Genocide survivors who escaped from Gisimba Memorial Centre against the Book by Jean Francois Gisimba
By The Inspirer writer.
Located in Nyamirambo/Nyakabanda Sector, Nyarugenge District, Gisimba Memorial Centre was a safe home to 400 Tutsi who fled there to escape the mass killings by Interahamwe during the 1994 Genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi.
The centre is a legacy left by the deceased Gisimba Chrisologue, the father of three brothers: Gisimba Jean Francois A.K.A ‘Sukuma’ Elvis Gisimba and Gisimba Mutezintare Damas, the elder brother who used the orphanage centre to hide and protect Tutsi who were hunted by Interahamwe killers.
Gisimba Mutezintare Damas was also given a heroes’ medal by His Excellency President of Republic of Rwanda Paul Kagame in 2009.
A bitter story to Gisimba Mutezintare Damas and Genocide Survivors who got his assistance to escape the killers is to see the book written in French by his younger brother Jean Francois Gisimba with the title ‘La ou ilya de l’amour ilya de la place’/ Where There Is Love There Is a Room.
According to testimonies, the author portrayed himself as the savior of Tutsi while his brother Gisimba Damas is the one who did everything possible to save them.
Johnson Mutibagirana who is now 37 years old was 9 year old when he escaped the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi at Gisimba Memorial Centre in Nyamirambo.
Having all the fact about the good work of Gisimba Damas who he calls their ‘savior’, Mutibagirana says that the content of the book written by Jean Francois Gisimba is totally full of lies because Gisimba Francois is portraying himself as hero who saved Tutsi, lying that his brother Gisimba Damas was careless and drunkard.
“Gisimba Damas was the Director of the orphanage and he is the one who saved us and everyone who was at the orphanage will tell you the same. Damas was there every morning and night to control the situation like going through dormitories of women and men to see how everyone is doing and we have never seen him in a reckless situation for the whole period we stayed there.” He said.
“So, Francois’s book story is full of lies and I would encourage everybody especially young generations to not be misled by its content. I am telling you this because I experienced the genocide against the Tutsi on first hand and I remember what Gisimba Damas has done for us. I would encourage whoever wants to know what happened at the orphanage to approach us and Gisimba Damas himself because he is our true savior.” Mutibagirana says in the testimony to The Inspirer.
Isaac Kayiranga is also a genocide survivor who escaped from the same place. He says he knows everything about the two brothers and the true story of what happened at Gisimba Genocide Memorial Centre.
“I tried to read the book by Jean Francois Gisimba and I know its content which is not true because the author does not say the truth. Himself used to hide at the same place with us because his physical appearance illustrated him as Tutsi and he was saved by neighbours who knew his father Chrisologue as a Hutu. On 17th page of this book where he says about his elder brother he tells lies, Gisimba Damas was the one who was catering for us and he helped us to survive until we left the place to St Michel church on June 28th, 1994. He used to bring water and food for us and we were here with him all the times days and nights.” Kayiranga said.
Gisimba Mutezintare Damas and people who shared testimonies request concerned authorities to not give value this book and to stop its wide publication.
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