Abstract:
Reconciliation has become a high-level concern for countries emerging from intrastate armed conflict as
well as for international development assistance in post-conflict societies. The purpose of this study was to
investigate the impact of reconciliation on psychosocial well-being of the Mushaka people after genocide
against Tutsi. The study was guided by the truth theory. The study used qualitative approach and a
Phenomenology design to show how reconciliation was used to deal with psychosocial problems after
genocide in Mushaka parish. The objectives of this study were: to examine the experiences that Mushaka
people had gone through before the project of reconciliation; to determine the challenges encountered
during reconciliation among the Christians in Mushaka Parish; to explore strategies that they used to
promote reconciliation and the state of psychosocial well-being; and to expand the role of counseling for
effective reconciliation and to promote healing through reconciliation. Qualitative tools have been used to
gather information from both genocide perpetrators and survivors. A Stratified random sampling technique
was used to select 5 survivors: 5 perpetrators and 4 priests from the target population of 480 participants
from Mushaka parish. Data were collected using focus group discussion, interviews with both groups of
survivors and perpetrators, and an interview guide for Priests. Using thematic analysis, the researcher
analyzed the findings. The findings showed that there was poor reconciliation among survivors and
perpetrators in Mushaka parish before Mushaka Reconciliation project. The reconciliation process was
challenged by a lack of telling truth to both sides, a lack of the trained mediators or counselors, fear, and
mistrust. The suspension over the sacraments in order to promote Gacaga Nkirisitu was one of strategies
used to reconcile the Mushaka people. The other strategy was to gather both survivors and perpetrators to
discuss their differences, charity works, and solidarity funds. The true reconciliation needed the counseling
sessions in order to help people open up and be effective. This study recommends the collaboration of all
institutions and the recognition of the role of psycho-spiritual counseling in promoting reconciliation.
