Igicumbi cy’Ubumuntu kiri mu Karere ka Rubavu mu Murenge wa Gisenyi hafi y’umupaka munini wa La Corniche, uhuza Umujyi wa Goma n’uwa Gisenyi, ahahoze hitwa muri Centre Saint Pierre.

Uretse ubusitani bwiza bwo kuruhukiramo, hari inyubako yari ituwemo na Niyitegeka wemeye gupfana n’abo yahishe mu bihe bikomeye. Ni inyubako igizwe n’icyumba Niyitegeka yararagamo, ibyumba yakiriragamo abamusanga n’uruganiriro, ubu rubonekamo ibitabo.

Mu rugo rwa Niyitegeka, hari icyumba yaganiriragamo n’abamusanga, ubundi kigakoreshwa n’ababaga baje mu mwiherero n’igikoni. Aho hose hakoreshejwe mu guhisha abamuhungiyeho mu bihe byari bikomeye.

Niyitegeka Félicité yakoze imirimo itandukanye kandi itaramugaragaje nk’umuntu ukomeye, cyakora ku baciye bugufi bamufataga nk’umubyeyi urangwa n’umutima w’impuhwe, wita ku bakene, utega amatwi buri wese kugeza n’uvuga ibidakwiye, akagukosora yabanje kugutega amatwi.

Yari umuvuzi w’intimba z’imitima, ibi bikajyana no gusabana na bose, cyane cyane abasuzuguritse mu muryango, ni bo yafataga nk’inshuti ze.

Kigali Today yifuje kumenya ubuzima bwe ku munsi we wa nyuma n’ibihe byamuranze, maze iganira na Mukarugira Claire babanye igihe kinini, kugera ku isegonda rya nyuma ryo kuva mu mubiri.

Mukarugira avuga ko Niyitegeka yarangwaga n’urugwiro rw’abamugana kandi akabatega amatwi, kugera no ku badahabwa agaciro mu muryango, urugero rutangwa n’uburyo yahinduriye ubuzima uwitwa Mbuzi wafatwaga nk’utagira ubwenge ndetse agahora yanduye, ariko aho ahuriye na Niyitegeka yamugize inshuti amwigisha kwiyitaho no gukora.

Agira ati “Mbuzi yari umugabo wari uzwi kugira uburwayi bwo mu mutwe, agahora ku kiriziya no ku iposita asabiriza, akagira inkonda, ibimyira, ipantaro ikagwa, ishati igahora ifunguye ku buryo abantu batamwitagaho. Babonaga ko atari muzima ntahabwe agaciro, ariko kuri Niyitegeka yahoraga atubwira gutega amatwi abantu bose no kubakunda kugera kuri uwo Mbuzi.”

Mbuzi ntiyavugaga ariko bava mu misa yategaga Niyitegeka akamutegera ikiganza, ubusanzwe abantu baramwitazaga, ariko we yaramwegeraga akamufungira ipantaro ndetse akamuha icyo afite.

Byageze aho Niyitegeka amujyana mu kigo yabagamo cya Mutagatifu Petero “Centre saint Pierre”, atangira kujya amukoresha imirimo nko gusunika ingorofani cyangwa gukuraho imyanda akamwereka aho ayijyana.

Ibyo byatumye Mbuzi abona ko ashoboye atangira kwigirira ikizere, buri gihe akaza gutegereza mushuti we ‘Niyitegeka’ ngo bajyane.

Niyitegeka yakomeje kumwigisha kwiyitaho kugera n’aho amweretse ko agomba gushyira umugozi mu ipantaro ntigwe, ubundi amwigisha kwihanagura ikimyira n’inkonda maze Mbuzi atangira gucya.

Mukarugira yagize ati “Mbuzi yatangiye kujya ambona nanjye akaza kundamutsa, akambwira ngo Niyitegeka azamuha umukobwa, azamuha n’inka, gusa yabivugaga mu Giswahili.”

Akomeza agira ati “Ubuzima bwa Niyitegeka mbusubiramo uyu munsi nkabona agaciro yahaga abantu ndetse nkabona ko hari abantu twica kubera tutabaha agaciro kandi tubitayeho baba bazima. Iyo ndebye uburyo Mbuzi yahindutse binyereka ko n’aba tubona basabiriza cyangwa tuvuga ko bafite uburwayi bwo mu mutwe bashobora guhinduka bakigirira akamaro.”

Mbuzi yavukaga mu muryango w’Abasilamu, ariko byageze aho yinjira muri kiliziya agahagarara inyuma akurikiye Niyitegeka, bagera aho bahana amahora ya Kirisitu, Mbuzi akava ku ntebe z’inyuma agasanga Niyitegeka aho ahagaze akamuhereza ikigaza, ubundi agahereza abo bari kumwe ikiganza ababwira “Nakuwona”.

Ubuzima bwa Mbuzi bwarahindutse ndetse atangira kuvuga ngo “Félecité atanibatiza”, ibi byamukururiye ibyishimo mu buzima bwe mu gihe mbere abamubonaga bumvaga ko ntacyo amaze mu muryango.

Ibikorwa by’ubumuntu bya Niyitegeka bivugwa na Nyakwigendera Athanasia Nyirabagesera wigeze kubwira Kigali Today ko we na Niyitegeka ari bo bakobwa b’Abanyarwanda bagiye ku mugabane w’Uburayi mu gihugu cy’u Bufaransa, bagiye kwiga uburyo bwo kwita ku bana boherejwe na Musenyeri Aloys Bigirumwami wayoboraga Diyoseze ya Nyundo, ubwo bari barangije amashuri yisumbuye.

Nyirabagesera na Niyitegeka mu 1955, bagarutse mu Rwanda, Musenyeri Bigirumwami yabasabye kumufasha kwita kubana babura ababyeyi bakivuka kuko yifuzaga ko nta mwana bazongera gushyingurana na nyina akiri muzima bitewe no kubura abamwakira.

Niyitegeka yakijije abatutsi 1973

N’ubwo benshi barata ubutwari bwa Niyitegeka kubera iherezo ry’ubuzima bwe bwaranzwe no kwitangira abandi 1994, abamunzi bavuga ko ubuzima bwe bwose yabayeho yitangira abandi ndetse agahorana ishyaka ryo gukiza abari mu kaga.

Kankera Monique, umubyeyi utuye mu Karere ka Rusizi, akaba inshuti ya Niyitegeka ndetse ufata akanya akajya gusura Igicumbi cy’Ubumuntu, kugira ngo yibuke ibihe byiza yagiranye n’iyi nshuti, yabwiye Kigali Today ko azi Niyitegeka kuva 1980 kandi bahuriye mu bikorwa bitandukanye by’urukundo byitangira abandi.

Agira ati “Twari tuziranye nk’umubyeyi w’umurezi kuva mu 1980, ari umufasha w’ubutumwa, yari inshuti y’abavandimwe banjye, twajya ku Gisenyi akatwakira kuri Saint Pierre aho yabaga, nkareba uburyo yakira abantu bigatuma mubaza ibibazo.”

Kankera avuga ko Intwari Niyitegeka nk’umuntu witaga ku bantu kandi uzirikana, umuntu wiyoroshya atitaye ku cyubahiro yari asanganywe ahubwo akaba umuntu uhuza ibyiciro by’abantu bose.

Yongeraho ko aheruka Niyitegeka ku cyumweru cya Mashami 1994 aho yari yaje kureba umuryango we, yari amaranye amezi atandatu atunze nyuma yo kumeneshwa mu cyari Komini Nyamyumba.

Agira ati “Twahuye ndi kumwe n’umuvandimwe wanjye Padiri Niyitegeka Maria Zacchary Antoine wishwe muri Jenocide yakorewe Abatutsi kuri paruwasi ya Rambura, twari tuje guhungisha umuryango wacu wari utuye hafi ya Bralirwa wari waratotejwe, Niyitegeka arabakira abitaho arabatunga.”

Kankera avuga ko Niyitegeka yari umubyeyi ugira urukundo, akitanga kandi agakurikirana ubuzima bw’umuntu atitaye ku kiguzi bimutwara, ahubwo agaharanira ko umuntu abaho neza.

Ibi, abihuza no kuba hari abantu azi Niyitegeka yahungishije mu 1973 bari mu bihe bikomeye bashobora kurokoka.

Ati “Kwitangira abandi byari ubuzima bwe, ntibyagaragaye iriya tariki yitanzeho akemera gupfana n’abo yari yaritangiye, ahubwo ibyo yakoraga yabihuzaga n’ubukirisitu kandi akisanisha n’ubuzima bwa Yezu Kirisitu ku Isi.”

Kankera asaba abakiri bato kwisanisha n’ubuzima bwa Niyitegeka, bagacecekesha urusaku rutuma batabona ababaye.

Agira ati “Abakiri bato hari byinshi bakora babanje gucecekesha urusaku rw’ibibarangaza birimo imipira, ikoranabuhanga n’iterambere, ariko iruhande rwanyu hari abantu bakeneye kugirirwa akamaro, hari abantu bashobora kurenganurwa nk’uko Niyitegeka yabikoraga. Hari abakeneye kujijuka ntibishore mu biyobyabwenge no mu ngeso mbi, hari abakuru bakeneye kubwirwa ijambo n’abato no kwamamaza ingero za Niyitegeka bikabafasha, bakamenya ko kuvuga ukuri bishoboka, gukora ibikorwa byiza bishoboka.”

Niyitegeka Félicité yishwe tariki 21 Mata 1994 yicanwa n’abantu yari yarahishe, gusa yari yarasabwe n’umuvandimwe we Col. Nzungize Alphonse kumuhungisha ariko undi amusubiza ko niba adashobora kumurokorana n’abo yari ashinzwe kurinda abareka bagapfana.

Yagize ati “Mon frère chéri, urakoze kuba washatse kunkiza, ariko aho gukiza ubuzima bwanjye ntakijije abo nshinzwe, abantu 43, mpisemo gupfana nabo. Dusabire tugere ku Mana kandi unsezerere umukecuru (mama we) n’umuvandimwe. Ngeze ku Mana, nzagusabira. Witware neza! Bityo Ndagushimiye cyane kuba wantekereje. Niba Imana idukijije nk’uko tubyizeye ni ah’ejo”.

Umunsi wa nyuma wo kubaho kwa Niyitegeka Félicité

Ikigo cya Mutagatifu Petero Niyitegeka yari atuyemo cyari cyubatse muri metero nkeya ku mupaka munini uhuza umujyi wa Goma na Gisenyi, bigasaba iminota itageze kuri itanu ngo umuntu ukivuyemo abe ageze mu kindi gihugu.

Icyakora bitewe n’ubwoba abantu babagamo, ntibyari byoroheye buri wese kuhagera ngo akize ubuzima bwe bitewe n’interahamwe zahoraga zigenzura.

Kugira ngo Niyitegeka ashobore guhungisha abantu bamuhungiragaho, yiyambazaga abajandarume barinda umupaka, bakamufasha batamuteye ibibazo. Yambukije abantu inshuro ebyiri, bagera i Goma bagahamagara abo basize bababwira ko nabo bamwiyambaza bakambuka.

Uko amakuru yageraga kuri benshi bashaka amakiriro, byatumye abahungira mu kigo cya Mutagatifu Petero Niyitegeka yari atuyemo biyongera, ndetse n’interahamwe zirabimenya.

Tariki 20 Mata 1994 ni bwo Niyitegeka yari yateguye guhungisha itsinda ry’abantu 43 yari afite, byari gutuma nibura yubahiriza ibyo Musaza we Col. Nzungize Alphonse yari yamusabye ashaka kumurokora, kuko yabonaga ko interahamwe zifite ubukana ndetse zishobora kumutera zikamwicana n’abo ahishe nyuma yo gutera Cathedral ya Nyundo.

Niyitegeka yasabye abajandarume kumufasha ariko kubera ikigo cyari cyazengurutswe n’interahamwe babura uburyo basohora abantu ngo bahungishwe.

Mukarugira Claire wari uhihishe avuga ko iyo abajandarume babonaga inzira imeze neza nta nterahamwe zihari, bateraga amabuye ku mabati ya Shapele ya Bikira Mariya ku isaha ya saa kumi za mu gitondo, Niyitegeka agahita azana abantu yateguye bakambuka, ariko kuri iriya tariki ntibyakunze amenya ko inzira itameze neza.

Mukarugira yabwiye Kigali Today ko tariki 20 Mata 1994 wari umunsi mubi ku bari mu kigo kuko ku masaha ya saa sita interahamwe zitwaje umukecuru w’umututsi zivuga ko zimuhungishije, ariko icyazigenzaga ni ukureba niba nta burinzi buhari, no kumenya niba koko hari abantu bahihishe kuko binjiraga bareba mu nguni zose z’ikigo.

Tariki ya 21 Mata 1994, Niyitegeka hamwe n’abajandarume bari bateguye ko uwo munsi ku isaha ya saa mbiri z’ijoro bari buze kwambutsa abantu, ndetse abari mu kigo abasaba kwitegura.

Isaha ya isaa kumi igeze abantu basabwe kujya mu misa ariko mu gihe bakitegura, interahamwe zihonda urugi maze Niyitegeka ajya gukingura.

Mukarugira avuga ko ibyo byabaye mu gihe abakobwa bari kumwe na we bari bamaze gutondeka amabuye yo kuririraho kugira ngo batewe bahite bihungira.

Ati “Ubwo twari tumaze gushyiraho ayo mabuye, nibwo umwe mu bakobwa yambwiye ko hari abantu baje, ngiye kureba mbona ni babandi baje ku manywa barimo bakubita igifunguzo cy’ikinyururu Niyitegeka”.

Akomeza agira ati “Nahise niruka mbwira abantu mu byumba ko interahamwe zije bakwihisha ariko nza guhura n’umwe mu nterahamwe ahita anjyana mu kibuga, bagenda bafata n’abandi baturunda mu kibuga mu gihe ababashije gusimbuka igipangu bahise bigira muri Congo.”

Bamaze kurundanya abantu batangira kuburiza imodoka, Niyitegeka na we akabaza izo nterahamwe aho zimujyaniye abantu ariko ntizimusubize.

Niyitegeka yahisemo kurira imodoka ngo ajyane nabo ndetse interahamwe imwe igerageza kumukurura imukuramo, ariko Niyitegeka amusubiza agira ati “niba mutampaye abantu banjye ndajyana nabo.”

Mu modoka Niyitegeka yarebye abo bantu arabakomeza ababwira ati “Ubwoba mufite ni ubw’iki? Ntwabo muzi uwo musanga?” Ahita atera indirimbo ‘Nzasanga Mariya mu bwami bw’Ijuru’, benshi ntibashoboye kumwikiriza, ni ko guhindura atera ishapule maze yungirizwa n’umukobwa witwa Kayitesi Beltha wahise atera indirimbo ‘Izuba ry’umutima wanjye’.

Interahamwe zasabye Niyitegeka guceceka maze asubiza n’umutima mwiza ati “Turimo kubasabira ku Mana kugira ngo ibyo mukorera abavandimwe banyu mubireke.”

Icyakora ngo interahamwe yamusubije yishongora ngo “Ntituri abavandimwe b’Abatutsi kuko Imana y’Abatutsi si yo y’Abahutu.”

Mukarugira avuga ko bageze aho kwicirwa ahazwi nka Komini Rouge, basanze hari ayandi matsinda y’abica n’abacuza abantu ibyo bafite, maze abakuwe mu modoka barundwa ukwabo ariko Niyitegeka ntiyitandukanya n’abantu be ahubwo akomeza gusenga.

Interahamwe zabazanye zibamishamo urusasu, naho Mukarugira agwa yubamye ariko isasu ntiryamufata. Ubwo amasasu yari acecetse yubuye amaso agira ngo arebe ko ari muzima ndetse abona interahamwe zisubiye mu modoka.

Avuga ko Niyitegeka yari yarashwe aryamye hasi agaramye n’imyenda ye. Mu gihe interahamwe zarimo zicuza abarashwe zibashyira mu cyobo, Mukarugira yabasabye kumurasa ariko baranga, ahubwo babwira abasigaye kumwica bamutemye, nabo baranga bavuga ko bamuhamba ari muzima.

Akomeza avuga ko Col Nzungize, umuvandimwe wa Niyitegeka yaje kugera kuri Komini Rouge bumaze kugoroba asanga byarangiye yicwa n’agahinda, bukeye azana isanduku n’amashuka ashyingura umuvandimwe we n’abandi bantu babiri yari aziranye nabo.

Mukarugira avuga ko ku mva ya Niyitegeka bari bahashinze igiti cy’isombe kugira ngo bazayimenye, ariko kubera ibihe byagiye bikurikiraho imva ye yaje kuyoberana.