Not one member of our group, including the Pauline and Sylvie from AVEGA who lead us to Gikondo, had ever visited a prison in Rwanda before. Some of us were astonished by the lack of security: as we approached in the mini-bus we saw the prisoners dressed in pink linen uniforms wandering along the road supervised only by an older woman carrying a stick. No one tried to escape - if they did - where would they go? The local nature of the genocidal killing means that they cannot return to thier place without real fear of revenge attacks by family or friends of those killed.
Our presence in the prison was announced over a loud speaker. Those prisoners who had confessed and were taking part in the Gacaca process (see below) were invited to come and speak to us. Over 40 prisoners queued up around us to tell us their experiences. Given our time we spoke to eight, recording their testimonies.
We were given a tour of the prison. Gikondo is hosting more than 6,293 men, 85% of whom are genocide suspects and 2,307 of whom have confessed. Conditions are poor: bunk beds stacked up to the ceilings, tuberculosis quarantine tents, and hundreds of men standing around. The experience though unnerving was a hugely important aspect of our Project.