Genocide Memorials

Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre

This is the largest memorial site based on the number of victims buried at the site. It is a resting place for more than 250,000 bodies of victims of the genocide against the Tutsi. The bodies were brought to the place from various places around Kigali City. These include victims who were killed and indecently buried in their homes or found under debris of demolished or burnt houses, those thrown in ditches and trenches, in rivers and other water bodies, from bushes and shrubs, etc. The Memorial Center is divided into three major exhibition sections including one that documents the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. There is also a children’s memorial and an exhibition on the history of genocidal violence around the world. There’s also another section hosting the Education Centre, Gardens, and Genocide Archive of Rwanda which form part of a meaningful tribute to those who perished, and provide a powerful educational tool for visitors. The memorial was inaugurated in April 2004.

Murambi Genocide Memorial Centre

Murambi Genocide Memorial Site is located in Murambi village, Remera Cell, Gasaka sector, Nyamagabe district in the Southern Province; 126 km from Kigali City and 3.5 km from Nyamagabe town. Before genocide, Murambi was located in Nyamagabe commune in Gikongokoro prefecture which was formed after merging former communes of bufundu, Nyaruguru, Bunyambiriri and Buyenzi in 1963. This region was characterized by a history of killings and massacres since 1959 mainly in the former Bufundu region when the then prefect Rwasibo Jean Baptiste who led the region under the Belgian authority. With the aid of the Belgian authorities a notorious plan was designed and executed to get rid of Tutsi people in that region. Through the plan, Tutsis were relocated to deserted regions of Kibungo and Bugesera which were a breeding area for Tsetse Flies which killed a large proportion of the population. Those who managed to survive settled in the area and started to develop it. However, to due the continued history of hatred, Tutsi people in the region were continually targeted during the first and second republics and this killing climaxed during the 1994 genocide. In 1995, bodies of the victims of genocide against the Tutsi were brought at the center from surrounding areas. Murambi Memorial Center has got a uniqueness in that it has some bodies of the victims that were not reburied but preserved and kept in areas where those who visit the center can see them.

Nyamata Memorial Site

Most of the Tutsi population mostly living north and south of the country were forcibly deported to dwell into the barren and tsetse fly infected area of Nyamata.

Once the area operated and became habitable by these Tutsi in 1980, a church was set up for worship. In 1994, this place once regarded holy and sacred became desecrated; a place of sacrifice of the Tutsi faithful members by their Rwandan counterparts where over forty five thousand people who had sought refuge were all brutally massacred in one day.

After negotiations between the Catholic Church and the Rwandan government, the church was converted into a memorial site, representing other churches in which the victims of the genocide against the Tutsi were slaughtered.

Bisesero Genocide Memorial

Also known as the memorial of resistance, Bisesero Genocide memorial site is known so much by Rwandans for its resistance during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis. Between the month of May and June 1994 is when the interahamwe came to carry out the massacres that sent over 40,000 Tutsis dead.

The real story

The Big fight: On 13th May, upon knowledge of the interahamwe that the Bisesero residents were prepared to fight back – Heavy artillery (Mortar 81, 82 and many heavy arms) from all corners of Rwanda and many armed forces inclusive of the Hutu civilians were deployed in Bisesero to finish off the residents.
As killings drew by, the Bisesero residents had prepared enough to fight rather than succumb to the interahamwe extremists.
French Invasion: The French invaded Bisesero on 13th June claiming intentions of keeping security and stopping the genocide.
Upon reaching Bisesero, over 4000 residents had gathered on top of Muyira Hill with stones and spears ready to defend themselves.

Bisesero Genocide Memorial

The real story

The Big fight: On 13th May, upon knowledge of the interahamwe that the Bisesero residents were prepared to fight back – Heavy artillery (Mortar 81, 82 and many heavy arms) from all corners of Rwanda and many armed forces inclusive of the Hutu civilians were deployed in Bisesero to finish off the residents.
As killings drew by, the Bisesero residents had prepared enough to fight rather than succumb to the interahamwe extremists.
French Invasion: The French invaded Bisesero on 13th June claiming intentions of keeping security and stopping the genocide.
Upon reaching Bisesero, over 4000 residents had gathered on top of Muyira Hill with stones and spears ready to defend themselves.
The real story During the month of May 1994, residents from neighboring sectors came to take refuge in Bisesero.
Bisesero being a hilly area, the residents were ordered to take strategic cover on top of the hill called Muyira where they could spot their enemies from above.

Nyarubuye Genocide Memorial

Nyarubuye Genocide Memorial is located about 35 kilometers from the southern town of Kibungo in the Kirehe district, of the Eastern province. The former Catholic church, nunnery and its accompanying school and buildings of the Benebikira Sisters are a reminder of the appalling violence that took place at this site during the Genocide against the Tutsi. More than 20,000 people were killed there during the 14th and 15th of April 1994.

Ntarama Genocide Memorial

The church of Ntarama was converted into a genocide memorial on 14th April 1995 and is dedicated to the 5,000 people who lost their lives there. One of Rwanda’s six National Genocide Memorial Sites, Ntarama contains human remains, clothing, and artifacts belonging to those who were killed at the church, which remain on display at all times.

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