The year 1994 is known as the unforgettable period of insecurity in Rwanda. 20 years after the genocide, Rwanda still suffers from this inhuman event where 1 million people died in only 90 days! Many travelers who visit this tiny country cannot end their Rwanda safari without paying tribute to the lost people who succumbed to these dark times. Today Rwanda has 8 genocide memorial sites and these sites where put into commemoration of perilous genocide war. Here are the different genocide memorial sites in Rwanda that can be visited by tourists;
Gisozi Memorial site
This is the most accessible memorial site in Rwanda given the fact that it’s located just about 3km from Kigali city Rwanda’s capital and it’s largest city in Gasabo district. The site was created by a joint partnership of the Kigali City Council and the UK based sponsorship Trust. The site is approved to be the site where majority of the Tutsi victims were slaughtered by the Hutus. Bodies gathered from different districts where buried in the same area in 2000, and Gisozi memorial site become a tourism centre with about 300, 000 people were buried in the cemetery of this memorial site. The site contains remains of the dead like human bones, and skulls, weapons used like machetes, clubs swords etc. the site also contains objects like rosaries since many where killed in churches, identity cards, shoes and clothes, for a real, heart-in-your-throat experience. The Gisozi Memorial site has an exhibit house, a graveyard, photo gallery and a library.
Nyamata memorial site
This site contains over 10,000 people who are buried in the same cemetery. The site is located in Bugesera district just a drive of about 35 km from Kigali which is Rwanda’s capital and its largest city. Before the genocide, it was a church and during the war, many people had come to seek refuge were killed in the church. Due to testimonies given by survivors of this dreadful war, on April 10th 1994, 10,000 people were murdered in and around the area of the Catholic Church. These people gathered in the church locked them self thinking that they will be protected by the French soldiers, however this wasn’t the case they where attacked and killed by the Tutsis. It was decided that a single monument/ burial place should be created, where the victims could be laid to rest with pride.
Bisesero Memorial site
Bisesero is located in the western part of Rwanda in the district of Karongi in the foothills of kibuye region. Over 30, 000 victims are recorded to be buried in the graveyard during the 1994 Rwanda genocide. These people were killed after a long resistance and self defense until when they were betrayed by the French soldiers and the site where these people where buried is now called “Hill of Resistance” because of the heroic resistance mounted by the people of Bisesero against their killers. How ever these people overpowered by there fighting with sticks against well-armed and trained soldiers
Ntarama Memorial site
This site can be reached in just a bout an hour from the capital Kigali; it’s situated in Bigesera south of Rwanda. This site only contains over 5000 people who where killed in the church during the war. Many people took refuge in the church thinking it will be very difficult for the Tutsis to attack them in the church but this did not work out, the Hutus attacked them and killed them in such a big number, up to know this church is not yet re-bruit and the floor still has not been completely cleaned since the killings and now it’s an exhibition to tourists. Ounce at the site you can still find more bones merge with bits of clothing, shoes, pots, wallets, ID cards. You can easily recognize parts of skeletons: vertebrae, mandibles, fibulas, and ribs.
Nyarubuye Memorial Site
This was a convent and a school where a big number totaling to over 20,000 people where killed with in and in the nearby places all where buried in the same graveyard. Many Tutsis where killed as they tried to flee to the neighboring countries Tanzania. Their Remains were stored in the convent for remembrance and the school in 2003 was renovated and currently operating with students.
Gisenyi Memorial site
This site is situated in Gisenyi periphery where about 12000 people where murdered during the 1994 Rwanda genocide and their bodies where kept here in the same graveyard. The site attributed to be the first memorial site to be established by the support of Ibuka, The ministry of youth, sports & culture in addition made a very great contribution. The grave of Madame Carr is also revealed around the site, she was an American that operated an orphanage called Imbabazi. The Bodies buried at this site were collected from Nyundo and the area of Corniche and the road brocks which where organized by the Hutus. Ounce at this site you can’t leave without tears in your throats, it was terrible
Murambi Genocide Memorial Site
It is recognized that over 27,000 individuals were murdered within and out side this school and these where majorly the Tutsis and few Hutus who tried to hide in the school from the marauding killers. Many corpses are still preserved and nobody is allowed to distract their peace. This project is centered on the main building in Murambi, a school that has been left vacated since the genocide in 1994 however, and the school has been renovated and used as an exhibition. When the serious killing started the Bishops and mayors sent the people to nearby technical school thinking protection from the French soldiers though they where overpowered by the Hutu who later killed them. The people that will take you around the site are the war survivors; their story is touching with so much sadness and Tourists that visit the area get free information about the history of Rwanda
Nyanza memorial site
Over 2000 people where killed in ETO school a school which was governed by UN. The UN had come to offer security and protection to the Rwandese prior to the genocide. However when the war began, they returned to their country and there those people who had come for refuge where all killed especially the Tutsis and few Hutus since they were unprotected with no weapons, so it was so difficult to escape the Hutu. A memorial ritual always takes place on April 11th to remember the people that were killed in cold blood.
The genocide is a result of a war that happened between the Hutus and the Tutsis which resulted into massive killing of people, about a million people lost their lives and thousands of people were left with life injuries and others took refuge to the neighboring countries like Uganda, Kenya, Burundi among other counties. it’s believed that the war took place about 100 days.
