Rwanda Medical Supply Staff Honor Victims, Celebrate Peace

When genocide survivors greet each other with "have peace," the words carry weight most of us will never fully understand. At Rwanda Medical Supply Ltd's headquarters in Kacyiru, that greeting echoed through a ceremony honoring colleagues murdered 32 years ago.

The May 8 commemoration remembered employees of OPHAR, the institution's former name, who were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Survivors, families, board members, and current staff gathered to ensure their stories continue teaching future generations.

Stanislas Simugomwa, representing families of victims, explained why peace matters so deeply to those who survived. "We often greet people by saying 'have peace' because we know its value," he told attendees. "Losing peace means losing life itself."

The institution, originally called OPHAR (Office Pharmaceutique du Rwanda) and later CAMERWA, distributed medicines across Rwanda before the genocide. Like workplaces throughout the country, employees faced discrimination and persecution before the 1994 atrocities that claimed over one million lives.

Families hope to build a memorial monument bearing the names of all OPHAR employees killed, once every victim is identified. The tribute would stand as a permanent reminder of lives lost and lessons learned.

The Ripple Effect

The ceremony's impact extends far beyond remembrance. Diana Mutoni, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, emphasized that RMS Ltd views commemoration as a national responsibility to prevent history from repeating.

"We must build a workplace defined by unity and respect, values that contribute to sustaining what the country has achieved after the Genocide," she said. The company integrates these principles into daily operations, showing how businesses can actively preserve peace.

Alphonse Nsengimana from IBUKA, a genocide survivors organization, praised survivors for choosing resilience over hatred. He also honored the Rwanda Patriotic Front's armed wing and all Rwandans who helped stop the killing.

Board member Eric Nyirimigabo reminded attendees that ending genocide required tremendous sacrifice. "The same spirit and determination used to stop the Genocide are what continue to drive the rebuilding of our country today," he said.

The message to younger Rwandans was clear: peace isn't accidental, and it's never guaranteed. It must be protected every single day through choices that honor unity over division.

Three decades later, Rwanda's transformation from tragedy to stability stands as testimony to what becomes possible when a nation commits to healing together.