Abstract:
This study sought to assess how religious organizations perceive the process of national
unity and reconciliation in Post-Genocide Rwanda, and how they contribute to its
implementation. The study specific objectives were set as follows: to analyze how
religious programmes have contributed to the unit and reconciliation, to assess how the
religious massive initiatives contribute to the unity and reconciliation and to establish
how religious emotional support contributed to the unity and reconciliation program in
post-Genocide Rwanda.
This research used exploratory and qualitative approaches as relevant methodology to
facilitate in-depth understanding and interactions between different respondents. The
study population was limited to 40 respondents from different categories involving
some members from Rwanda Muslims Council (RMC), some members from Roman
Catholics Churches, members from Protestants churches, members from Genocide
Survivors and members from Former Genocide Prisoners, and finally members from
some officials from public and Private Institutions.
Findings of this research showed that religious organizations collaborate with
government institutions in promoting unity and reconciliation and rebuilding Rwanda
after the 1994 Genocide that heavily destroyed all social fabrics. The findings have also
shown that religious organizations face challenges, which include the passive resistance
to the programs of unity and reconciliation and the researcher provided some various
recommendations.
The study makes significant contribution to peace and conflict transformation by
indicating the weaknesses of religious organizations in implementing existing
initiatives and the manner in which unity and reconciliation are reflected in the daily
lives, and initiatives religious organizations have undertaken to promote unity and
reconciliation.
