Impact of Governance Practice on Unity and Reconciliation among Genocide Survivors and Released Prisoners of Rwandans Post 1994 Genocide in Nyanza District

Abstract

The objective of this research was to assess the impact of governance practice on unity and reconciliation among genocide survivors and released prisoners of Rwandans post 1994 genocide in Nyanza District. Specifically, the research intended to assess the characteristics of governance practice that influence unity and reconciliation among genocide survivors and released prisoners in Nyanza District; to assess the lessons that can be drawn from the experience of unity and reconciliation due to governance practice among genocide survivors and released prisoners in Nyanza District and to evaluate the relationship between governance practice and Unity and Reconciliation among genocide survivors and released prisoners in Nyanza District. Moreover, the carrying out of this research, concentrating on Good Governance, has motives of current confidence, and there was no recent empirical findings concerning the correlation linking governance practice and Unity and Reconciliation in Nyanza District. Descriptive and correlative research designs were used. Study population size was 21740 while the sample size was 122. Questionnaire was used as data collection instrument. Quantitative approach was used in data analysis by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Findings revealed major characteristics of governance practice such as participation, responsiveness; equity and inclusiveness, accountability, transparency and rule of law have mean (μ) value which is between 1.00-1.50, while the variables with 1.51-2.50 are effectiveness and efficiency as well as consensus orientation. For the lesson, 95.9% of respondents affirmed that unity and Reconciliation are possible; 95.1% of research participants acknowledged that the restorative justice is important in unity and reconciliation; 86.9% of respondents recognized that Genocidists should not be dehumanized; 82.8% of respondents underlined the full cooperation to fight against genocide ideology is essential to unity and reconciliation whilst 75.4% of respondents approved that the only governance is not sufficient for unity and reconciliation. Regarding the relationship, the correlation coefficient is 0.880 meaning that there is a positive higher correlation between governance practice and Unity and reconciliation. Keywords: Governance practice, Governance characteristics, Unity & Reconciliation