By Paul W Dennis
PAUL KAGAME, the president of Rwanda has awarded two Church leaders for their outstanding acts of courage and humanity displayed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and for instilling unity and reconciliation among Rwandans.
Bishop Célestin Hakizimana and Cyprien Rugamba were among four individuals selected from across the country.
According to a statement, names of the four recipients – locally referred to as Abarinzi b’igihango (protectors of friendship pact) were read out by the President of the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission, Bishop John Rucyahana who spoke of acts of valor done by each one of them. This was during the 11th Unity Club Forum at Kigali Convention Centre on Friday.
Bishop Rucyahana explained, that to be recognized as the protector of friendship pact, considered is the role one has had in the fight against the divisions and the genocide ideology. He said awarding them is to recognize and value their acts and also valorize the ‘Ndi Umunyarwanda’ program.
Cyprien Rugamba, an author and songwriter was killed with his wife and their six children by the then-presidential guards, on April 7, 1994. His award was received by his first son, Olivier Rugamba.
Cyprien Rugamba, through his artworks (30 books and over 150 songs he wrote) argued Rwandans on values of the Rwandan culture, hard work, and unity.
Rugamba dared to request that the ethics should be removed from the identity cards and asked for the banning of hate media houses which operated in Rwanda prior to genocide including RTLM (Radio Television des Milles Collines).
Also awarded is Sister Dorothée Mukandanga who was represented by the Bishop of Kabgayi Catholic Diocese, Smaragde Mbonyintege.
Killed during the 1994 genocide, Dorothée Mukandanga is recognized for having protected 50 students who had remained at Ecole des Sciences Infirmieres de Kabgayi, a nursing school she headed, from Interahamwe militias who wanted to rape and kill them.
In the night of May 12, 1994, alerted by the school guard, Mukandanga intervened and stopped the soldiers and the militias from killing her students. Realizing that they failed to achieve their plot, the killers took her to her office house where they killed her.
Bishop Célestin Hakizimana is recognized for having saving protected over 2000 Tutsis who had taken refuge at St Paul Parish Chapel at Sainte Famille Parish in Kigali City.
Hakizimana had to offer money to the Interahamwe militias so that they should not kill the Tutsi who he also he provided with shelter, food and drinking water.
AERG Foundation is recognized for having sought and found solutions for problems of caused the 1994 genocide that faced the survivor students.
The problems included the lack of homes for students who used to stay at schools in holidays, trauma and depression. The organization was commended for having become as a family to them and restored their hope for their lives in the future.
Speaking on behalf of the awarded, Bishop Hakizimana, thanking Unity Club and NURC, said that according to the masses killed in the genocide, they didn’t deserve the recognition because they did nothing extraordinary.
“Whatever was done was not due to human power, it is only God who enabled us. Praised be the Lord God. We humans should just be humble,” he said.
Bishop Hakizimana further thanked his parents who brought him up and never taught him divisions, the priests and those with whom they lived together at St Paul Centre at Sainte Famille Parish for everyone’s role played in saving lives of those who had taken refuge there.
Thanking the protectors of a friendship of pact in general, President Paul Kagame thanked Bishop Hakizimana who refused to leave the refugees that they should not be killed until his parents were buried in his absence.
“Those who were awarded tonight demonstrated what it means to value the life of others. They put their life on the line to rescue fellow human beings,” Kagame said, emphasizing that “No one has the ability to choose who they are born as. But it is up to us to define our values, to treat each other as equals and to use our individual strengths to work together for our mutual benefit.”
On the Rwandan identity, President Kagame said “Our identity is filled with values and dignity” and asked, “What is the meaning of being Rwandan? What is your answer when asked, so what if you are Rwandan? What are you contributing?”
“If you have nothing to contribute, your identity becomes meaningless,” he said.
