Hidden treasures of Rwanda Genocides Memorial Sites : No visit Rwanda is truly complete without acknowledging the country’s recent history, which helps visitors appreciate the remarkable progress that has transformed Rwanda into the beautiful and peaceful nation it is today. In just 100 days during the spring of 1994, nearly one million Tutsi men, women and children, along with Hutus who supported them, but lost their lives in a horrific genocide. To honor the victims of this tragedy, the Rwandan government has created memorial sites throughout the country. These places are visited by both local and tourists for reflection, healing and prayer. The serve as a powerful reminder that, regardless of our difference in wealth or appearance, we all share a responsibility to work together future for Rwanda as a country and the world at large.
Gisenyi Memorial Site
The Gisenyi Memorial Site is situated on the outskirts of Gisenyi. It holds the remains of nearly 12,000 individuals who lost their lives during the 1994 genocide. This site was one of the first in the country created with assistance from “Ibuka,” an organization for genocide survivors, along with support from the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture.
The victims buried here were brought from a particularly dangerous checkpoint known as “Corniche” and the nearby area of Nyundo. Additionally, the site features the grave of Madame Carr, an American woman who operated an orphanage for children affected by the genocide, called Imbabazi.
Murambi Genocide Memorial Site
The Murambi Genocide Memorial Site is situated approximately 150 kilometers southwest of Kigali. The site stands as a haunting reminder of the tragic events of 1994, where almost 50,000 people lost their lives at a school that has remained uninhabited ever since. The school now serves as a memorial, showcasing the hundreds of preserved bodies that have been left untouched as a poignant testament to the past. In response to the growth of tourism, the site has been officially transformed into an exhibition that provides visitors with insights into the 1994 Genocide.
In addition to the displayed bodies, there are burial rooms where some of the preserved remains are kept, honoring the deceased with the respect they deserve. When you visit, you’ll be guided by survivors of the genocide who have undergone training to share their stories. After the genocide, many graves were found scattered across the country, leading to the decision to establish a central burial site to ensure that the victims could be laid to rest with dignity.
Gisozi Memorial Site
The Gisozi Memorial Site is located in the Gasabo District of Kigali City, Rwanda. This site marks where many Tutsi victims were tragically killed by the Hutus during the genocide, and their remains were laid to rest here in 2000.
The site was opened to the public in 2004, Gisozi is the final resting place for nearly 300,000 genocide victims who were found in Rivers, houses, streets, and mass graves in Kigali and its surroundings. It is one of the renowned genocide sites and undeniably for the strong-hearted because you get to see the wall of names dedicated to the genocide victims, skulls, torn clothing, and bone fragments which will confront you as you make your way into the Site. The memorial features a cemetery, an exhibition hall, a library, and a photo gallery where families can display pictures of their loved ones who lost their lives in the genocide of 1994. In addition to honoring the victims, the site aims to educate people around the world about the history of the 1994 genocide.
Nyamata Memorial Site
The Nyamata Memorial Site can be found in the Bugesera district. Before the genocide, it was a church, and during the tragic events, nearly 50,000 people lost their lives there while seeking refuge. This site is about 40 kilometers from Kigali City. The church still stands today as a powerful reminder of the terrible violence that occurred during the 1994 genocide. The number of Tutsi people sought refuge in the Church as Churches by then were considered one of the safest places to hide, but the Hutu extremists never spared them and instead threw grenades into the Church to create holes on church walls. The site features remain of victims’ personal belongings such as IDs, clothes, and even remains as well as weapons like machetes, and guns will be seen at the Genocide Site.
Nyarubuye Memorial Site
The Nyarubuye Memorial Site, located 140 km east of Kigali near the town of Kibungo, stands where a convent and school run by the Benebikira Sisters once stood. It is estimated that 20,000 Tutsis who were trying to flee to Tanzania and moderate Hutus were killed here either attempting to escape to Tanzania or simply seeking refuge inside the Catholic church. The interahamwe used mainly blunt weapons such as spears, machetes, and clubs, but also hand grenades and automatic weapons, to kill those attempting to hide or escape. The convent now serves as a memorial filled with bones to honor the memories of those who died, while the school grounds were cleaned up in 2003, and today, students can attend classes there.
Bisesero Memorial Site
The Bisesero Memorial Site is situated in the Karongi district in the hills of Kibuye province in western Rwanda. It’s a place where nearly 30,000 people lost their lives during a tragic period. These individuals fought bravely to protect themselves before being betrayed by French soldiers.
This site served as a refuge for the Tutsi community, who worked together to stand up against the massacre. Despite their courage, they faced overwhelming odds, as they had only basic weapons like sticks to defend themselves against the Hutus, who were armed with much more powerful weapons such as machetes and axes. Unfortunately, their fight for survival was short-lived.
Today, the Bisesero Memorial Site features nine small buildings, each representing one of the nine communes that were part of the Kibuye province. It is now known as the Hill of Resistance, honoring the courage shown by the people of Bisesero in their fight against their attackers.
Ntarama Memorial Site
The Ntarama Memorial Site is located about 30 kilometers from Kigali city in Bugesera, taking roughly an hour to drive there. This site marks the tragic events of the 1994 genocide, where nearly 5,000 people lost their lives in a church that many saw as a refuge. Most of the victims were women and children who sought safety there. Since that time, the church has remained untouched, with bones scattered among torn clothes, shoes, identification cards, children’s clothing, suitcases, and white stockings from schoolchildren, serving as a somber reminder of the past.
