At the hills of Bisesero, where courage once defied unimaginable violence during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Agaciro Development Fund joined survivors on April 24 to honour the past while offering support for rebuilding lives.
The commemoration brought together survivors, local leaders, as well as staff and management of the fund, which is Rwanda's sovereign wealth entity.
As part of the event, five survivors received financial support aimed at helping them rebuild their livelihoods.
The staff and management of Agaciro Development Fund were also taken through the history of the Genocide against the Tutsi, with particular focus on the events that unfolded at Bisesero.
They were briefed on how thousands of Tutsi sought refuge on the hills, organised resistance using rudimentary means, and ultimately faced overwhelming attacks.
This session aimed to deepen their understanding of the country’s history, strengthen their commitment to remembrance, and reinforce the values of unity and resilience that Bisesero represents today.
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Standing with survivors
The Chief Executive Officer of Agaciro Development Fund, Ulrich Kayinamura, said the institution deliberately chose Bisesero because of its historical significance.
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Testimonies from the site, he said, continue to serve as a reminder of both the brutality of the Genocide and the resilience of those who did their best to resist the killers.
Kayinamura said commemoration, provides an opportunity for reflection on Rwanda’s past while reinforcing the commitment to reject discrimination in all its forms, which he described as the root cause of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
"As we mark the 32nd commemoration, we also carry the responsibility to protect the progress Rwanda has made, including unity, stability and economic development,” he said.
He added that supporting survivors, even with limited resources, remains an important part of standing with them through remembrance, recovery and renewal.
Call to preserve memory
Julienne Ntakirutimana, the Vice Mayor in charge of Economic Development in Karongi District, said remembrance should be viewed as a long-term responsibility that extends beyond the present generation.
"This is a powerful journey that must continue as long as we live, and even beyond us, through the generations that follow. It is our collective responsibility to preserve this memory and ensure such atrocities never happen again,” she said.
Ntakirutimana pointed out that the former Kibuye Prefecture accounts for most of the families completely wiped out during the Genocide, countrywide.
She commended Agaciro Development Fund for both commemorating with residents and extending support to survivors, observing that such contributions help families gradually rebuild their lives.
Survivors recount ordeal
Survivors shared accounts of the violence they endured and the difficult journey towards rebuilding their lives.
Emmanuel Bikorimana, who was two years old during the Genocide, narrated how he survived multiple attacks after being left for dead.
He recalled being attacked with machetes and losing close family members, including his mother and siblings. His father later found him at night after he responded weakly to his call.
Bikorimana said he survived further attacks by remaining motionless -- despite severe injuries --as assailants mistook him for a corpse.
He later received treatment, first in the DR Congo and subsequently in Rwanda, where he continued medical care.
Despite the hardships, he said he was able to return to school with support from guardians and government programmes, eventually completing university education.
"Life gradually returned, and I am grateful for the support that helped me rebuild,” he said.
Another survivor, Innocent Nziyumvira, who was among those supported during the event, said conditions for survivors have improved over time.
He attributed this progress to government efforts and unity among Rwandans, while expressing appreciation to Agaciro Development Fund for standing with survivors during the commemoration.
Bisesero: A symbol of resistance, loss — and lessons from history
Bisesero, located in the former Kibuye Prefecture, remains one of the areas that witnessed some of the most intense killings, despite sustained efforts by Tutsi to defend themselves.
It is one of four Genocide memorial sites in Rwanda inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in September 2023, along with the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi, Murambi Genocide Memorial in Nyamagabe District, and Nyamata Genocide Memorial in Bugesera District.
Emmy Musinguzi, Manager of Bisesero Memorial Site under the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement, said the site stands on one of the hills where Tutsi gathered to resist attacks.
According to Musinguzi, the killings in Bisesero began on April 8, 1994, but those who had gathered on the hills initially managed to repel attackers using rudimentary weapons.
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He explained that as the resistance persisted, attackers mobilised reinforcements from neighbouring areas. By May, large numbers of militia had been transported to Bisesero, leading to mass killings.
"In one day alone, about 30,000 Tutsi were killed,” he said, adding that those who fled to Bisesero were encouraged not to hide, but to join the resistance.
Musinguzi also reflected on the role of French forces under the so called Zone Turquoise, saying they failed to facilitate the escape of victims as expected.
He said the history of Bisesero continues to teach lessons on unity, resilience and the responsibility of Rwandans to prevent a recurrence of such atrocities.