More than 200 Cogebanque employees have remembered victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi. The commemoration activity was part of Kwibuka22 and took place at the Kigali Genocide Memorial. Kwibuka is the Kinyarwanda word for remember.
The bank’s staff began by paying respects to victims and laying wreaths on the burial place where more than 250,000 victims of the Genocide are laid to rest. The group was welcomed by the memorial guides who spoke to them about the importance of remembrance. Some of the staff also toured the memorial exhibitions and had opportunity to learn more about the Genocide in Rwanda and genocides around the world.
After the tour, the staff held a commemoration vigil to remember their loved ones. The vigil included candle lighting, watching films, projecting the names of former staff and observing a moment of silence. Employees of the bank also listened to the testimony of Aime Claude Ndayishimye, a genocide survivor who was very young in 1994.
Event participants heard from Senator Tito Rutaremara who explained what genocide ideology is and how to fight against it. He also said that Rwandans have a duty to fight against genocide denial.
“If those who deny the reality of genocide write a book, we have to write two books about the truth. If they make a film, we will make multiple films and share the truth of what happened in Rwanda,” he said.
Speaking at the event, Aegis Trust Regional Director, Freddy Mutanguha, thanked Cogebanque staff for visiting the memorial to pay respects to victims and for supporting genocide survivors and the remembrance and educational work of the memorial. He said that the best way to commemorate is not only by crying, but by renewing ourselves, rebuilding our country and fighting genocide ideology.
Ernest Rwagasana, Board Member of Cogebanque, thanked Aegis Trust, the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide, the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Senator Rutaremara and all Cogebanque staff who attended the event and gave condolences to Rwandans who lost their loved ones in the Genocide.
Commemoration Photos
