In 1994, at just 13 years old, Samuel Dusengiyumva’s childhood dreams were shattered as the Genocide against the Tutsi engulfed Rwanda. As the eldest of five children, he witnessed unimaginable horrors in Ntongwe commune (today Kinazi sector, Ruhango district).
His mother, a professional midwife, entrusted him with responsibility, often reminding him to be brave and protect his siblings. His father, a Baptist pastor, was imprisoned during the regime’s campaign against alleged “accomplices,” leaving the family vulnerable.
On April 11, 1994, Dusengiyumva’s mother sensed danger and hid her children under delivery tables at Mukoma health center. That night, killers stormed their home but failed to break in. The next day, she sought protection from the mayor, Charles Kagabo, who deceitfully gathered thousands of Tutsi at the commune offices under the guise of safety. In reality, it was a trap.
By April 19, Interahamwe militias, reinforced by Burundian refugees and soldiers funded with millions of francs, launched brutal attacks. Dusengiyumva’s father was later killed at a roadblock after praying for forgiveness for his killers. His siblings were taken back to their home and murdered in front of hundreds of onlookers.
In a desperate plea, his mother begged another family: “Please take my child, maybe he will survive.” They agreed, smuggling Samuel through Nyamagabe. Though he narrowly escaped death multiple times, he eventually reached Maraba, where he encountered RPF Inkotanyi soldiers who restored his hope.
Tragically, his mother and youngest sibling were later killed after being captured by Interahamwe. Despite the trauma, Dusengiyumva returned to school, graduated, and built a new life. In 2008, he married a doctor and named his four children after his murdered siblings. Today, he serves as the Mayor of Kigali, embodying resilience and the enduring spirit of survival.
Source: Kigali Today
