NYAMASHEKE – Remains of 136 Genocide victims were on Monday given a befitting burial at the new memorial site in Karengera Sector, in the Nyamasheke District.

Addressing mourners, the District Executive Secretary, Jean Pierre Ndagijimana, said Genocide commemoration should be integrated in the Rwandan culture as a way of honouring the victims. 

He called upon those who were present to stem Genocide ideology and its related crimes.

"As we gather here to give a decent burial to our fellow Rwandans… I encourage everybody in this area to desist from ethnic divisions and Genocide ideology in order to ensure the notion of never again,” he said.

Ndagijimana urged residents to embrace government development programmes in order to eradicate poverty.

According to Ndagijimana, construction of the new memorial site was funded by area residents who contributed over Rwf6m.

Ndagijimana urged survivors to work hard to improve their living standards, instead of being overcome by bitter memories.

Deogratias Shumbusho, who spoke on behalf of survivors, said the commemoration should not just be a ceremonial event, but Rwandans should draw lessons from it.

Condemning Genocide suspects in prison who refuse to give evidence against their accomplices, Shumbusho appealed to the district to build more houses for survivors, saying some of them still lack shelter.

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