The Ministry of Defence (MINADEF) has pledged to advocate for the expansion of the Musanze Genocide Memorial Site to enhance its capacity to preserve historical evidence and honour victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Minister of Defence Juvenal Marizamunda made the commitment on April 15, 2026, during commemoration activities marking the 32nd anniversary of the genocide in Musanze District.
The former Musanze High Court building, previously known as the Cour d’Appel, now serves as a memorial site where more than 400 Tutsi who had sought refuge were killed during the genocide.
During the commemoration event, survivors and residents called for the expansion of the site, saying its current capacity is insufficient to properly preserve all historical evidence and documentation related to the killings that took place there.
Minister Marizamunda said MINADEF would engage relevant institutions to support the upgrade and expansion of the memorial to ensure that all genocide-related evidence is adequately preserved for future generations.
Survivor Umuhoza Brigitte, who survived alone from the massacre, said the site carries painful memories and stressed the need for its expansion to safeguard its historical significance.
Before the genocide, the building served as a court. On April 15, 1994, as violence escalated, Tutsi from various parts of the former Ruhengeri prefecture sought refuge there, believing it was a safe place.
Many of the victims had come from Busengo (now in Gakenke District), following assurances of safety from local authorities. However, the site was later attacked after coordination between local officials and perpetrators.
Militia groups, including the Interahamwe and a group known as “Amahindure,” stormed the building and killed those inside.
The memorial currently holds the remains of more than 800 victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi killed at the site and surrounding areas.
