Residents of Gisozi Sector in Gasabo District visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial on Monday on 11 April 2016. More than one thousand people came to visit the memorial, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Vincent Munyeshyaka, President of Ibuka, Dr Jean Pierre Dusingizemungu and the General Executive of Gisozi Sector and the District Council. The visit was part of the sector’s Kwibuka22 activities to remember 1994 Genocide against Tutsi and victims in Gisozi.
Abaturage bashyira indabo ku imva mu gikorwa cyo guha icyubahiro abaruhukiye ku rwibutso barenga 250.000. #Kwibuka22 pic.twitter.com/ercl2QsYL8
— KGLGenocideMemorial (@Kigali_Memorial) April 11, 2016
The event started with thanking people who attended, and presenting leaders who came to participate. Residents of Gisozi sector were welcomed and encouraged to visit the memorial and remember the victims.
“You should be the first to visit this memorial site before foreigners and Rwandans from other sectors. This is because the memorial is located right here in your home sector,” said Honore Gatera, Manager of the Kigali Genocide Memorial.
After being welcomed, residents prayed for the more than 250,000 people buried at the memorial site and for Rwanda in general. After the prayers, they put flowers on the graves to back respect to the more than one million people killed in the Genocide against the Tutsi.
Residents then took one minute of silence to remember loved ones lost in the Genocide. After visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial, residents of Gisozi continued in a Walk to Remember toward nearby Kigali Independent University.
Visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial
The Kigali Genocide Memorial is open to anyone wishing to visit it. Visiting hours are:
- 8:00am – 5:00pm – 7 Days a week (last entrance is at 4:00pm)
- On the last Saturday of each month, the memorial is open from 1:00pm to 5:00pm due to Umuganda community work.