On Friday, May 8, 2026, Institut Catholique de Kabgayi joined Rwandans and the international community in the 32nd commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The commemoration activities began with a short prayer, followed by the laying of wreaths and paying tribute at the Kabgayi Genocide Memorial, where more than 12,000 victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi are laid to rest. Afterwards, discussions, testimonies, and other remembrance activities continued at the main campus of ICK.
The Mayor of Muhanga District, Jacqueline Kayitare, who was the guest of honor at the event, commended ICK for organizing the commemoration, noting that such activities help comfort survivors who lost their loved ones during the Genocide and contribute to the continued healing process among Rwandans.
Mayor Kayitare urged the youth studying at ICK to take the lead in fighting all forms of divisionism, especially those spread through social media.
She said: “Take the initiative to approach your fellow friends whom you know intentionally distort the history of the Genocide against the Tutsi, especially through social media. Educate and advise them so that they may change.”
She further emphasized that commemoration should serve as a moment for Rwandans to learn from the country’s painful history rather than becoming a source of despair.
“As Rwandans, we should remember our people, but we should not remain trapped by the painful past. Instead, we should learn from it and build a better future free from division, while promoting unity and reconciliation,” she added.
These remarks were echoed by the Vice Chancellor of ICK, Father Prof. Fidèle Dushimimana, who noted that although Rwanda has made remarkable progress in rebuilding after the Genocide, young people must continue learning about the country’s history and draw lessons from it to help build a nation founded on unity and resilience.
He stated: “Our beloved students, the future of our country is in your hands. You therefore have the responsibility to build a Rwanda founded on unity, justice, and human dignity. Study the history of our country, analyze it objectively and without emotions, and draw lessons from it to strengthen unity and resilience. Fight hatred and all forms of discrimination wherever they may come from.”
Father Prof. Dushimimana also called upon members of the ICK community to be guided by humanity and to ensure that their institution remains a place where history is spoken about truthfully so that such tragedies never happen again.
Gaspard Shyaka, who represented Ibuka, said that the country will never forget the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi, and therefore every Rwandan should consider commemoration as a responsibility to ensure that such atrocities never happen again.
On behalf of the students, their representative, Pierre Kanangire, told ICK News that they received the advice positively and are ready to put it into practice.
He said: “Commemoration is an important moment to restore the dignity that the Tutsi were deprived of during the Genocide. As students, we are committed to rejecting those who distort Rwanda’s history.”
The annual commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi at ICK is organized by Institut Catholique de Kabgayi in collaboration with Ibuka and AERG/ICK, the association of Genocide survivor students at ICK.
