Minister Bizimana urges genocide convicts to accept truth for healing

By The Inspirer.

The Minister for National Unity and Civic Engagement, Jean-Damascène Bizimana, has called on 653 genocide convicts nearing the end of their sentences to accept the truth about their past as a key step toward personal healing and national reconciliation.

He made the remarks on Friday, February 13, during a reintegration programme at Nyamasheke Correctional Facility in Western Province, organized by the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE).

“Accepting responsibility for your role in the Genocide against the Tutsi is the first step toward healing from the harmful ideology that fuelled it,” Bizimana said. He added that true reintegration begins with acknowledging: “The genocide I committed was inhumane. I betrayed humanity. I committed genocide, and genocide must never happen again.”

Commissioner General of the Rwanda Correctional Service, CGP Evariste Murenzi, noted that the training programme has reduced reoffending among participants compared to convicts released before the initiative began. Since March 2025, 1,184 inmates, including 1,081 men and 103 women, have participated in the training.

Local leaders emphasized the importance of community support for successful reintegration. Nyamasheke District Mayor, Narcisse Mupenzi, encouraged returning inmates to actively engage in community life, warning that isolation can hinder progress.

Representing the trainees, Thadeé Nzeyimana from Huye District said the programme instilled values that will guide them in rebuilding their lives. Participants pledged to reject genocide ideology, promote national unity, and work with communities to preserve Rwanda’s hard-won achievements.