In solidarity with Rwandans and the global community commemorating the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi for the 31st time, Equity Bank held a commemoration event, on Friday, April 25, at Ntarama Genocide Memorial. The event aimed to honor the lives of the genocide victims, as well as comfort the survivors. The event brought together Equity Bank staff and representatives from the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE), Ibuka, the association of genocide survivors, and local leaders. ALSO READ: Equity Bank Rwanda commemorates Genocide victims, vows continued support for economic development The Church of Ntarama was turned into a Genocide memorial to remember the 5,000 people who lost their lives there. It preserves personal belongings such as clothing, ID cards, household items, as well as items used in the massacre, serving as a lasting reminder of the atrocity that happened there. The messages delivered during the commemoration highlighted themes of remembrance, resilience, unity, and collective responsibility to ensure “Never Again” becomes a reality, not only in Rwanda but globally. Dr Vincent Ntaganira, a representative of Ibuka, praised Equity Bank’s continued commitment to remembrance and support for genocide survivors. While acknowledging that commemoration can trigger painful memories, he emphasised that the best way to honor the victims is to carry forward their unfulfilled dreams through hard work, national development, and by shaping a brighter future for younger generations. “Kwibuka (commemorating) will never stop until the end of the world,” Ntaganira said. “When we commemorate, we reflect in time to understand the reasons that led to the Genocide and pledge to avoid them, and that is a responsibility for all of us.” He pointed to the failure of the international community to intervene during the Genocide and called on Equity Bank staff, especially the youth, to take a stand against the distortion of history and genocide denial, particularly through the use of social media. Equity Bank’s Managing Director, Hannington Namara, reiterated that remembrance must go hand-in-hand with renewal. He called on the youth, especially those born after 1994, to understand Rwanda’s past and draw lessons to protect its present and future. “Even though we commemorate every year, in April, it shouldn’t stop us from remembering every time, from wherever we are, either in Rwanda or somewhere else. We also have to share this with everyone we meet, especially these days when genocide ideology is spreading in different areas,” Namara said, noting that Rwandans have to fight genocide ideology, especially its spread online, with all energy and all possible tools. Namara also extended support to Genocide survivors, especially those within the bank, reaffirming the institution’s pledge that, “It will never happen again.” Angelique Mukabukizi, who survived the massacre at Ntarama Church but lost her two children and husband, shared her testimony. Though deeply wounded, physically and emotionally, Mukabukizi said she has chosen resilience, working for unity, self-reliance, and reconciliation. She urged people to shun ethnic discrimination while safeguarding what the country has achieved. Mafeza Faustin, a research analyst at MINUBUMWE, provided a historical overview of the genocide and stressed that understanding the past is key to preventing future atrocities. He noted that discrimination is not only about ethnicity, and encouraged people to avoid discrimination at workplaces as it might lead to other bad outcomes. “Let us all work together to embark on this fight against genocide denial and revisionism, especially on social media,” he urged. “After knowing the history, let us all also give our contribution, because we know a lot of truth about our history. Let us work together to challenge all those spreading false narratives about the history of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. But most of all, let us fight anything and anyone who would plant division and discrimination among us.”
