Communities in Bugesera District gathered at the former Nyirarukobwa Primary School site in Kanzenze Cell, Ntarama Sector, to commemorate families that were completely exterminated during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, marking 32 years since the tragedy.
The commemoration brought together residents, local leaders, members of parliament, and representatives of families and remembrance associations, who paid tribute to victims whose entire family lines were wiped out in the area.
Bugesera District Mayor Mutabazi Richard said the Nyirarukobwa site remains a painful symbol of the scale of destruction during the genocide, noting that more than 100 families who once lived in the area were completely eliminated, leaving no survivors to continue their lineage.
He described the location as a former administrative cell that was effectively erased following the extermination of its entire population.
“Where we are gathered today was once a populated cell that was removed from the map after all its families were wiped out. Remembering them is important because none survived to continue their family names,” he said.
The site, which once hosted a primary school with around 1,000 pupils and staff, is now an uninhabited area with no remaining structures, reflecting the total destruction of community life that once existed there.
Participants emphasized that the commemoration serves not only as a moment of remembrance but also as a reminder of the consequences of division and genocide ideology, underscoring the importance of unity and continued vigilance.
As part of the annual 100-day commemoration period, members of remembrance associations continue to honor students, teachers, and residents linked to the former Nyirarukobwa community, reinforcing efforts to preserve memory and ensure that such atrocities are never repeated.
