Kibeho is one of the historical towns of Rwanda. It is known for the massacres that happened there in 1994, carried out by the Rwandan Hutu majority against the Tutsi minority.
Many lives were lost, properties were looted and destroyed, and the town’s residents were displaced.
Before this tragic event, the town was famous for visions reported by three girls: Mukamazimpaka, Mukangango, and Mumureke. They claimed to have seen Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, who they said appeared to them.
In their visions, they described seeing mass killings, severed heads on the ground, rivers of blood instead of water, and other frightening events in 1982.
These visions caused the girls intense pain and trauma. Some believe their visions predicted the 1994 genocide, during which about 100,000 people were killed.
In Kibeho alone, around 6,000 people lost their lives during the genocide. Later, the town became a refugee camp.
About 100,000 people stayed in the camp, but it was hard to identify the real victims and those who had taken part in the genocide or helped the perpetrators.
The Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) closed the camp a year after the genocide, claiming it was for “cleansing.” Many camp residents were sent back to their homes.
However, the RPF, which had a Tutsi majority, opened fire on those identified as perpetrators of the genocide. This led to an execution witnessed by Zambian and Australian forces, now known as the Kibeho Massacre.
Some accounts say the genocide perpetrators caused unrest in the camp. The camp became overcrowded, and soon there was a shortage of food and water.
The perpetrators used machetes to attack fellow refugees, causing chaos. The RPF tried to control the situation, but this did not go well. The unrest led to many innocent people being killed.
The RPF guards at the camp fired shots, but some of the shooting became acts of revenge, with indiscriminate firing leaving many dead.
This town, in Nyaruguru District, was deeply affected. Once known as a Christian holy site, it became associated with stories of massacres.
Today, Kibeho, located in Rwanda’s Southern Province, is a major tourist site for Christian pilgrims and other visitors.
At Kibeho Church, many residents who had hidden there were murdered during the 1994 genocide. Sadly, one of the three girls who claimed to have seen Jesus was also killed in the church when it was burned.
The town is now a tourist destination where visitors hear both sides of the story: from being a holy site to a place of massacre.
These stories are painful but teach important lessons about events many may not know until they visit. Tourists in Rwanda can visit Kibeho for a personal and detailed experience.
Some survivors of the 1994 genocide still live in Kibeho. They share personal stories of what happened at the site.
There are also centers with photos of those who died and small memorial grounds. Many history researchers and journalists visit to learn about the events from 1982 to 1995.
The town’s residents are welcoming, so tourists do not need to worry about hospitality. Tour guides also help visitors explore the area. In conclusion, a visit to Kibeho is both educational and meaningful.
