There was a somber mood Thursday afternoon as family members and friends bid farewell to two siblings of Baptiste Tuyisenge and two of his sister's children who perished in the flooding and landslides that befell residents of Rugerero sector, Rubavu district, on May 2. The four children from the same family were students at G.S Mukondo in Nyundo sector. ALSO READ: Rubavu: Woman who lost husband, three children narrates ordeal. The home of Tuyisenge and his family, whose family members are among 26 people killed by floods and landslides in Rubavu, is separated by River Sebeya. “Due to the River Sebeya flooding, my wife and I could not immediately cross to reach the victims on the other side of the river at night. We reached the place early in the morning,” he said. “There were seven family members in the house when the disaster happened. The landslide pulled down the house. My father survived and managed to rescue my mother as well as one of my sisters called Claudine,” he said. However, two of Tuyisenge's sisters, 17-year-old Honorata Maniragena, a student in senior 3, and 14-year-old Donata Uwimana, a student senior 2, died. ALSO READ: Over 100 dead as rain ravages Northern, Western provinces. “My niece Clementine Niyigiribanga, also a 3-year-old pupil in nursery one, and my nephew, Jacques Niyitegeka, a 7-year-old pupil in primary 2, are also among those killed,” he said. The community woke up early morning searching for the victims, he said. Unfortunately, three bodies were found. Another missing one was yet to be found by the time of burial in Rubavu cemetery, on May 4. Their burial, which was also disrupted by the incessant rains in the afternoon, was graced by Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente. ALSO READ: PHOTOS: PM Ngirente attends flood victims’ burial in Rubavu. “The fourth person is yet to be found because the land is still sliding. The family, like many others, was supported by the government to bury the three children. Maniragena was preparing to do exams Emmanuel Dusabimana, the Head Teacher of G.S Mukondo, said that classmates, teachers, and school leaders attended the burial ceremony and mourned the disaster victims including Maniragena who was ready for the national exams. “One of the children called Honorata Maniragena was in S3. She would often go to school on Saturday to revise because she was preparing to sit the national exam. She was also a devout Christian. His parents could approach me to let her study even when they had no contribution to the school feeding programme. The school will continue to support the family, ” he said. Olivier Ngabonziza, a student who was the class monitor in the same class as Maniragena, said she was a quiet, polite, and intelligent girl whose jokes often cheered her classmates. “We selected three students in every classroom to come to the burial ceremony and mourn our classmate who was polite and interested in pursuing studies,” he said. ALSO READ: PICTORIAL: Heavy rains devastate North, South, and Western Rwanda. A total of 130 people have lost their lives across the Western, Northern, and Southern Provinces. At least 5,147 houses were swept away, with the majority located in Rubavu District. Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente delivered a message of condolence from President Paul Kagame to the bereaved families and thanked residents who intervened first-hand to rescue and support their neighbors. “He [Kagame] sympathises with you and wants you to know that the government is doing everything possible to help you,” Ngirente said.
