Rwanda Polytechnic Honors Victims of the Genocide Against the Tutsi, Urges Youth to Uphold Unity

Rwanda Polytechnic (RP), in collaboration with RP-Kigali College, on April 25, 2025, held a solemn ceremony to commemorate the 31st anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi and to honor the victims who once worked and studied at the former ETO Kicukiro.

The event, which took place at the RP-Kigali College stadium, followed a moving tribute at the Nyanza Genocide Memorial in Kicukiro District, where administrators, staff, and students paid their respects to more than 96,000 victims laid to rest there.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Sylvie Mucyo, Vice Chancellor of Rwanda Polytechnic, emphasized the enduring importance of remembrance.

“We remember because we have a responsibility to fight for the truth and to fight against what causes genocide to recur, including genocide ideology,” she said.

Dr. Mucyo underscored that the resilience of genocide survivors serves as a reminder to protect Rwanda’s hard-won achievements.
 

“When we see Genocide survivors rebuilding themselves, it shows that we should preserve what we have achieved and strive for humanity,” she added.

She also called on the youth — who make up the majority of Rwanda’s population — to embody the values of unity, social cohesion, resilience, and hard work, urging them to protect and sustain the country’s progress. Furthermore, Dr. Mucyo criticized the international community’s failure during the Genocide, recalling how UN forces abandoned refugees at ETO Kicukiro, leaving them to the mercy of genocidaires.

Hon. Egide Nkuranga, also speaking at the ceremony, reflected on Rwanda’s pre-colonial history, which he described as a time of justice and unity. He explained how Belgian colonial rule disrupted Rwanda’s social fabric through policies of division.
 

“Before the coming of the Belgians, Rwandans were well organized. They all called themselves Rwandans, were proud of their country, and shared the same beliefs and language,” he said.
 

“The coming of the Belgians was the greatest disaster Rwanda suffered, because they were the ones who caused this tragedy to happen to us,” Nkuranga added.

The ceremony also featured a powerful testimony from Marie Rose Hodari, a survivor of the Genocide. She recalled the betrayal felt when UN peacekeepers abandoned Tutsi refugees at ETO Kicukiro.
 

“On April 9, 1994, after the death of my father, we made a decision to flee to ETO Kicukiro, believing that UN peacekeepers would offer us safety, but that was not the case; they abandoned us,” Hodari said. “Many were killed; others, we hid among the corpses. The survivors are for God until the Inkotanyi came.”

Despite the trauma she endured, Hodari expressed gratitude for Rwanda’s recovery and progress.
“I’m grateful that we have a healthy country and good leadership,” she affirmed, urging everyone to cherish the peace they enjoy today.

The guest of honor, Minister of State for Education, Claudette Irere, praised Rwanda Polytechnic for its commitment to education and community service, particularly its support for Genocide survivors.
 

“We hope that the values taught in this school and elsewhere will be upheld and will help build Rwandans, prevent divisions, and promote unity,” Irere said.

She challenged the youth to cultivate a spirit of dedication, emphasizing that remembrance and hard work are crucial to safeguarding Rwanda’s future.
 

“If we don’t take our hands out of our pockets and work, we will be sacrificed without any sacrifice, and our descendants will ask us and say that we have been cowards,” she warned.

The ceremony served as a poignant reminder of Rwanda’s painful past, its remarkable journey of healing, and the ongoing responsibility to build a united, resilient nation.