The Rwanda High Commissioner to Uganda has organised a series of activities to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

The Rwanda High Commissioner to Uganda Joseph Rutabana said during the genocide an estimated one million people were killed, and over 130 were charged and arrested.

While over two million perpetrators faced justice and reconciliation has taken place.

Rutabana addressed a press conference on Friday 5th April 2024 at Rwanda’s High Commission in Kampala where he said a series of activities will take place dubbed: Kwibuka30 (Kinyarwanda word for Remembrance of 30 years). The theme for the commemoration is: ‘Remember-unite and renew’.

Rutabana said that 30 years down the road, there is a lot of positive change in Rwanda. “People now live better lives. Today in Rwanda, no one will ask you your tribe, identification card to get a service, to go to hospital or university,” Rutabana said.

Joseph Rutabana ,High Commissioner of Rwanda to Uganda interacts with embassy staff during the press conference about the commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda at Rwanda High Commission offices in Kampala on 5th April 2024. Photo by Juliet Kasirye

He said the commemoration is held because some people try to deny the genocide took place. “We want people to see Rwanda as being united and people are proud of being Rwandans,” Rutabana said. He said there are many Rwandans living and working in Uganda.

He noted that Rwandans living in Uganda who want to get their national identity card and have the necessary papers can do so at the High Commission in Kampala.

He indicated that the relations between Uganda and Rwanda were very good.

“There are three borders between the two countries, you can see many people travelling and goods moving. We have many positive engagements and bilateral exchanges between the two countries,” Rutabana said.

According to Rutabana the commemoration period will commence on 7th April 2023. It will run for a 100 days period that will be punctuated by a series of events.

Some of the planned events / activities in Uganda include; a public lecture on 17th April 2024 that will be held in partnership with Makerere University. It will be held in Makerere University Public Health Auditorium. This will be an interactive and educational session with a panel of discussants and a keynote speaker.

On 20th April 2024, there will be the main commemoration event in Mpigi District at the Ggolo genocide memorial site. Ggolo is one of the three genocide memorial sites in Uganda where 4,771 bodies are buried there.

The other sites are; Lambu site in Masaka District where 3,337 bodies are buried and Kasensero site in Rakai District where 2,875 bodies are buried. The High Commissioner said that over 10,983 victims of the genocide are buried in Uganda.

It is the biggest of them all. At this event they expect over 700 guests to attend.

There will be a walk to remember and vigil in remembrance of the victims of the genocide. This will be held on 4th May 2024 in collaboration with Rwandan students in Uganda.

The expected participants in the commemorative events are Rwandan Community in Uganda, Uganda government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, the academia, religious institutions, genocide survivors, the media and friends of Rwanda.

The ambassador emphasized that the various activities to commemorate the genocide against the Tutsi are intended to promote peace and harmony on the continent.

“The 30th commemoration marks a generational cycle since the genocide was put to an end. It is an opportune time for a call to reflect on the transformational journey that Rwanda has undergone for the last 30 years,” the high commissioner explained

“Building on the legacy of strength, resilience, and unity the new generation is called upon to sustain and carry forward to adapt to today's global challenges and future aspirations,” he added.

He noted that the commemoration seeks to engage all segments of Rwandan society. “Kwibuka30 is especially an opportunity for every Rwandan to face the past and prevent intergenerational transmission of traumas through dialogue and remembrance,” Rutabana said.

“The preservation of memory is pivotal in shaping a cohesive and forward-looking nation. It is a solemn undertaking, and the world joins together to say Never Again to such heinous human rights violations,” Rutabana observed