BDO East Africa (Rwanda) Ltd, an audit, tax, and advisory services firm, has called on young people to become responsible citizens and continue building on the achievements Rwanda has made over the past three decades.

The message was delivered on Friday, June 5, during the firm’s visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial as part of activities marking the 32nd commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi – Kwibuka 32.

During the solemn visit, BDO employees and management paid tribute to more than 250,000 Genocide victims laid to rest at the memorial site.

The delegation toured various sections of the memorial, including the mass graves and exhibition halls, gaining a deeper understanding of how the Genocide was planned and executed, resulting in the killing of more than one million people in just 100 days.

Through guided tours of the memorial exhibits, BDO Rwanda employees learned about Rwanda’s history, the devastating impact of the Genocide, and the country’s remarkable journey of recovery and rebuilding.

Speaking at the event, BDO Rwanda Managing Partner Emmanuel Habineza underscored the importance of remembrance and urged young people to actively protect Rwanda’s unity and progress.

"Remembrance is not just an event; it is a duty. It is part of our history that we must continue to reflect on,” Habineza said.

"Although most of the BDO staff were not yet born during the Genocide, it is important for them to understand the magnitude of what happened and its impact on our country.”

He further noted that every citizen has a responsibility to fight genocide ideology, especially in the digital era where hate speech and misinformation can easily spread through social media platforms.

"As members of BDO and as Rwandans, we have a duty to keep our society safe by rejecting genocide ideology and any form of divisionism. Let us continue building on what our country has achieved,” he added.

Survivor shares painful memories

One of the most emotional moments of the event came through the testimony of Genocide survivor Emerance Gatesi, who was only 14 years old when the Genocide began.

Born and raised in Kigali’s Muhima Sector, Gatesi grew up in a large family of eight siblings alongside many relatives, as extended families commonly lived together at the time.

She recalled first encountering discrimination while still in primary school when a teacher instructed students to separate themselves according to ethnic identity.

"I did not understand what was happening at the time,” Gatesi recounted. "The teacher told me to go home and ask my parents whether I was Hutu or Tutsi because I could not answer. I was punished several times because I did not know where I belonged.”

Gatesi also recounted her horrifying experience at the outbreak of the Genocide.

While visiting her uncle during the school holidays, she witnessed one of her first traumatic moments as perpetrators carried out the Genocide.

"Killers came to my uncle’s home. After checking the identity of his wife, they immediately shot her in front of me,” she said.

"That was the first person I saw being murdered. We struggled to survive. I thank the RPF-Inkotanyi because they sacrificed themselves to save us.”

She urged younger generations to value the peace, and stability Rwanda enjoys today and to pass those lessons on to future generations.

"We should be proud of what our country has achieved. As parents and citizens, we have the responsibility to teach our children the truth about our history and help preserve the good governance we have today,” she said.

Remembrance is a national duty

Also speaking at the event, Serge Rwigamba, Vice President of Ibuka in Nyarugenge District, stressed that remembrance should not be viewed as a routine activity but rather as a personal responsibility for every Rwandan.

"When we come here, it is a time to reflect on our country’s history,” Rwigamba said. "Some people may think remembrance is simply a requirement from authorities, but it should come from the heart as a duty we owe to those who lost their lives.”

He explained that genocide ideology developed over many years through discriminatory policies and bad governance, eventually leading to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

"Fighting genocide ideology should not be driven by regulations alone; it must be our personal responsibility. No one should remain silent when confronted with denial, revisionism, or any attempt to distort the truth about what happened,” he said.