The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi is still a harrowing tale many a survivor do not wish to relive, but when they do, it cannot be any chillier than for a current 23-year-oldEulades Sebugondo Kawubosi was only four years old when the pogrom became the order of the day in the country. Four could be such a disputable age for one to be able to relive events 19 years later, but psychologists, and science, in general, has proved that it is not a miracle.So, on the chilly evening, Kawubosi recalls seeing people storm their house and herd his family members out of the home. There was to be no return. Luckily, the frightened toddler remained unspotted where he was. He believes the Interahamwe militia did not see him.“I heard people screaming and didn’t know what was happening, I was frightened by loneliness as I couldn’t see anybody in the house,” he recalls.He was taken by a person whose name or even the look he hardly remembers. All he recalls is that it was a man. The mystery saviour took Kawubosi and left him in a place he says he does not remember today.Kawubosi now lives in Bukinanyana cell, Jenda sector, in Nyabihu district. Officials confirm he was found lonely on the road, gaunt-looking, exhausted and hungry.“I remember the man [the mystery saviour] carried me on his back, I was still too young to talk to him but on the way, he told other people that my parents were killed. What I remember is that I saw my mum and relatives’ and other people’s bodies on the ground in the neighbourhood,” says Kawubosi, fighting back tears.“The only thing left of my family from then on was half their name,” he says, identifying his father as Kamali, his mother as Nyiramana, while his relatives were Mimy and Aimee“I don’t know well whether all perished or some of them survived, were they given decent burial if they died? I asked myself. My sorrow is a mixture, being an orphan as I am and not knowing anything about my family or at least something about my home place,” he saysKawubosi was raised by Theoneste Harerimana, who took him from the street.“He was so tired that he could hardly walk. I took him, asked other displaced people whether he belonged to anyone and failed to locate his relatives. So I took him home, fed him and let him rest,” said Harerimana.“I asked him few questions one can ask a baby like he was, he told me that every one name of his parents and his relatives, what he could add was that they lived near the road, that his mother was a nurse and the family had a car,” he added.Kawubosi was raised by his adopted family.“After the Genocide, we started searching for any of his surviving relatives. We worked together with local leaders and NGOs, but we failed. He grew up with us as a family member,” he says.Kawubosi, who completed high school last year, was supported by the Government Support Fund for Genocide Survivors after he was approved to be a survivor.Raised at schoolLike other 32 orphans who used to stay at APPEREL College in Nyabihu district, Kawubosi left the family he lived with and joined the rest of the orphans where they lived in that school and when others went in holidays they remained there.“When others left for holidays, we changed lifestyle but not the place. We used to remain with the school leaders who used to take care for us, we used to share our experience; it has been a sorrowful period, I wish I could have seen their remains and decently bury them,” Kawubosi says.“But I was comforted by friends who used to tell me that I will find my family place of birth until now I have hope that I will do so.” Lives with other orphansWhen government started the process to phase out orphanages, an association of youth in Nyabihu district built a house for five orphans who also used to remain in school during holidays. Kawubosi lives with them.“We treat one another like relatives, the district takes care of us. Although I don’t have my family, some people have played almost the same role. I could have died if people had not been on my side to care for me, comfort me and keep encouraging me,” he said.Meeting them at the new home they recently received, it is like a family.They say despite a tragic history, they are hopeful their future will be a bright one.“I know where I came from, I was distraught, I am still undergoing difficulties but also fighting on. I am doing well with my studies,” says Jeanine Murereneza, one of the orphans living with Kawubosi.“As we are becoming mature, it could be better to help us start at least a small business to help us get basic needs other than awaiting everything from the district,” says Jean Damascene Ndayishimiye, the oldest of the orphans.Search stoppedAnastase Juru, the president of Ibuka, an umbrella for Genocide survivors’ associations, in the district, said officials have been trying to help Kawubosi identify his former family home without success. “He was found in April 1994 in Jenda sector, but after the Genocide we started searching to know where he was from and we failed,” said Juru. “We only stopped the search recently, but his response to our queries certifies that he is a survivor.”
