Leaders and staff of the Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA) commemorated the 31st anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi with a solemn visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial on Friday, June 13, 2025.
The commemoration event started with a physical guide of the memorial exhibits, where the RHA leaders and staff learnt more about the history of Genocide and Rwanda’s journey of recovery and rebuilding.
Later, RHA senior leaders laid wreaths and paid tribute to the more than 250,000 victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi who are interred there.
Following the memorial visit, the commemoration event continued with the program of discussions and testimonies that highlighted Rwanda’s historical journey leading up to the Genocide.
The Director General of RHA, Alphonse Rukaburandekwe, expressed his condolences to genocide survivors, saying: “We must live in a way that honors our relatives who were killed during the Genocide.”
He emphasized that the act of remembrance serves as a reminder for everyone to take responsibility in ensuring such atrocities never happen again.
“When we say ‘Never Again,’ it should prompt us to act and work towards ensuring that genocide never happens anywhere again. We have seen that it wasn’t only Rwanda that experienced genocide, and the bravery of our brothers and sisters, our parents who went through this tragedy, should inspire us to fight against any repetition,” he added.
A genocide survivor, Gasasira Jean Maurice known to many as Sadam, shared his harrowing testimony about losing both his parents. He recalled how his mother was killed by Interahamwe militia after being found hiding under a bed with her baby and shot her three times. After her murder, he dag her grave in the rain.
Gasasira also mentioned the brutal killing of his father and how he eventually escaped to find refuge at Saint Famille Church, even though it was constantly raided by Interahamwe who abducted Tutsi hiding there, and how they ended up in into RPA-controlled zones with the help of UN peacekeeping force, MINUAR.
Nsengimana Alphonse, who represented the national IBUKA organization, stated that remembering the genocide is a powerful act of reflection on Rwanda’s 31-year journey of resilience and transformation.
He traced Rwanda’s history back to pre-colonial times, where Rwandans lived harmoniously across more than 18 ethnic groups. He noted that it was around 1959 that division and hatred were introduced, culminating in the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994, which claimed the lives of over a million people in just 100 days.
Nsengimana also praised Rwanda’s current leadership under President Paul Kagame.
“Survivors of the Genocide are especially grateful for the good governance we have today. They have been supported in rebuilding their lives. Survivors returned to school, some became doctors, others joined the military. Some of those I taught are now important contributors to the country. That marks the difference between good governance and poor governance,” he remarked.
Lieutenant Colonel Safari Marcel, who was the guest of honor representing the Ministry of Defence at the event, spoke about Rwanda’s liberation struggle and the bravery of President Kagame and the whole RPA.
He commended the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) for choosing to rebuild the nation rather than seek revenge on those who were on the side of Tutsi’s persecutors.
Lt Col Safari Marcel urged Rwandans to embrace national identity, love their country, serve it diligently, and reject divisive ideologies. He also encouraged youth to understand and to reject genocide ideology, focus on patriotism, and actively contribute to national development, noting that Rwanda’s security remains firmly safeguarded.
