Stories of loss, resilience as I&M Bank honours 26 staff killed in Genocide

I&M Bank Rwanda Plc joined the nation in commemorating the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, which claimed more than one million lives in 100 days, by paying tribute to the victims, including its 26 former employees killed when the institution operated as Banque Commerciale du Rwanda (BCR). The event held on Friday, April 17, reflected on loss, resilience, and the Bank’s continued support to survivors and their families. The commemoration brought together families of victims, survivors, staff, and officials. It began at the Bank’s Kigali headquarters, where a monument honours 26 former employees killed during the Genocide—a number that continues to rise as more names are identified. Wreaths and flowers were laid in their memory by members of the victims’ families and the bank’s leaders. Activities later continued to Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi, where participants toured the site and paid tribute at mass graves where more than 250,000 victims are laid to rest. Testimonies and a documentary screening underscored both the scale of the tragedy and the need to prevent its recurrence. Families recall pre-Genocide persecution Speaking on behalf of families of former BCR employees, Vianney Nyamutera recalled the climate of fear before 1994. “They would step aside and speak among themselves – about how they lived, how they suffered, how they were persecuted, and how things were getting worse,” he said. As children, he said, many did not fully understand. “We thought we were living well mostly because our parents were working, but they were always worried, visibly unsettled,” he said. “It became clearer when we were denied opportunities, when you had passed your exams but were not called to continue to secondary school.” Many families, he recounted, sent children to neighbouring countries for safety. “Some lost fathers, others husbands, others siblings. Some survived, others have grown old,” he said. Nyamutera commended the bank’s continued support. “We thank the bank for the support it has given us. Not all institutions did that,” he said. “You also responded to our request to bring together families of former employees, and we appreciate that.” Reflecting on the immediate aftermath of the Genocide, he acknowledged that many young survivors struggled with the temptation of revenge. “There was a moment when we thought about doing to others what had been done to us,” he said. “But we were guided not to take that path. Looking back, we realise we could have committed further atrocities.” Historical context of discrimination Providing historical perspective, Senator Emmanuel Havugimana highlighted longstanding marginalisation of Tutsi before 1994. “It was not a matter of lacking intelligence, but of lacking opportunity,” he said, citing discriminatory policies that limited access to education, employment, and governance. He noted that even quota systems that ostensibly allowed limited Tutsi participation were not respected, leaving many to rely on informal networks to access basic services. Survivor testimony A Genocide survivor and I&M Bank employee, Martine Umutoniwabo, shared her personal account of loss and survival, illustrating the human cost behind the statistics. “At least 85 per cent of our family members we lost are buried here at the memorial,” she said. “This country was soaked in the blood of the Tutsi,” she added. “After the Genocide, you could see it everywhere, the land itself seemed to remember the blood that had been shed.” She also recounted discrimination in education and how then-Prime Minister Agatha Uwiringiyimana intervened after she raised concerns. “Through her daughter who was my friend, I wrote a note asking why my results had not been published,” she said. “She intervened, and I was able to continue my studies.” Recognition of support to survivors Ibuka Vice President Christine Muhongayire praised the bank’s support to survivors. “We appreciate the way you care for survivors, whether they are descendants of your former employees or others across the country,” she said. “From repairing houses to providing livestock and other support, your role in helping survivors rebuild is visible.” She warned against complacency, saying that the Genocide stemmed from prolonged hate speech and discrimination, and highlighted the role of Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) in ending the killings and rebuilding the nation. Institutional commitment and responsibility I&M Bank Rwanda CEO Benjamin Mutimura said institutions have a duty to preserve memory and support survivors. “What we have heard today reminds us of the weight of our history and the responsibility we carry as Rwandans,” he said. “This is not a one-time action; it is a responsibility embedded in our strategy,” he added. Mutimura said the bank continues to support survivors through financial assistance and livelihood programmes, and by the formation of an association bringing together survivors from families of former BCR employees, creating a platform for continued engagement “It is a journey we have begun wholeheartedly, and we will continue to walk this path with you,” he said. Calling on staff, especially the youth, he underscored the need to balance remembrance with rebuilding. “Remembrance is our duty, but rebuilding is our vision,” he said. “We must continue to build a Rwanda founded on unity, truth, and values that reject all forms of discrimination.”

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Stories of loss, resilience as I&M Bank honours 26 staff killed in Genocide