RUSAGARA MUVUNANKIKO Valens
Survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Ngamba Sector, Kamonyi District, say they are grateful for the installation of a memorial marker honoring their relatives who were killed at a site known as “Ku Rutare,” near the banks of the Nyabarongo River, where more than 800 Tutsi were murdered during the Genocide against the Tutsi.
The remarks were made on Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the 32nd commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi.
Some survivors said that although 32 years have passed without being able to recover and properly bury the bodies of their loved ones, the presence of a memorial at the site where they were killed helps preserve their memory and honor the victims.
Vincent Rutayisire, one of the genocide survivors from the sector, said the events that took place at the cliff remain painful and unforgettable, but survivors appreciate the authorities for establishing a memorial marker there.
“What happened here is difficult to explain because the people killed here suffered terribly. They were taken from different places where they had been hiding and brought here to be murdered. Children and adults alike were killed in cruel ways before being thrown into the Nyabarongo River. Even though we never found the bodies of our loved ones to give them a dignified burial, we appreciate our leaders for thinking of us and building this memorial at Nyabarongo, which will help us remember the history of what happened here.”
Liberatha Tuyisenge, another survivor from Ngamba, said the inability to bury their relatives has caused lasting grief for many years, but the memorial will help keep their memory alive.
“It is painful to lose a loved one in such a way, but even more heartbreaking not knowing where they are buried so you can lay them to rest. We thank the authorities for putting up this memorial where our relatives were killed. It will help us remember those who were brutally murdered and thrown into the Nyabarongo River, and show that we continue to carry them in our hearts.”
The President of IBUKA in Kamonyi District, Zacharie Benedata, said that although 32 years have passed since the genocide, the pain of survivors has not faded. He urged survivors to continue supporting one another and honoring the victims.
“Even after 32 years, the pain of losing a loved one does not disappear. But today we are not alone. Let us continue supporting each other, wiping away the tears of those who survived, and honoring our relatives who were killed during the Genocide against the Tutsi.”
The Mayor of Kamonyi District, Dr Sylvere Nahayo, called on residents of Ngamba Sector to remain vigilant and protect the achievements Rwanda has made, so that the tragic history of genocide is never repeated.
“When we share and remember this history, we should also reflect on the many positive achievements our country has made. Those who seek to undermine and reverse this progress still exist, and this should encourage us to remain vigilant in protecting our achievements, peace, and security so that we continue building our development and social unity.”
Ngamba Sector is one of the 12 sectors that make up Kamonyi District and is bordered by the Nyabarongo River. During the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, many Tutsi killed in the area were thrown into the river after being murdered.
The area was also part of the former Taba Commune, which was led by Jean Paul Akayesu, who was convicted of genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). Akayesu became the first person in the world to be convicted of genocide in a judgment delivered on September 2, 1998.
The Akayesu case marked a major milestone in international justice because it was the first time an international court recognized rape as an act that can constitute genocide.
Mayor of Kamonyi lays flowers in honor of Tutsi victims killed at Nyabarongo memorial site during the 1994 Genocide.
Zacharie Benedata President of IBUKA in Kamonyi District pays tribute to Genocide victims during the commemoration in Ngamba Sector.
The Nyabarongo memorial stands as a reminder of lives lost and history that must never be forgotten.
Residents of Ngamba Sector, genocide survivors, and neighbors gather to remember and honor Tutsi victims killed and thrown into the Nyabarongo River.
IRADUKUNDA Ivan Damascene
