‘Walk to remember’ held in Uganda

UGANDA - HUNDREDS of Rwandans living in Uganda yesterday held a ‘walk to remember’ in memory of the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The journey, which was held in Mukono District, drew several dignitaries who included Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Uganda, Frank Mugambage, and the Mayor of Kampala City, Alhajji Nasser Ntege Sebagala. Clad in black and purple attires and carrying anti-Genocide banners, the Diaspora community was joined in the walk by scores of students from the Uganda Christian University (UCU) and several others from several higher institutions of learning. The event was organized by AEGIS Students in collaboration with the Peace and Love Proclaimers from Rwanda. The walk snaked through Mukono town and ended at the UCU main campus where a memorial event was held in honour of the victims. There, various speakers underscored the value of love and unity, and called on the young generation to enhance the culture of remembering the Genocide. They emphasised the importance of culture in society, saying that destroying culture is a tool ill-intentioned people use to destroy society. “If anyone wants to destroy you, they use culture. This is just to make sure nothing inspires you to do anything,” Mugambage told hundreds of young people gathered in UCU’s Nkoyoyo Hall. “Denying a culture is self denial. Never deny yourselves, even in the most difficult times,” he advised. The High Commissioner’s remarks followed a screening of the film; ‘We are all Rwandans’ which illustrated how the fallen students of Nyange Secondary School were massacred on grounds that they failed to separate themselves into Tutsi and Hutu groups. In his sermon, the Dean of Students, Pastor Milton Tweheyo, preached for love and hope and encouraged the audience to make a difference by denouncing acts by perpetrators of the Genocide . On behalf of her fellow students, Angel Uwamahoro, requested the congregation to find the true meaning for the word Genocide, saying that it is after this that the world will be able to fight it. Mayor Sebagala commended the Rwandan government for the impressive development the country has registered sixteen years after the Genocide. The event ended with a candle lighting ceremony in honour of the victims of the Genocide. Ends