By Edwin Musoni
The New Times

Gacaca officials and local leaders in Rubirizi Cell, Kanombe Sector in Kicukiro are accusing Senator Augustine Iyamuremye, of causing a misunderstanding amongst the area locals by misleading them on the Gacaca Law.

A former Cabinet minister, Senator Iyamuremye, 60, is alleged to have said that ‘Gacaca authorities have no right to confiscate property belonging to genocide suspects’ on June 27, shortly after the communal exercise commonly known as Umuganda. Both Gacaca and local leaders in the area allege that the lawmaker’s statement caused ‘divisionism’ and confusion among the locals.

One area leader who preferred anonymity, said, “On June 27, when we were carrying out community work, Senator Iyamuremye, made a surprise appearance to participate in the exercise.”

The source said that Iyamuremye had been invited to a similar function in the neighbouring Masaka sector, but that he turned down the invitation and instead joined residents of Rubirizi, before making the controversial statement.

During the brief meeting after the community work, people in the area reportedly talked about confiscation of property belonging to one Justin Ruvebana, a genocide suspect, who also resides in the area, and sought from Iyamuremye, because of his status as a Senator.

It is then that Iyamuremye reportedly stood up and informed the gathering that by law, Gacaca authorities have no authority to confiscate genocide suspects’ property.

Gacaca officials in the area alleged that Ruvebana was planning to sell off his property and flee the country.

“We were all shocked when he said that Gacaca officials have no right to confiscate property of a genocide suspect, and yet we very well know that the law provides for such action,” said the source. Other residents said that a section of people were excited by the Senator’s utterances, triggering a major dispute in the area.

“Most of those who welcomed his statement have their property under the control of Gacaca (jurisdictions),” said a resident who attended the Umuganda meeting.

Gacaca officials in the area also castigated Iyamuremye’s remarks, saying they incited locals to rebel against the local courts.

“Some locals changed their attitude towards Gacaca, some had started to riot, they went on the loose because of the statement,” claimed a local Gacaca official.

He also added that after the local authorities and Gacaca officials asked the Senator to give the depth of his statement and also apologise to the locals for having misled them.

It is reported that the Senator said the law had not yet been published in the Official Gazette. However, the law was long published in the Official Gazette.

Iyamuremye’s remarks were also confirmed by MP Aaron Makuba, who was also present at the function.

The New Times learnt that Makuba urged Iyamuremye to apologise for what he called an ill-statement and that the Senator apologised at the meeting.

Sources said Iyamuremye was also summoned in another local area meeting, during which he again apologised.

This time, he reportedly read an Article in the law governing Gacaca courts, which provides for possible confiscation of property belonging to genocide suspects. Later, the Senate was informed about Iyamuremye’s statement and in its plenary session.

On June 28, the members of the Upper Chamber of Parliament asked Iyamuremye to explain the issue. Some members accused him of hoodwinking the locals and asked him to make a genuine apology.

In response, Iyamuremye denied he never intended to protect the genocide suspect. “I never intended to shield Ruvebana at any one moment.”

“I really don’t know how I came up with the statement. I kindly apologise, I personally realized that what I said was wrong and that is why I went back and apologised. I was even forced to read the Gacaca law that is published in a small booklet,” Iyamuremye said.

Senator Antoine Mugesera asked Iyamuremye why he changed his position, when he returned to the area the second time. “I heard that you deliberately changed the statement you made the first time when you were summoned the second time. Why did you?” Mugesera asked.

Iyamuremye answered: “I never changed my statement; I am not a liar; that’s why I am apologizing.”

Senator Agnes Kayijire, an immediate neighbour to Iyamuremye, also accused him of having caused a lot of commotion in the area (Rubirizi).

“Since then, your statement has caused a lot of misunderstanding in the neighbourhood,” said Kayijire.

Iyamuremye had also earlier given an explanation to Senate President Dr Vincent Biruta. “I personally called him in my office and he told me the same story and apologised to me but I also advised him to go and apologise to the locals,” Biruta told members.

It was after Biruta’s advice and the locals’ summons that Iyamuremye went back to the area to apologise. Biruta is also the President of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), a party to which Iyamuremye belongs.

The Senate recommended that its disciplinary commission, chaired by Mugesera, carry out a thorough investigation into the case and report back their findings.

A former lecturer and researcher at the National University of Rwanda, Iyamuremye occupied various ministerial positions including agriculture, information and foreign affairs and regional co-operation.

He also served as an MP in the Transitional National Assembly, before he was appointed to the Senate by the Forum of Political Parties, for which he is Deputy Spokesman.

Several locals in Rubirizi cell also accuse Ruvebana of bribing witnesses who formerly testified against him to retract their testimonies.

“An example is one Florida Mukakamanzi, who previously testified against him (Ruvebana) saying that he participated in the genocide, but recently she stunned us when she came back recently claiming that Ruvebana never participated in the genocide,” a source in the area said.