Staff members of Global Professional Organization (GPO), an audit and consultancy firm, on June 27, visited and paid tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda at Ntarama Genocide Memorial in Bugesera District. As part of their commemoration activities, they handed over two renovated houses to two genocide survivors, widows living in Cyeru Village, Kanzenze Cell, in Ntarama Sector. They also supported 55 families of genocide survivors with community-based health insurance (Mutuelle de Santé) packages covering 254 family members. The GPO delegation paid tribute to more than 6,000 victims laid to rest at the memorial while deepening their understanding of the tragic history of the genocide. Antoine Kagarama, an official from the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement, provided a historical overview of how the Genocide against the Tutsi was orchestrated, particularly in Bugesera. Rwandans lived in unity before the arrival of colonialists, particularly the Belgians, who introduced divisionism as a key feature of their oppressive rule. Since 1959, Bugesera had been deliberately designated as an uninhabitable area. Tutsi families from various parts of the country were forcibly relocated there, despite the lack of infrastructure, the presence of tsetse flies, and the imposition of strict military control. By 1994, the Tutsi in Bugesera had endured decades of hardship, effectively becoming prisoners in their own homeland. Kagarama told the delegation how shocking it is that many churches and holy places, including Ntarama, are now memorial sites, not by design, but because the genocidal regime instilled evil ideologies that drove perpetrators to kill without mercy, even in sacred spaces. Ntarama, like many other parts of the country, later witnessed mass killings, an inevitable consequence of the long-planned massacres. GPO partners offer a wide range of professional services across several key areas: Audit and Assurance: Financial statement audits, assurance services, forensic audits, IT audits, and IT reviews. Business Process Outsourcing (BPO): Services in accounting, taxation, legal support, payroll management, and company secretarial duties. Advisory: Business valuation, corporate governance, due diligence, and development of policies and procedures manuals. Human Capital: Recruitment and training, job analysis, HR restructuring, as well as board and senior management evaluations. Since 1997, the firm has operated across Africa, with permanent offices in Rwanda, Burundi, and DR Congo. Combining international experience with local expertise, GPO delivers high-quality services to international and local institutions. Patrick Gashagaza, the Managing Partner of GPO, said that remembrance is an obligation. “We’ve learned a lot. It was important for us to understand this history. You cannot fight the evil you don’t know. This is our history, and there is no way we can shy away from it,” he noted. Gashagaza added that the greatest takeaway is the importance of unity. When unity was dismantled, everything fell apart hence, and such mistakes should never be repeated, he said. “Unity among Rwandans is crucial. We need to work together, respond to patriotic responsibilities collectively, and stand strong against anything that threatens us. With this, nothing evil will ever happen to us again,” he said. Jacqueline Mukangenzi, a genocide survivor and widow who is among the very few people who survived the massacres in Ntarama, raised five children and lived in a house that was built after the genocide. Over time, her very old house was at risk of collapsing due to poor construction. “I’m so thankful to the GPO and the Government of Rwanda, which never ceases to support survivors. Life wasn’t easy. My house was substandard, built with mud and without a proper floor. Now, it is well-renovated and equipped with necessary facilities. I’m so grateful,” she said. Odette Mukamunana, Mukangenzi’s neighbour – another genocide survivor and widow living with her three children – faced a similar situation. Her house was also renovated. At a nearby market, the two women sell food and various goods from stalls allocated to them by local authorities to help them earn a living. Patrick Rwasa, the Executive Secretary of Ntarama Sector, commended GPO’s initiative, particularly their positive response to the government's policy of going beyond business operations to also support needy communities. “Ntarama Sector holds a special history, as it was close to Kigali and Bugesera, which were used as killing grounds even before 1994. This history traumatized us and left behind many orphans, widows, and people with nothing to hold onto, thus the urgent need for both emotional healing and material support, especially for genocide survivors,” he noted. “Today, Ntarama is one of the most promising sectors in Bugesera. It is developing, and more people are choosing to live here. As the sector progresses, walking the journey with genocide survivors is highly commendable. We thank GPO Partners for their genuine support. They not only renovated houses but also restored hope in survivors’ hearts. Every company should learn from their example,” he added.
