NGORORERO – Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva has raised concern over continued cases of genocide ideology in Ngororero district, warning that the persistence of such tendencies threatens the country’s unity and requires sustained action from leaders and citizens alike.
Speaking during the commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi at the district’s main memorial site, the Prime Minister said remembrance must go beyond reflection and translate into vigilance against divisionism in all its forms.
The Prime Minister stressed that fighting genocide ideology is a legal and moral obligation for every Rwandan, calling for stronger community-level engagement to detect and address early signs of division.
As commemoration commenced on April 7, 2026, an individual publicly questioned the relevance of the commemoration, while the district reported an attack on a genocide survivor whose livestock was stolen the same day.
“These are not isolated concerns. They are reminders that the ideology which led to the genocide can still manifest if it is not actively confronted,” he noted.
A district with a complex history
Ngororero was highlighted as one of the areas where violence was organized early, with roots tracing back to the early 1990s. Testimonies and historical accounts show how killings began well before 1994, often incited and coordinated by local leaders.
Annonce Manirarora, a commissioner at Ibuka, said meetings held in the area, including those led by Leon Mugesera, were followed by targeted attacks in which victims were killed, thrown into rivers such as Nyabarongo, or buried in mass graves.
She noted that even after the genocide, survivors in Ngororero continued to face attacks, reinforcing the need for vigilance and collective responsibility. “What is concerning is not only the history, but the fact that some of its elements still appear today,” she said.
Manirarora also highlighted the issue of unresolved cases, noting that some victims’ remains have never been recovered, denying families the opportunity for dignified burial.
Lessons, responsibility and the role of leadership
Prime Minister Nsengiyumva emphasized that confronting such challenges requires both leadership and active citizen participation. He called on local authorities to take greater responsibility in strengthening unity and reconciliation in the district.
He further observed that Ngororero continues to face noticeable gaps in unity and reconciliation, urging local leaders to take deliberate and sustained action to rebuild trust among residents, strengthen social cohesion, and address the lingering effects of division that still manifest within sections of the community.
The Prime Minister also urged young people to take a leading role in countering divisionism, particularly on digital platforms where harmful narratives can spread quickly. At the same time, he called on older generations to continue educating others about the causes and consequences of the genocide.
He underscored the importance of drawing lessons from acts of courage, including the resistance shown by students during the 1997 Inyange School attack, describing such moments as examples of unity that should guide the country forward.
In addition, he condemned the actions of individuals who played a role in planning and executing the genocide, including figures such as Athanase Seromba, stressing the need to remain firm against any attempt to distort or deny history.
Testimony as a reminder
Apolinaire Rurangwa’s testimony is a direct account of how violence unfolded in Ngororero long before 1994. He recalled returning home from school on October 1, 1990 to find his mother in shock and unable to explain what was happening.
“She could not speak. She told me to stay quiet and watch,” he said, describing the moment his childhood was first disrupted.
Days later, their home was destroyed and the family fled, beginning years of displacement. When the genocide escalated in 1994, survival became a constant struggle. Like many others, he sought refuge in public buildings, believing they would offer protection.
“At one office, they locked us inside and started shooting. When the bullets ran out, they brought petrol and set it on fire. I thought I would die there. Luckily I escaped through smoke and hid nearby with two other children, one of them badly injured,” he recalls.
Rurangwa survived by moving constantly, at times lying among dead bodies to avoid detection. He later travelled mostly at night, helped by individuals who hid him during the day, until he reached Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo. “Without those who helped me, I would not have survived,” he said.
