The Vice Chancellor of the University of Rwanda, Prof. Didas Muganga Kayihura, has delivered a compelling call to action for educators to embrace their moral responsibilities, during a Genocide Memorial event held at the University of Rwanda’s Busogo campus.
Reflecting on the testimony of Ingabire, a Genocide survivor, and former National University of Rwanda (NUR) student, who shared her harrowing journey of survival from childhood through unimaginable suffering, Prof. Kayihura emphasized that the story should not only be remembered but documented for generations to come.
“Her journey, which began here as a child, took her through extreme hardship, from Busogo to Kigali, to the forests of Butare where she was eventually rescued. This is the kind of history that demands to be written down,” he said.
But the Vice Chancellor’s most striking message was directed toward his fellow educators. “This is a moment for us, especially teachers, to reflect on what it truly means to educate,” he said.
“Is it enough to hold chalk or click through PowerPoint slides? Can we still call ourselves educators if we are causing harm, humiliating students, or viewing them through divisive lenses of ethnicity or origin?”
Prof. Kayihura cited the example of a teacher mentioned in Ingabire’s testimony, one who not only failed in moral duty but inflicted pain.
“Teaching must go beyond academics. It must be about raising human beings, building Rwandans and global citizens of integrity.”
His remarks come at a time when Rwanda continues to remember the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, an era during which some members of academic institutions were implicated in extremist ideologies and actions.
Northern Province Governor Maurice Mugabowagahunde echoed this reality, providing historical context. He pointed out that staff and students from the former National University of Rwanda’s Nyakinama campus played a pivotal role in spreading extremist ideology in the early 1990s.
“A group of radical intellectuals known as the Cercle de la République Progressiste helped form the CDR party,” he said. “Some of these individuals are still attempting to distort history today.”
He also noted that student groups such as Front Commun contre les Inkotanyi were founded to incite violence and persecute Tutsi students disturbingly, with backing from top university leadership at the time.
Against this backdrop, Prof. Kayihura’s message served as both a reckoning and a renewal of purpose. “Let’s not lose time in classrooms focusing on appearances or divisions.”
“Let’s add to our science a true sense of responsibility, an education that nurtures not just diplomas, but citizens of character,” he urged.
To the youth and present students, the Vice Chancellor offered hope: “Your engagement in organizing this memorial shows us a future full of promise. You have a country that believes in you, gives you space to reflect and to contribute.”
“Remain united, that is our greatest wish for you,” Prof. Kayihura added.
Prince Ruzigana / Kaminuza Star