Grief as more bodies of victims of L. Kivu boat tragedy are recovered

RUTSIRO- There was widespread grief as another four bodies of victims of the Lake Kivu boat tragedy were retrieved yesterday. It brings the number to 14 recovered so far since the boat carrying mourners en route to Nyamunini Island, for the 16th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi capsized 5 days ago. The mood was sombre at Kibuye Hospital in Karongi district, as distressed relatives and friends endlessly waited for bodies of their fallen dear ones. “As a family we are trying to cope with the loss but we still need to be sure that we bury the body of our beloved father and friend,” a relative of the late Alex Niyibizi, the former assistant district director of education said. The retrieved bodies includes those of a policeman identified as Chief Sgt. Innocent Mungabire, as well as that of a health worker at Kibingo health centre in Gihango Sector known as Rahabu Uwera and a motorist also identified Emmanuel Mvuyekure. By press time, the fourth was only identified as Omar. However several bodies including those of two other policemen and top district officials like Félicien Nsigaye, the district’s Finance Director and Jean Marie Vianney Bitwarimana, the procurement officer at the district are still missing. Meanwhile, local authorities in the Western Province have resolved to set up a monument in memory of the innocent victims whose boat capsized amid questionable weather conditions. “They died while attempting to join others in memory of victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and that’s why they should also be honoured in a special way by setting up a monument in their memory,” Provincial Governor, Célestin Kabahizi told The New Times. Ends