Immaculee Uhumuriza Recalls Rescue During Genocide

Immaculee Uhumuriza, a genocide survivor from Nyakabanda, Rwanda, recounted her experience during an interview with The New Times. Before the 1994 genocide, Uhumuriza experienced discrimination as a Tutsi and noted growing division within the country. After the president’s plane was shot down, Kigali quickly descended into violence with roadblocks and radio broadcasts inciting hatred against Tutsi people.

Uhumuriza and eight others sheltered in a house as neighbors disappeared and Interahamwe militias repeatedly threatened them, even using a room to store stolen goods. A soldier once confronted her, but inexplicably spared her life after examining her identity card. As conditions worsened, the group attempted to reach Gisimba orphanage, a journey that took hours instead of minutes due to constant danger.

The orphanage, originally for sixty children, housed roughly 475 people during the genocide. Damas Gisimba Mutezintare, the orphanage’s founder, bravely refused to surrender anyone hiding there.

The arrival of Carl Wilkens, an American aid worker, and later, buses sent after a conversation between the mayor and Wilkens, ultimately led to the survivors’ evacuation. Uhumuriza continues to process her survival and shares her story in her recently launched book, hoping to preserve memories and aid healing.