Iragena Esther: Umucikacumu  Rwandan genocide survivor 

By Chris Muhizi 

Amjambo’s corresponden Chris Muhizi, who is based in Uganda, traveled to Kigali where he spoke to a survivor of the Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Her journey from the horrors of the genocide to a life of hope and resilience is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to endure even the darkest of times. 

Chris Muhizi: Thank you for agreeing to speak to Amjambo Africa. It is such a privilege to hear from you. 

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Esther Iragena: Thank you for having me. My name is Iragena Esther. I am Rwandan by nationality and also a genocide survivor – Umucikacumu in Kinyarwanda – and I live here in Kigali, Gasabo District. Also I am a mother of four children. 

My experience during the genocide is something I will never forget. I was just a teenager when the violence erupted. My family, like many others, was attacked because we were Tutsis. We had to flee our home and hide in the bush to escape the militia who were hunting us down. It was a terrifying experience, not knowing if we would survive from one day to the next. I remember when I was with my brother somewhere in the bush hiding, we saw someone trying to escape and the Interahamwe [Hutu paramilitary organization still active in eastern DR Congo] were after him – his head was chopped off with an axe – very terrifying, you know something I had never seen before. Just like what you see in movies but that was reality. 

We spent three to four days in the bush, me and my young brother. We never knew where other family members had gone to hide. We were afraid that they were killed because when we were attacked. Everyone was taking his own way, and my mother with my elder sister, they were not able to make it. [They]were killed just a few meters away from our home in Huye District. We found that out after we got out of the bush at night and came to a Hutu woman who was a family friend and who gave us food to eat. 

Later we were fortunate to encounter some compassionate individuals who risked their own lives to hide us and provide us with food and water. It was a constant struggle, but the will to survive and protect my young brother I was with kept me going. 

The most challenging aspect was witnessing the atrocities committed against my fellow Rwandans, including friends and neighbors. The brutality and inhumanity of the violence were overwhelming at times. I struggled with feelings of fear, anger, and helplessness. But I knew that giving up was not an option, especially with my younger brother who was depending on me. It was catastrophic – the slaughter I witnessed with my own eyes is unexplainable to people who have not been in Rwanda during the genocide. 

I remember about the second week from the start of the genocide, we were hidden in a house and the perpetrators came and asked the woman who sheltered us if any Tutsi people were inside, and she said no, and they went away. She found us another place to be, but later she was killed because she had protected survivors. 

The genocide has left deep scars that will always be a part of me. I lost family members and friends, and the trauma of those losses still haunts me. But I’ve also found strength in my resilience and the support of others. I’ve dedicated my life to advocating for peace, reconciliation, and justice in Rwanda. Despite the pain, I believe that by sharing our stories and working together, we can build a brighter future for the next generation. 

CM: What message would you like to share with others about your experience and the importance of remembering the genocide? 

EI: My message to others is simple: never forget. The Rwandan genocide was a dark chapter in human history, but it’s essential to remember the victims and the lessons learned. We must strive to prevent such atrocities from ever happening again, and that starts with education, empathy, and a commitment to building a more just and compassionate world.