Media criticised for poor coverage of Genocide

Uganda’s State Minister for Regional Cooperation, Asuman Kiyingi, has lashed out at the international media and humanitarian organisations that misreported facts about the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.Speaking at a commemoration event held at Christ the King Church in Kampala, yesterday, Kiyingi reiterated his country’s commitment to fighting Genocide tendencies and acts that cause instability in the region.“I wish to state that the Genocide plan was known especially to those whose troops were deployed in Rwanda for the futile peacekeeping mission,” the Minister stressed.He added, “It was known by the international media, the humanitarian NGOs, but for some time, they continued to describe the Genocide as a civil war between polarised ethnic groups.”Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala led the requiem mass that attracted hundreds of mourners among them heads of diplomatic corps, members of the Rwandan community in Uganda and friends of Rwanda. Kiyingi told the audience that the international media and international organisations disregarded and misreported the facts that the Genocide was state orchestrated, systematic and targeted at defenceless Tutsi.“This misreporting was deliberately maintained until much later since none of them had the audacity to describe it as Genocide,” he added.He commended the RPF leadership for putting an end to the Genocide and calling for collective efforts in protecting the lives of innocent people.In his sermon, Cardinal Wamala preached forgiveness and blasted genocide deniers, saying they should define to the world what the word Genocide means.Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Uganda, Frank Mugambage, called for more resolute efforts in fighting Genocide negationists and deniers.“The devilish intentions of spreading the genocidal ideology should never be allowed to continue,” he underlined.Rwandans living in Uganda have lined up a number of Genocide commemoration events this week, including a Walk to Remember at the Kampala International University.