In April 1994, during the Genocide against the Tutsi, thousands of displaced people from various parts of the former Bicumbi Commune sought refuge on Gisanza Hill, located in Mwulire Sector, Rwamagana District. For about two weeks, the displaced Tutsi used traditional weapons and stones and mounted a courageous resistance against waves of attacks by Interahamwe militias. From April 7, the displaced Tutsi on Mwulire Hill endured relentless assaults. Under the leadership of brave individuals such as Guido Karenzi and a young woman named Kirabirwa, they organized themselves and repelled the attacks for over ten days. Their resistance symbolized exceptional courage and unity in the face of unthinkable violence. ALSO READ: April 14–15, 1994, Kibungo’s 'darkest days' during Genocide against the Tutsi However, on April 18, tragedy struck. The Interahamwe, frustrated by their failure to overpower the Tutsi defenders, falsely claimed that the group included RPA Inkotanyi fighters. This prompted the deployment of elite government soldiers, including members of the Presidential Guard, who arrived with mounted guns and heavy artillery. According to survivors, the soldiers opened fire indiscriminately on the unarmed civilians, forcing them to flee in panic. Seizing the moment, the Interahamwe launched a final brutal assault with machetes and clubs, killing more than 15,000 people in a single day. ALSO READ: ‘I pretended to be dead until RPA arrived and rescued me’ – genocide survivor At the time, Mwulire was part of Bicumbi Commune, which had long been administered by Laurent Semanza, an influential political figure implicated in the orchestration of the Genocide. During the Genocide, Semanza returned to Bicumbi to support his successor, Juvénal Rugambarara. Both men were later convicted of genocide crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). Genocide survivors like Josiane Mukangarambe, who was 17 in 1994, recalled the horror they went through. “When President Habyarimana’s plane crashed, killings began immediately. We fled to Mwulire Hill with other Tutsi. For 12 days, we defended ourselves with stones and even managed to kill a gunman sent by Semanza. That’s when they brought in the army with heavy weapons,” Mukangarambe said. More than 50,000 people are said to have gathered on Gisanza hill. As gunfire erupted and people were massacred, survivors dispersed in all directions. Mukangarambe fled to the Cyabitana River, hiding there for two days as dead bodies floated past. “After leaving the river, I was captured and taken to join other captives who were later marched to the Nkamba pit in Kayonza. Of the 145 people in that group, many were killed and thrown into the pit,” she said. She survived because a former neighbour intervened, claiming she was his daughter. She eventually escaped and was rescued on April 25by the RPA fighters. Today, Mwulire Genocide Memorial stands as a solemn site preserving the memory of those lost. It is the final resting place for 27,088 victims, including 96 whose remains were discovered and buried in 2025. These remains were recovered from various locations in neighboring sectors. During the 31st commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi, on April 18, Rwamagana District Mayor Radjab Mbonyumuvunyi emphasized the historical role of the area and the role of Laurent Semanza in enabling the atrocities. He reaffirmed the district’s commitment to remembrance and education. Vice President of the Senate Sorine Nyirahabimana urged the public—especially the youth—to safeguard the country’s achievements, preserve unity, and ensure that such atrocities are never repeated. Eugene Furaha, representing families whose relatives were laid to rest on April 18, described the tragic days of 1994. “Many of the 96 newly buried victims had initially survived machete wounds but were later confined in a house that the Interahamwe deliberately collapsed upon hearing that the Inkotanyi were approaching,” Furaha said. Furaha called upon all individuals who may still possess information regarding the whereabouts of the bodies of victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi to come forward and share such information. He emphasized that doing so would enable the victims to be accorded a dignified burial and contribute to the journey of unity and reconciliation. Rwamagana has 11 genocide memorials where more than 84,000 Genocide victims are laid to rest.
