genocide. Murisi said the remains will be shifted to Kibungo cemetery. Murisi, further said that precautions have been taken to cater for trauma cases during the commemorations. Ngoma district authorities said the transfer of the remains is in accordance with legislation governing memorial sites and cemeteries of victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Ends