Kamonyi: property refunds for genocide victims still sluggish

With 18 years past the 1994 genocide against Tutsi, its aftermath still linger about despite Gacaca courts’ effort that solved thousands of cases concerning the tragedy.

Genocide victims whose properties were destroyed by perpetuators (that Gacaca was able to identify), were promised to get refunds but till now, they haven’t.

Oswald Munyaneza –a resident of Nkingo Cell in Gacurabwenge sector is claiming refunds from 16 different genocide perpetuators as regards a case that was judged in the year 2007.

Executive secretary of Gacurabwenge Sector Martha Umugiraneza says that cases of unsolved disputes. She attributes most of the delayed debts to poverty and difficulty to have enough personnel to make all the follow ups.

Bernadette Nahimana a resident of Gihira Cell in Gacurabwenge Sector is a widow of a deceased genocide perpetuator who was supposed to refund destroyed property.

“Some of the genocide survivors have pardoned me but I still have some debts to pay.” Says Nahimana

Immaculee Nyiramana a resident of Gihira cell claims destroyed properties worth 2 million but she decided to pardon all the perpetuators.

Karama Sector has come up with a solution to the mentioned problems. They have instituted a fund named “Agaseke k’ubumwe n’ubwiyunge” a unity and reconciliation fund meant to fundraise for the genocide victims who lost both their relatives and property.

Kamonyi district mayor Jacques Rutsinga also said that despite their efforts to completely solve the so many disputes they still face challenges of cases that were judged by people who have now retired.

“Each time such cases whose judges retired are to be analyzed then we have to write and invite those retirees.”

Among the targets set by the district of Kamonyi there is to have solved all the genocide related cases by the year 2011-2012