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UGHE Commemorates 26th Anniversary of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi

UGHE Student Services Coordinator, Theogene Ngirinshuti, lights a candle on Butaro Campus to remember the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

On April 7th, UGHE observed Kwibuka26, the 26th annual commemoration of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi that took place in Rwanda. Kwibuka, which means “to remember” in Kinyarwanda, takes place for 100 days and calls on the world to stand and commemorate more than 1 million deaths. The theme of the week is; Remember, Unite, and Renew. Due to COVID-19, this year’s commemoration was unique, with most individuals following the events remotely. Various talks were streamed by the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency from April 8th to April 11th, which focused on the role of the youth, media, and other nations in executing and stopping the genocide. UGHE was able to hold commemoration activities on its Butaro campus while observing social distancing protocol. Students, staff, and faculty gathered to honor the memories of those who lost their lives to the genocide, support survivors, and look forward to a bright future for Rwanda. 

MBBS Student, Beula Igiraneza, and fellow UGHE students, staff, and faculty write messages of hope to survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi as well as those who lost loved ones as part of the Kwibuka26 commemoration activities.
The UGHE & Rwandan National flags on Butaro campus were lowered to half-mast in honor and respect of the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Heritier Mura, MBBS/MGHD ’25, lights a candle to symbolize hope and a bright future for Rwanda as part of UGHE’s commemoration activities.
UGHE students, staff, and faculty followed along with the national Kwibuka26 ceremony from personal laptops and shared viewings on campus in Butaro and remotely around the world.
Ntirenganya Olivier, one of the Butaro Kitchen staff, watches the Kwibuka26 speech of His Excellency, Mr. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, alongside other UGHE Campus staff.
Students from the MBBS/MGHD Class of 2025 queue to light candles of hope while observing social distancing protocol.