On Friday 12th April 2019, Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities (RALGA) remembered and commemorated the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994. The ceremonies took place at RALGA Headquarters in Masaka Sector, Kicukiro District and were attended by the entire RALGA management and staff, local leaders from the neighborhood and the representative of IBUKA, the umbrella association of all genocide survivors.
The Guest of honor was the Chairperson of RALGA, Cllr Innocent UWIMANA and Senator Tito Rutaremara, who was invited as guest speaker.
In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Ladislas Ngendahimana, the Secretary General of RALGA, reminded to participants that remembering the genocide against Tutsi is an individual and a collective responsibility and is very important at both national and global levels for “Never Again” to become a reality.
Hon Tito Rutaremara was invited to give a presentation about “Rwandans’ unity in the post genocide nation building, fighting the genocide ideology and shaping the right direction”.
“Rebuilding Rwanda as a Nation-State is a process which needs time”, he said, “because the destruction was systematic, with divisive ideology that was the driver of education and governance curricula”, he noted.
Rebuilding Rwandans’ unity after the genocide required tangible and practical actions, and, sometimes, unimaginable actions such as forgiveness, reconciliatory justice and provision of equal rights and opportunities in all sectors of life, including the removal of death penalty from Rwanda’s penal code, at a time the country was dealing with the crimes of genocide against Tutsi. It was critical to provide justice and instill hope for all, at the same time.
Honorable Tito Rutaremara commended the courage of the genocide survivors who accepted to forgive the killers despite terrible pain. He referred to them all as “brave” people.
He also mentioned the government’s policy and efforts to grant equal access to basic services such as health, education and financial inclusion.
“A key to reconciliation and fighting genocide ideology, after the genocide against Tutsi, the new Government had to make a positive difference and inspire trust and confidence amongst Rwandans. It was a choice which required actions, and not mere words”, Rutaremara emphasized.
He particularly highlighted the importance of educating and raising the awareness of the youth on the causes and consequences of the genocide, as well as the need to protect them from divisionism and genocide ideologies.
“It all starts from the youth age. It is all about ideology and education. Lead by example. The youth were educated and trained to kill and they killed. That was about bad education with bad ideology. The RPF Inkotanyi youth were educated with good ideology, and they stopped the genocide. It is all about the youth and education”, Rutaremara Tito noted.
After the testimony by Ms. Jacky Kampire on her ordeals during the genocide, the representative of Ibuka, Mr. Innocent GASINZIGWA took the opportunity to commend the resilience and courage of genocide survivors. He also commended the heroism of the RPF men and women whose courage allowed to stop the genocide against Tutsi. “As we remember ours who were killed during the genocide, we also remember the RPF Inkotanyi fighters who lost their lives to save us”, he said.
In his remarks as the Guest of Honor, RALGA Chairperson, Cllr. Innocent UWIMANA commended RALGA’s Secretariat for having organized the remembrance event and he pledged the Association’s role in promoting good governance in local governments as the best way to rebuild a united and prosperous Rwanda, free of genocide ideology.
ENDS
