Nyarubuye sector in Kirehe District, bordering Tanzania and Ngoma District in the former Kibungo, is today defined by its rolling hills, Lake Nasho, and a quiet rural life. But beneath this landscape lies one of the most harrowing histories of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

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Before 1963, when the region was known as Gisaka, communities largely identified with traditional clans such as Abasinga and Abanyiginya, with little emphasis on ethnic divisions. That began to change in the early 1960s, when violence targeting Tutsi was being tested in regions such as Nyamagabe, Gitarama, and Huye.

As international attention grew, authorities adjusted their approach, relocating Tutsi populations from these areas to remote locations like Nyarubuye.

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Victims were transported in lorries and abandoned in unfamiliar environments, with the intention of eliminating them away from the attention and scrutiny of international voices. They were also expected to be killed by wildlife from nearby Akagera National Park. However, the plan initially failed.

"When they arrived, the displaced were welcomed by local residents. They integrated and rebuilt their lives. Those who died did so mainly from natural causes, including animal attacks,” Florentine Nyirakamana, a guide at Nyarubuye Genocide Memorial, explained.

She was speaking to a delegation of more than 800 residents from Nyarugunga Sector in Kicukiro District, who visited the memorial on Saturday, April 2, as part of the 32nd commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi.

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The delegation paid tribute to over 59,000 victims laid to rest in the memerial and reflected on the area’s tragic history. The visit was part of the Nyarugunga community&039;s an annual initiative aimed at strengthening collective memory and supporting vulnerable families through the donation of cows and other support.

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Shifting tactics as earlier plans fail

As relocated Tutsi communities continued to live peacefully with locals in Nyarubuye, authorities introduced another layer to their strategy, moving in Hutu populations aligned with extremist ideologies to monitor them.

"The government deported Hutu aligned with ethnic politics, particularly from parties like Parmehutu, and tasked them with spying on the Tutsi,” Nyirakamana explained.

"They were stationed near the border, especially along the Akagera River, to prevent any contact with Tutsi refugees outside the country.”

These groups were brought from areas including Gikongoro, Gitarama, and Burera. Yet, this effort also failed to produce the intended divisions.

Over time, communities intermarried, shared livestock, and built social ties, undermining the imposed ethnic separation.

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From refuge to massacre

This fragile coexistence collapsed in April 1994.

Following the plane crash that killed former President Juvenal Habyarimana on April 6, 1994, violence spread rapidly across the country. In Nyarubuye, which had seen little prior unrest, thousands began arriving from surrounding areas seeking safety.

"From April 7, people fled here in large numbers and initially found peace. No Tutsi was killed until April 14,” Nyirakamana said.

As the number of the displaced Tutsi grew, reaching between 15,000 and 20,000, food shortages emerged. A Catholic priest sought assistance from local authorities, unknowingly exposing those in hiding.

"He reported their situation, not realising he was providing information that would later be used to organise the killings,” she noted.

At the district office, he encountered Sylvestre Bacumbitsi, a former student-turned-Interahamwe leader, who warned him to leave. By April 13, the priest and other clergy had fled to Tanzania.

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The following day, militias and government security personnel moved in.

Posing as protectors, they took away the traditional means of protection the refugees had been using to resist killings from the two local militiamen and other neighboring armed groups that had tried to start the killings, separated them along ethnic lines, and initiated the killings, forcing some Hutu to participate as a demonstration.

What followed was one of the most brutal massacres during the Genocide.

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Nyarubuye’s darkest days

By April 15, the number of refugees had risen to around 35,000. Mass killings were carried out, particularly in the church where thousands had gathered seeking refuge.

Survivors recount extreme and systematic brutality, where women and girls were subjected to sexual violence, and many killed using machetes, clubs, and other crude weapons.

Some victims were burned, others thrown into latrines, while additional methods were used to inflict maximum suffering and destruction on those trapped inside and around the church.

"There was an Interahamwe called Daniel Rwamukama, known as Simba. Before the genocide, he was seen as harmless. During the killings, he roasted and ate people’s kidneys,” recalled 69-year-old survivor Ferdinand Rwakayigamba.

Grenades were used to kill large groups, followed by systematic methods to ensure no one survived.

"They used ground pepper to detect anyone still alive. Those who coughed or stirred were immediately killed,” recalled Rwakayigamba, who lost his wife and three children, along with nearly 400 relatives.

Some were burned in houses, others killed with machetes. He survived by hiding and moving from place to place.

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Despite the scale of his loss, Rwakayigamba chose a path of reconciliation.

"I tried joining the army, but I couldn’t cope with the trauma. I turned to alcohol, but it did not help. It was only when AVEGA Agahozo supported me that I rebuilt my life and became a champion of unity and reconciliation,” he said.

But the pain remains, especially for survivors whose loved ones have yet to be found and buried in dignity.

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For young members of the Nyarugunga delegation, the visit was eye-opening.

"The history here is horrifying and difficult to comprehend,” said Elimin Gikundiro.

"I have visited other memorials, but what happened here is beyond comprehension, especially given how remote the area was from political mobilisation before the Genocide.”

She noted that such visits help young people understand how the Genocide was planned and executed and appreciate their role in ensuring that the history never happens again.

Beyond remembrance, the delegation also extended support to vulnerable families.

Sylvestre Nsanzimana, a resident of Kigina sector who received a cow, said the gesture carries deep meaning.

"It is not just material support. It represents comfort and solidarity. It will help my family through nutrition, education support for my children, and economic stability,” Nsanzimana said.

George Gatete, Executive Secretary of Nyarugunga Sector, said the initiative now in its tenth year, aims to link remembrance with support to survivors.

"We honour the victims, stand with survivors, and ensure that history is preserved. Young people, in particular, must understand this history to safeguard the future,” he said.

He added that participants act as ambassadors, sharing what they learn within their communities and schools.

Gatete also stressed the role of community-driven support in complementing government efforts to improve livelihoods.

Modeste Nzirabatinya, Kirehe Vice Mayor for Economic Development, commended the initiative, describing it as a model worth emulating.

"We are challenged to learn from this approach combining unity, remembrance, and social support,” he said.

Monique Huss, the Deputy District Executive Administrator of Kicukiro District, echoed the sentiment.

"This initiative strengthens unity, supports survivors, and helps younger generations understand our history,” she said.

"As leaders, we see this as part of a broader responsibility, to ensure that remembrance is linked with actions, whether through supporting survivors or investing in community cohesion. Every contribution counts towards development.”