Nairobi News

Eugene Uwimana, a Rwandese Communications Specialist with the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization, penned a heartfelt message to his late father who was killed months to his birth during the Rwandan genocide that took place from April 7-July 15, 1994.

In his message that moved the masses, Mr Uwimana revealed that he was born in June, and his killers caught up with him a few days before.

“#Kwibuka29. Hi Dad, I would love to post your photo, but I don’t have one. I never saw you. Not sure if you looked like me, but what choice do I have? I arrived in June, and genocidaires had killed you just a few days before. Unfortunately, we could not meet.

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I feel you. They deprived you of the joy of seeing your firstborn. What a horror of death, leaving your wife expecting me in just one month. So sorry! So you know, we were never able to find your grave. And that’s really sad.

When I was younger, I used to gaze up at the sky, hoping to see you descend one day as a giant. How foolish of me. Dad, can you believe that I still wish you had fathered us, as twins so that I could possibly see you through my other half. Okay…ntakundi basi.

Regarding other news, tell you what, I am making you proud down here. I’ll tell you more when we meet. Truly, Life was not easy for your orphan, but I thank God, I achieved a lot. So far so good.

By the way, your love says hi. (She) Looks a bit old now, but I must admit, you had sharp eyes. She is beautiful. [Photo 2:  With my Mother-In-Law.] Guess what, I got my love too. You would adore her.”

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“Updates: As you took your last breath, I can imagine you were concerned about my safety in a country of genocidaires. Thanks to the heroism of the Rwandese Patriotic Front, #Rwanda is now a free and peaceful country, it’s also one of the cleanest in the world. I wish you were here to see it.

RIP Mr. Eugene Kayijuka. Talk to you on 7 April, next year. Sweet nights. Your son, Eugene Fils. Bavandimwe, Twibuke Twiyubaka, nicyo abacu badushakaho (Brothers and Sisters, remember that we are building ourselves up, that is what our people want us to do),” said Mr Uwimana.

About 800,000 Rwandese civilians were killed in the genocide that occurred in 99 days. More than two million other civilians fled the country as the Hutus and Tutsis fought in a civil war.

The war was sparked after an airplane carrying former Rwandan president Juvenal Habyarimana, a Hutu, was shot down on April 6, 1994.

The president died in the plane crash. Hutu extremists then planned to destroy the Tutsi civilian population, leading to the tragic civilian war.

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