Envoy urges Rwandans in Diaspora to step up fight against genocide ideology

The Rwandan Ambassador to Uganda, Ignatius Kamali Karegesa, has urged his countrymen living in the neighbouring country, to fight genocide ideology perpetuated by Genocide deniers. He was speaking at Hotel Africana in Kampala on Monday during a function to mark the 14th anniversary of the Rwanda Genocide in which at least one million Tutsis died. We are saying that the genocide ideology should be fought. This is a revisionist thinking which is being propagated by Genocide deniers and perpetrators who are still at large, Karegesa said. We consider commemoration of the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda significant. It reminds us of the extreme dangers of genocide and the genocide ideology. This occasion renews our resolve to do everything possible to ensure that the genocide never occurs again in our region, said Fred Ruhindi, the Ugandan State Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs who was the guest of honour. Governments have the mandate to lead people well and responsibility to protect all components of the state. That is why all the countries in this region must combine efforts to eradicate genocide, genocide ideology and terrorism, as well as poverty, he said. The ceremony which attracted a large number of diplomats, Rwandan students, Banyarwanda community living in Uganda and well-wishers, was preceded by a presentation by a renowned Rwandan elder living in Uganda, Dr Higiro Semajege on the history of the Genocide. Activities of the day were crowned by a public viewing of a Genocide film Shake Hands with the Devil, based on a book by Canadian General Romeo Dallaire, who led a UN peacekeeping force (MINUAR) in Rwanda before and during the Genocide. The retired General, now a Senator, blames the UN for refusing to give the force the necessarily mandate to stop the killings which lasted for a hundred days.Ends

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Envoy urges Rwandans in Diaspora to step up fight against genocide ideology