Ngoma: Missing Head of Murdered Genocide Survivor Found in Latrine

The missing head of a Genocide survivor who was murdered on November 14 in Ngoma District has been found in a pit latrine, where it had been discarded.

This was confirmed by Omar Biseruka, the representative of IBUKA, the umbrella organization for Genocide survivors’ associations in Ngoma District, in an interview with The New Times on Monday. 

Pauline Nduwamungu, a 66-year-old survivor of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, was killed in Akabungo Village, Rubago Cell, Rukumberi Sector. She was beheaded between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., according to Biseruka. 

Her headless body was discovered in a compost pit at her home. On Sunday night, her severed head was located in a latrine where the killers had thrown it. 

“Investigators are assisting us, and some suspects have been arrested as part of the ongoing investigation,” Biseruka said. 

When contacted, the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) did not provide answers regarding the arrests or the status of the investigation. 

“We are awaiting findings from the RIB. Meanwhile, we urge Genocide survivors to remain calm as leaders, security organs, and investigators are working on the case. We also call on residents to share any information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators or about other threats to Genocide survivors,” Biseruka added. 

As of Monday, Nduwamungu had not yet been buried, pending the completion of the investigation. The burial date will be announced once the RIB concludes its work, he said. 

Minister Bizimana Calls for Action

Jean Damascène Bizimana, Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, referenced Nduwamungu’s case while addressing the 17th forum of the Unity Club Intwararumuri on Saturday at the Kigali Convention Centre. He called for stronger measures to prevent attacks on survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. 

“Over the past three months, we have reported attacks and threats targeting Genocide survivors. Some are carried out by Genocide convicts released after serving their sentences, while others are committed by individuals from families of Genocide perpetrators,” Bizimana noted. 

He revealed that similar attacks had been recorded in August in Nyaruguru, Karongi, and Ruhango districts. 

Genocide Ideology and Related Crimes 

While the number of genocide ideology and related crimes has decreased by 14% over the past four years, Minister Bizimana stressed that cases of genocide ideology and divisionism still persist and must be eradicated. 

RIB statistics from 2019 to 2023 show a significant decline in genocide ideology-related cases, including: 

– A 13% decrease in genocide ideology cases. 

– An 89% reduction in Genocide denial cases. 

– A 75% decrease in cases trivializing the Genocide against the Tutsi. 

However, there has been a sharp rise in crimes related to concealing, destroying, or degrading evidence of the Genocide, which increased by 120% during the same period. These cases rose from 44 in 2019 to 97 in 2023. 

As of 2023, genocide-related crimes involved a total of 3,563 suspects, according to RIB.