Woman who lost husband, three children in Rubavu accident speaks out

On Tuesday, March 3 evening, hundreds of mourners gathered at a family home in Rugerero Sector, Rubavu District, to hold a vigil for four members of the same family who died in a road accident on Saturday, February 28, in Rubavu Town.

In the tragedy, Jean Martin Tuyiringire a 44-year-old father died alongside his two daughters and a son. The eldest, Arnold Shimwe, had celebrated his 12th birthday just a week earlier, while Ornella Ishimwe, the second-born, had turned 10 in December last year.

The youngest, Ariella Aganze, was only one-and-a-half years old.

Also in the vehicle were four other relatives: Tuyiringire’s cousin and his daughter, as well as two people from the extended family. Three of them died in the accident, bringing the toll to seven. It is only an 11-year-old boy who survived and is currently receiving treatment in Kigali.

The fateful day:

Earlier that day, Tuyiringire had attended a service at Gisenyi SDA Church, commonly known as Eglise Mère, with his wife, Anita Mukabasenga, and their children. After the service, he decided to drive the children home, leaving Mukabasenga behind as she stayed for choir activities.

Moments after setting off in his Toyota RAV4, tragedy struck near Gisenyi Hospital when a cargo truck lost control and rammed into their vehicle. The accident claimed 11 lives in total, since the truck also hit a pedestrian and a motorbike carrying two people. The accident happened between 1:30PM and 2PM.

At the church where Mukabasenga had remained, the bad news wasn’t known until around 4PM when she received a phone call informing her of the accident.

A choir member who witnessed the moment told The New Times that Mukabasenga cried out, “They are dead,” while still on the phone, before attempting to run in shock. People nearby quickly held her back and tried to calm her down.

“A happy family” before the tragedy

Tuyiringire was an egg wholesaler in Rubavu town. He was “a man of integrity who loved people and was active in the community” according to the choir member who spoke to The New Times.

“They were a very loving family; everyone could see it,” the choir member said.

Sorrowful wife speaks to mourners

At the vigil, Mukabasenga delivered a message through a pre-recorded video that was played for mourners.

“It is hard to have something to say, but it is necessary,” she began slowly and thoughtfully. “Let us thank God who cares for us day and night. God is wonderful; He is great. May He be glorified.”

“I never imagined this. We were living together as a family, it was almost like heaven on earth. My husband loved me and I loved him. He was more than a spouse; I would almost call him my father. He was a gift. May he rest in peace. I have hope that I will see him again.”

Tuyiringire’s younger brother, Jean Bosco Nzakizwanayo, told mourners that his elder sibling had taken on a fatherly role after their own father passed away. The family previously lived in Musanze and later settled in Rubavu.

The deceased were laid to rest on Wednesday, March 4, in Rubavu.