1994 Rwandan genocide testimony by Joie Claire Uwimphuwe

Joie Claire Uwimphuwe, a girl from Cellule Gitwa, Rwoga Sector of Commune Masango in Gitarama Prefecture, describes how Interahamwe attacked her neighborhood and set homes ablaze. She escaped with her family and moved from one relative's home to another seeking refuge. She witnessed children being tortured. To save her family, her mother paid someone 20,000FRW to make a fake Hutu identity card. Joie Claire escaped to Gitarama, then to Ruhango and Kigoma, and finally to Bugesera where she stayed for about 4 months. She finally returned to her home area after the genocide ended. She is the only survivor from her father's side of the family. The only other survivor from her mother's family is a 7 year old child. She also described how Tutsi were killed using spears, knives, and clubs and how she was very traumatized after many of her relatives were killed.