Rwanda and the world began the 31st annual commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi on Monday, April 7. This 100-day period honours the memory of over a million lives lost and is marked with events across the country. ALSO READ: 31 years later, Rwanda remembers The commemoration continues in various districts. Some districts have released schedules for the commemoration activities planned over the next 100 days. Paying tribute to Queen Gicanda in Nyanza After the national commemoration ceremony on April 7, Nyanza District announced that another commemoration event will take place on April 13 in Kigoma Sector, Butansinda site. This will be followed by a tribute to the late Queen Rosalie Gicanda at the Mwima Mausoleum on April 20 in Busasamana Sector. Queen Gicanda, the last Queen of Rwanda and wife of King Mutara III Rudahigwa, was killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi on April 20. ALSO READ: Remembering the last Queen of Rwanda Thirty-one years later, one of the suspected killers of Rwanda’s last queen, Brig. Gen. Jean-Baptiste Gakwerere, was recently arrested. Prior to the Genocide, Queen Gicanda had travelled to Belgium for medical treatment. However, Belgian authorities instructed her to leave, despite her visa still being valid. On April 27, a commemoration in Nyanza will also offer a decent burial for the remains of Genocide victims. Other commemorations are planned for May 4 in Kibirizi, May 10 in Mukingo, May 18 in Cyabakamyi to honour the Tutsi thrown into rivers, May 25, and May 31 in Muyira, which will also provide a decent burial for Genocide victims’ remains. Additional events will take place on June 8, June 15, June 21 (according decent burial for 512 Genocide victims’ remains in Mukingo and Ntyazo sectors), and June 27 to remember former commune staff. Honouring politicians in Kicukiro At the district level, a Walk to Remember will take place in Kicukiro District on April 11, starting at IPRC Kicukiro, followed by a commemoration evening at the Nyanza Genocide Memorial in Kicukiro. April 11, 1994, marked the withdrawal of Belgian forces from ETO Kicukiro (now IPRC Kigali), and the killers took advantage of the situation to murder more than 2,000 Tutsi who had taken refuge at the facility. On April 13, an event will be held at the Rebero Genocide Memorial to honour the politicians who were killed for opposing the Genocide. Commemoration in Kicukiro District will also take place at the sector level from April 9 to 10. Remembering children and women in Gasabo Commemorations in Gasabo will continue from April 9 to June 21 at different sites. In Rusororo Sector, a decent burial will be provided for the remains of Genocide victims on April 15 at the Ruhanga Genocide Memorial site. A commemoration at CARAES Ndera is scheduled for April 17, while a remembrance virgil for children and women killed during the Genocide will take place on May 15 in Nduba Sector. ALSO READ: Children killed in Genocide commemorated Remembering families who were killed and thrown into Lake Muhazi is expected on June 21 in Rutunga Sector. Nyarugenge Commemoration activities in Nyarugenge District will continue from April 10 to June 6 on various dates. Bugesera: Decent Burial in Mayange From April 11 to June 16, Bugesera District will conduct commemoration activities. A key event is on April 15 in Mayange, where victims’ remains will be laid to rest in dignity. Musanze In Musanze District, events began April 8 when Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente paid tribute to 460 victims at Busogo Genocide Memorial. Commemoration activities are also planned for April 12, April 13, April 14, April 15, April 25, May 16, May 21, May 23, May 25, and May 26 in specific locations depending on the history of the Genocide in different areas. Ruhango Commemoration activities in Ruhango will continue on April 19 and 20 in Kinazi and Ntongwe sectors, May 3 and 4 in Kabagali and Kinihira, May 17 and 18 in Ruhango, Byimana, and Mwendo sectors, and May 20 to remember pastors, children, and women in Bweramana Sector. May 31 will be marked in Mbuye Sector, with additional events on June 1 and 6. Kayonza In Kayonza District, commemoration activities will run until May 9. They will take place in different sectors on April 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 23, 25, 30, and May 9. Rubavu Commemorations in Rubavu District will continue on April 9, 29, 30, and May 17, 18, and June 26. Decent burial on eight sites in Huye Commemoration in Huye District will run from April 13 to June 6. The dates include April 13, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30, and May 2, 3, 9, 16, 17, 18, 23, and June 5 at different memorial sites. Commemoration in Huye will be characterised by decent burials for Genocide victims’ remains on eight sites and a remembrance for children and women on one site. Honouring Tutsi thrown in Muvumba River in Nyagatare According to the schedule, commemoration activities are planned for April 8 and 9, where Genocide survivors will be supported, as well as on April 10, 11, and 13 to honour the Tutsi thrown into the Muvumba River, April 17, and May 7, 8, 15, 21, and 19. Remembering wiped out families in Ngoma Ngoma District has organised commemoration activities on April 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 26, 27, and May 9 to 31. ALSO READ: Remembering the 15,593 wiped-out families On May 31, wiped out families will be remembered at Ngoma Stadium. Remembering Tutsi thrown in Akagera River in Kirehe Commemoration activities in Kirehe are planned for April 8 for Tutsi thrown into the Akagera River, as well as April 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 25, and May 9, 23, and 30. A decent burial for the bodies of Genocide victims is expected on April 14 in Nyarubuye. Women, children, and youth to be remembered in Muhanga In Muhanga District, commemoration activities are scheduled for April 12, 15, and May 7, 12, 20, 26, and June 2, 6, where Genocide victims’ bodies will be given decent burial. Women, children, and youth killed during the Genocide will also be remembered on dates yet to be announced in the district. Gisagara In Gisagara District, commemoration will continue on April 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 27, and May 9 and 16. The activity will be marked by decent burial on five sites, as well as support for vulnerable Genocide survivors. Nyamasheke Commemoration in Nyamasheke District is planned from April 12 to June 5. Women, children, and youth will be honoured on May 29 and June 5.
