Akagera Park nearby residents were advised to preserve this park which will improve on tourism hence contribute to their development.

This was said by Telesphore Ngoga from Rwanda Development Board [RDB] in charge of connecting such parks and their close residents in the country, who added on saying that as the parks are preserved this will bring in more tourist which will increase on tourism production hence increase on the contribution given to the close residents.

“As many people visit the park, then market for tourism is also increased which makes it possible for the residents to sell any products they have to the tourists especially people with art and crafts hence be able to develop”, added on Ngoga.

“However though there is a programme of sharing the productivity got from tourism with the park’s neighbors, it was noted that many of such people still go hunting for the animals in the park which is a very big hindrance to developed tourism”, explained Ngoga.

He called on any one who finds such people to always give such information out and on time so that they can be dealt with

However, some of the residents said that they now know the benefits of preserving the parks.

Firipo Muhawenimana a resident of Mwili sector, Kayonza district said that with the help people are giving out to the different security organizations in getting park rangers this is a very every good sign that most of them know well the benefits of preserving the park.

“About 19 park rangers have so far been caught since January 2013 in Mwili sector”, explained on Muhawenimana.

Genocide memorials’ cleaning towards commemoration has proved to be comforting especially to genocide survivors who take the activity as restoring value the killers denied the victims.

This is because some 1994 Tutsi genocide survivors take time to clean and plant more flowers around memorial sites as a way of honoring the dead.

Ibrahim Ndori, a genocide survivor in Ruhango district confirms that seeing different people giving a hand in tidying those places towards commemoration gives them hope and happiness.

Among the people that turn up to clean genocide memorial sites include Red Cross Rwanda, students, and local leaders among others.

The vice-mayor for social affairs in Ruhango district, Jolie Germaine Mugeni says the district administration has continuously rendered support to make genocide survivors feel cared for.

This was said while in a ceremony to commemorate the genocide victims in Tumba sector, Huye district, on the 21/04/2013.

“These people suffered very bad deaths and therefore this is why they are supposed to be buried in memorial sites where they can be remembered very often”, said the vice president of IBUKA, Nkuranga.

He added on explaining why they are buried in memorial site saying that these are places with security which limits many people from going there.

He gave an example of people who bury them in their homes and later shift to other places leaving the deceased at any one’s mercy.

Again Nkuranga said that places like the cemeteries after 20yrs can be used for other purpose which is not like the memorial sites.

With this therefore he called on people to give information about such people who are not buried in memorial sites, so that they can receive descent burial, in a place where they will not face any such problems.

The youth accompanied by their parents from Rwesero cell in Busasamana sector in Nyanza district on Thursday the 18^th.April.2013 visited Murambi memorial site in Nyamagabe district where most victims of the 1994 genocide against Tutsis are laid to rest.

Rwesero cell residents visit Murambi memorial site

This youth came to learn about the preparation and implementation of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis in the 1994.

“Youth heard a lot of things during the commemoration period but they never exactly got to know all the answers to their questions about the 1994 genocide against Tutsis. The residents and leaders of Rwesero cell therefore decided that the youth can learn a lot from Murambi memorial site” explained Beatha Mukantaganira.

Mukantaganira also explained that the youth that visited Murambi Memorial Site is mainly composed of children who survived the 1994 atrocities, off springs of genocide survivors as well as children from families that perpetrated the 1994 genocide.

The youth learnt a lot from this memorial site as they saw bodies of genocide survivors, tools that killed them, learnt history and resolved to form a forum to ensure that genocide never happens ever again.

A girl writing in visitors’ book at Murambi memorial site

Jean de Dieu Murengezi a parent that had accompanied the youth between 15 and 20 years says “we thought it would be a good legacy to leave to our children for them to know about the 1994 genocide and for them to make sure it never happens ever again.”

Jean Pierre Ngirinshuti the president of IBUKA in Rwesero cell says the act of explaining the history thoroughly for the youth is a very good venture towards  securing an anti genocide future.

The people who prepared genocide were inhuman but now that Rwanda is ensuring a unified people who love their country and ready to protect it, there will never be genocide ever.

Byimana genocide memorial centre that has been permanently rebuilt

Survivors of 1994 Tutsi genocide in Byimana sector in Ruhango district have revealed that they are happy because the bodies of their genocide victims are lying in a descent grave.  

This comes after genocide survivors used to complain about Byimana memorial center that was not renovated to the standards.

However, despite of the complaints, the memorial site was rebuilt during the 19^th genocide commemoration week costing Rwf2.4 million, one million contributed by Byimana sector residents that reside outside the place and another million from Ruhango district administration.

Rebuilding Byimana genocide memorial site was decided on during the meeting

The decision to renovate the memorial site was agreed on during the meeting of Byimana sector authorities and Kigali town residents born from Byimana sector on February 24^th 2013.

The executive secretary of Byimana sector, Byimana Jean Marie Nahayo explains that renovation activities were done quickly so that survivors do not continue to be affected by the fact that their deceased are not properly protected.

Though renovated, the remaining work such as putting tiles on the inside grave walls is expected to cost Rwf400000, Rwf450000 for pavement, construction of the grave covering Rwf8 million and Rwf3 million for the construction of the second grave.

In order to have one District memorial centre in Musanze, it was decided that Busogo memorial site be made Musanze genocide memorial centre.

The building of the Kigali Memorial Centre which is highly visited in the country

This was revealed on March 26^th 2013 during the preparations for the 19^th genocide commemoration.

During this event, it was agreed on that no more burying genocide victims in Kinigi and Mohoza memorial sites but in Busogo memorial centre.

Epimaque Samvura, president of Ibuka in Musanze district confirmed that all bodies of genocide victims will be buried in Busogo memorial centre.

It was said that since there is a financial budget set apart for that, sectors should make budgets to help in the genocide commemoration preparations in cells and villages of Musanze.

While Rwanda prepares for the 19^th genocide commemoration, workers at Nyanza district hospital on March 15^th 2013 visited Murambi memorial centre in Nyamagabe district in Southern Province.

The hospital staff that visited the memorial and contributed say their intention was to better understand how 1994 Tutsi genocide was done leaving the undoubted marks.

After explanations on the genocide, they took a moment to remember between 40 and 50 victims that lost their lives in Murambi sector.

Gertrude Mukakarisa who gave visitors the tour explaining on the history of genocide happened in Murambi  

Gertrude Mukakarisa explains that on the fateful night of March 21^st 1994, killers came with pangas and guns and killed people who had been surviving without food and drinks for two weeks.

Nyanza district hospital workers at Murambi memorial

Gertrude Mukakarisa blamed French soldiers for training the killers and providing them with weapons to kill Rwandans who had taken refuge in that place thinking it was safe.

After visiting 24 rooms of genocide victims, Dr Jean Sauveur Uwitonze, Director of Nyanza hospital wrote in the visitor’s book saying: “Lets always remember our dead and restore their respect they lost”.

Dr. Uwitonze, on behalf of the staff gave out Rwf200, 000 cheque to the management of Murambi memorial centre.

Asked on the lesson she learnt from this site, Placidie Mutesi, human resource manager at Nyanza district hospital told the reporter that every Rwandese should strive for genocide never to happen again.

While Rwanda prepares for the 19^th genocide commemoration, workers at Nyanza district hospital on March 15^th 2013 visited Murambi memorial centre in Nyamagabe district in Southern Province.

The hospital staff that visited the memorial and contributed say their intention was to better understand how 1994 Tutsi genocide was done leaving the undoubted marks.

After explanations on the genocide, they took a moment to remember between 40 and 50 victims that lost their lives in Murambi sector.

Gertrude Mukakarisa who gave visitors the tour explaining on the history of genocide happened in Murambi

Gertrude Mukakarisa explains that on the fateful night of March 21^st 1994, killers came with pangas and guns and killed people who had been surviving without food and drinks for two weeks.

Nyanza district hospital workers at Murambi memorial

Gertrude Mukakarisa blamed French soldiers for training the killers and providing them with weapons to kill Rwandans who had taken refuge in that place thinking it was safe.

After visiting 24 rooms of genocide victims, Dr Jean Sauveur Uwitonze, Director of Nyanza hospital wrote in the visitor’s book saying: “Lets always remember our dead and restore their respect they lost”.

Dr. Uwitonze, on behalf of the staff gave out Rwf200, 000 cheque to the management of Murambi memorial centre.

Asked on the lesson she learnt from this site, Placidie Mutesi, human resource manager at Nyanza district hospital told the reporter that every Rwandese should strive for genocide never to happen again.

Doing community work for the end of February

After the community work for the Saturday of the February that was done on the 23^rd.Feb.2013 which residents of Nyamugari and Remera cells in Gasaka sector did at Murambi Genocide Memorial site, the mayor of Nyamagabe district asked people to always ensure the sanitation and cleanliness of this memorial site.

The mayor of Nyamagabe district Mr. Philbert Mugisha thanked people who participated in this community work for the work well done. He asked residents of Remera cell to always take a day in the weekly community work and clean the memorial site for the sake of its beauty.

“If we can put the cleanliness of this memorial site in our performing contracts as people of Remera cell, every village to take care of it after the other in the weekly performing contracts, we can achieve it” says the mayor.

Though this memorial site is not under the supervision of the district, it is under the responsibility of the commission that fights against the Genocide in Rwanda. This however, does not take away the residents responsibility to clean it up and maintain its security since I is the resting place for many Rwandans who lost their lives in the 1994 genocide against Tutsi and keeps history for all Rwandans.

“We will not wait for people to come from other provinces to clean this memorial site nor will we disregard its security because they are police officers in charge of that. We have a responsibility to it because it holds the history of many Rwandans especially the former Gikongoro Province” says the mayor.

This memorial site is visited by all kinds of people including Rwandans and foreigners so its cleanliness, its security and other operations are of concern to everyone. Residents that attended this community work to start preparing for 19^th mourning period while commemorating Rwandans that died during the 1994 genocide in April 2013.

On Monday 10^th.Feb.2013, delegates from Rhenanie –Palatinat Province in Germany paid a visit the house of former king of Rwanda Mutara III Rudahigwa as a way of finding out the real life experiences of the former Rwandan king and the culture that existed then.

Reiner Meutsch signing visitors’ books 

Different parts of the former king’s house were visited including the king’s bedroom chambers and where he would eat. After visiting different parts of the former king’s palace locally known as Rukali, the of Rhenanie –Palatinat Province delegates to Rwanda were happy for the visit and got to know about Rwandan history since most of them were in Rwanda for the first time.

Rhenanie –Palatinat Province representatives learning the history about the former king

Reiner Meutsch who led the team of representatives signed in the visitors’ book expressing the excitement they got from the visit they made to the former King’s palace (Rukali) and learning great history from this place.

“We’re glad for this visit and the warm welcome accorded to us by Rwandans” he wrote.

The delegates of Rhenanie –Palatinat Province in Germany came to Rwanda on the 9^th.Feb.2013 while visiting different regions of Rwanda evaluating different programs and projects including schools that were built on the partnership of Germany and Rwanda.