Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) and the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) have called upon young people to take a stand against genocide ideology and those who propagate it, urging them to serve as ambassadors of unity and reconciliation while also reporting any actions that jeopardise Rwanda’s social cohesion.
During a joint commemoration event held on April 9 to mark the 31st commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the Auditor General, Alexis Kamuhire, emphasised that the period of remembrance holds profound meaning for the two institutions as it provides an opportunity to reflect on the painful history that led to the Genocide against the Tutsi.
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He stressed the ongoing responsibility of Rwandans to combat genocide denial and hate ideologies. "We continue to take strong measures on how to respond to those who want to drag us back into the darkness that led to the 1994 Genocide.”
As part of the commemoration, staff from both institutions laid wreaths, observed a moment of silence in honour of the victims, and toured Kigali Genocide Memorial where they learned about the history and impact of the 1994 Genocide.
Kamuhire thanked Rwanda’s leadership and the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) for ending the genocide and helping restore national unity.
He added: "Every year, the employees of these two institutions work together in remembrance activities to honour the victims of the Genocide, preserve memorial sites, and address the long-term effects of the Genocide. We also support survivors in different ways.”
Kamuhire noted that the region is still vulnerable to genocide ideology and ethnic hatred, citing the spread of hate speech, violence, and divisive narratives, particularly targeting Kinyarwanda speakers, with the world remaining silent, as it did in 1994.
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Vincent Karega, the Ambassador at Large in the Great Lakes Region, said the divisionism introduced by colonial powers, particularly Belgium, laid the foundation for ethnic hatred in Rwanda.
Karega said that this same ideology of division and hatred continues to spread across the region, particularly in DR Congo and Burundi, where Tutsi populations are still being persecuted and forced into exile.
"This genocide ideology and divisionism, in large part, originated from Rwanda under Belgian colonial rule.”
He emphasised that while the origin of this ideology may be rooted in Rwanda’s colonial past, Rwandans have a duty to take the lead in eradicating it.
He added: "We must remember and ask ourselves; how was genocide ideology started? How did it escalate to the point where people could decide to kill without shame? Worse still, some have not even learned from it, as this ideology still lingers in neighbouring countries.”
To the staff of the two institutions, he said: "You have a role in fighting genocide ideology, not by staying silent, but by spreading the truth.”
‘What message do we give our children?’
Louise Ingabire Kalisa, a senior RRA officer and genocide survivor, shared her personal experience. Ingabire, the last born in her family, was nine in April 1994. She emphasised the significant role of parental guidance and teaching.
She said: "What message do we give our children? Do we teach them to love the country? This is what I always think when I am with my children. I teach them the history. Society is built starting from our home."