Despite military presence, one elderly managed to speak loudly. He said that he knew Colonel Aloys Nsekalije since his childhood, and that the last person Giciye would expect to bring misfortune upon them would be the descendent of ... (apparently the ancestor of the Nsekalijes). He started to curse the burgomaster before he was mishandled by the RPF soldiers and taken away in a military truck.
"Soldiers, I am honored to speak to you today. I am both humbled and overjoyed by your consistent successes and, most importantly, by your sacrifice to the liberation of our beloved Rwanda. These last days have been critical in our struggle. However, your bravery and skillful fighting spirit won you a place along with renowned Rwandan heroes and martyrs. In fact, an offensive, conducted by the RPF and Museveni' s armies, with the support of many westerns troops, armed with the latest most advanced equipment didn't stop you from stopping the offensive and even advancing further into the enemies' territories.
We lost some of our best fighters in an ambush, but the enemies lost even more. I just received the news from our Colonel in charge of Kigali-ville. Yesterday, he sent our intelligence fighters in the Kigali hospital and in Kanombe. Both hospitals are full of wounded enemy troops. Dead RPF soldiers cannot be counted. Mercenaries and Ugandans are fleeing our tarnished Capital. I also just received news from our fighters in Byumba. Their offensive is going very well, so well indeed that the enemy begged Museveni for more reinforcement troops. The battle fronts in Kibuye, Kigali, Gitarama, and Cyangugu are stable. Our people in Butare and Kibungo are slowly building their network.
I came here today to honor most of you and especially, to promote the two platoon sergeants who shot down two enemies' helicopters. I have known the two sergeants for long time. When I learned the news about the shooting down of the helicopters, I asked Colonel ... to bring them here for all of you to know that we will never stop in front of any enemy's fighting force, be it equipped with the most advanced Western weaponry and intelligence.
Thus, I here promote these sergeants to Lieutenants and the corporals and privates under them respectively, to sergeants and to corporals. I would like to inform you that Juru, one of our first Tutsi-Mugogwe companion in arms and leader has been promoted to captain for his latest successes in Kibuye and Gitarama region. His sacrifice, leadership, and fighting spirit is a constant source of morale for his troops.
The successes of these last days along with the lives sacrificed should be a catalyst to move forward, towards more focused strategies and more effective tactics. I requested all my combat operations regional commanders to communicate their views. Soon your officers will lead you to even more effective and innovative operations.
May God bless you all."
After the speech a pentecostal pastor said a brief prayer and we broke up.