ActionAid Rwanda Calls for Preservation of Genocide History as It Supports Survivors During Kwibuka32 in Gisagara

ActionAid Rwanda has called on all Rwandans to preserve the truth about the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, promote peace and unity, and pass on the country’s history to younger generations as a safeguard against genocide ideology and denial.

The message was delivered on June 19, 2026, during a Kwibuka32 commemoration event held in Kibilizi Sector, Gisagara District, where ActionAid Rwanda management and staff, joined by members of the organization’s General Assembly, honored victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, including 12 former employees of Aide et Action, the organization that later became ActionAid Rwanda.

Speaking at the event, ActionAid Rwanda Executive Director, Assoc. Prof. Jeanne N. Kagwiza, said remembrance is both a tribute to those who lost their lives and an opportunity to celebrate the courage of those who stopped the genocide and those who survived it.

“Commemoration is a time to remember the heroism of those who stopped the genocide and the resilience of those who survived it,” she said.

Kagwiza emphasized that the choice of Kibilizi as the venue for the commemoration was deliberate, reflecting the organization’s commitment to standing alongside the communities it serves.

“Choosing to commemorate in Kibilizi has a profound meaning. It reflects our commitment to standing alongside our partners and communities in the journey of rebuilding so that genocide never happens again.”

She called on Rwandans to become ambassadors of peace and unity wherever they are and to continue protecting the gains Rwanda has achieved over the past three decades.

“Everyone should continue to be a leader for peace wherever they are and contribute to preserving what our country has achieved,” she said.

Kagwiza also stressed the importance of educating younger generations about Rwanda’s history.

“We must teach younger generations the true history of our country so that the Genocide against the Tutsi never happens again.”

She added that preserving historical truth and supporting survivors are responsibilities that extend beyond the annual commemoration period.

“Protecting and preserving the truth about our history is everyone’s responsibility. Supporting genocide survivors should not be limited to the commemoration period. It is a responsibility that must continue throughout the year.”

As part of that commitment, ActionAid Rwanda provided food and other basic necessities to 35 vulnerable genocide survivor households and donated 675 iron sheets alongside construction materials to support the rehabilitation of homes belonging to 15 vulnerable survivor families.

“We know that this support cannot replace the loved ones you lost, but it is a symbol of our solidarity with you as you continue your journey toward a better life and sustainable recovery,” Kagwiza told survivors.

The support was welcomed by Gisagara District authorities, who described it as an important contribution toward improving the welfare of genocide survivors.

Denise Dusabe, Vice Mayor of Gisagara District in charge of Social Affairs, said the district continues to face challenges in addressing housing needs among vulnerable survivors.

“We thank you for standing with survivors. We still have many challenges affecting their well-being, especially in providing decent housing and rehabilitating damaged homes,” she said.

According to Dusabe, the district still has 823 households requiring housing rehabilitation or reconstruction.

“The contribution provided today helps us move closer to that goal. It demonstrates the unity of Rwandans and their willingness to support the national vision of building a better Rwanda,” she added.

Jacqueline Muragijemariya, Secretary of Ibuka in Gisagara District, said commemoration remains an important tool for preserving memory and countering genocide denial.

“Commemoration is not a ritual as genocide deniers claim. It is a way of looking back, preserving evidence that the genocide happened and ensuring future generations understand the truth,” she said.

She commended ActionAid Rwanda for contributing to genocide remembrance efforts and encouraged the organization to continue advocating for vulnerable survivors.

Earlier in the day, participants visited Kabuye Genocide Memorial, where they were briefed on the history of the killings that occurred in the area and the role played by extremist leaders, including Théodore Sindikubwabo, who later became President of the self-proclaimed Interim Government during the genocide.

The commemoration also featured testimonies from survivors and former employees, offering a personal perspective on the consequences of the genocide and the resilience that followed.

Marie Chantal Mukabutera, a survivor from the former Nyaruhengeri Commune, now part of Kibilizi Sector, recounted the suffering she endured during the genocide, including being forced into marriage with a genocidaire under threats of death.

She also shared the painful memory of losing her child after perpetrators took the child away to be killed. When she later searched for the place where the child had been murdered, she found only human remains that had been partially eaten by dogs.

Another testimony came from Emma Marie Immaculée Uwayirege, a former employee of Aide et Action, who recalled the discrimination and fear experienced by many Tutsi before the genocide.

“We lived through many difficulties. We were constantly afraid. We would meet and find ourselves talking because of stress and anxiety,” she said.

Uwayirege paid tribute to former colleagues who were killed during the genocide and said remembrance helps restore the dignity that victims were denied.

ActionAid Rwanda works with vulnerable communities, particularly women and young people, in the districts of Gisagara, Nyanza, Nyaruguru, Karongi and Musanze. The organization also supports community development initiatives, including education infrastructure and social protection programs.

For participants, the event served as a reminder that remembrance is not only about honoring those who perished, including the organization’s 12 former employees, but also about supporting survivors, preserving historical truth and strengthening collective efforts to ensure that the Genocide against the Tutsi never happens again.