Burundi had on Saturday accused Rwanda of training and arming rebel groups blamed for the twin grenade attacks including the attack reported at a packed bus stop in Bujumbura.
However, in a hard-hitting statement on Sunday, the Office of the Government Spokesperson, denied any links with the attackers, insisting that Burundi should desist from associating Rwanda with its internal problems.
“There is something clearly wrong going on with Burundi for its government to accuse Rwanda for recent grenade explosions in Bujumbura, a situation we have absolutely no connection with, and have no reason to be involved in.
“Burundi has a problem with Rwanda, but we have no problem with Burundi. We call on Burundi to solve its own internal problems and not associate Rwanda with such despicable matters,” the statement reads.
BURUNDI SHOULD NOT ASSOCIATE RWANDA WITH ITS INTERNAL PROBLEMS.
— Rwanda Government Communications (@RwandaOGS) May 12, 2024
Burundian Interior Ministry’s spokesman Pierre Nkurikiye told reporters on Saturday that RED-Tabara insurgents were behind the attacks.
He paraded six individuals, aged 28 to 56, to the press, saying they were part of the group destabilizing the country.
“These terrorists were recruited, trained and even equipped with weapons in Rwanda and by Rwanda,” Nkurikiye claimed.
“Afterwards, they are sent to the RED-Tabara terrorist group to be close to Burundi’s borders, and then they enter the country to carry out attacks.”
The relations between Rwanda and Burundi have deteriorated in recent months after Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye sustained accusations that Rwanda is financing and training the RED-Tabara group rebels.
RED-Tabara rebel group is considered by the Burundian government as a terrorist movement, with its members being linked to the failed coup attempt in 2015.
RDB, in collaboration with the Embassy of Rwanda in Senegal, organized an exclusive brunch in Galoya, Dakar, on Saturday to showcase investment opportunities in Rwanda.
The event brought together Rwandan investors, the Senegalese Investors Council, influential Senegalese personalities, and business leaders.
“The main objective was to highlight Rwanda’s notable advances in various sectors, ranging from sustainable tourism to innovative startups, in order to generate interest among Senegalese investors in the numerous investment opportunities offered by the booming economy of Rwanda,” stated RDB.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Season 4 Sahara Conference. The tournament playoffs and finals are to be held in Kigali from May 24 to June 1.
The event was attended by, among others, Jean-Pierre Karabaranga, the Ambassador of Rwanda to Senegal, Setti Solomon, the RDB Chief Strategy, Partnerships, and Communications Officer, and Candy Basomingera, Rwanda Convention Bureau (RCB) Deputy CEO.
Ambassador Karabaranga seized the opportunity to emphasize the importance of economic collaboration in driving sustainable development and prosperity in both countries.
Citing Rwanda’s robust infrastructure, strategic location, and business-friendly policies, the ambassador noted that investors are welcome to tap into various opportunities in the fast-growing economy.
Last year, RDB reported a 50 per cent growth in foreign investment commitments to reach $2.4 billion (RWF 3 trillion).
RDB, in an annual report unveiled last month, indicated that the commitments are expected to create 40,198 job opportunities in the next five years.
The manufacturing is expected to create 9,900 new job opportunities over the five-year period, accounting for a quarter of the jobs projected to be created in the next five years.
Further, the government agency whose main mandate is to accelerate Rwanda’s economic development by enabling private sector growth, forecasts that the agriculture sub-sector will continue to thrive, contributing to the creation of 7,600 jobs over the same period.
Real estate is expected to create 6,200 new jobs by 2029 while the agro-processing sub-sector will contribute some 4,400 jobs to the economy.
Additionally, the construction sector will generate 2,700 jobs while the accommodation and food services sub-sector will create 2,600 job opportunities over the next five years.
Electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply are poised to create an additional 1,500 new job opportunities, followed by the arts and entertainment sub-sector, where approximately 600 opportunities will be generated.
The financial and insurance sectors, along with administrative and support service activities, are expected to generate 500 and 200 jobs respectively over the next half-decade.
The Head of State was welcomed with full military honour on his first working visit to the country since President Faye was sworn in as Senegal’s fifth President on April 2, 2024.
President Kagame has arrived in Dakar where he is received by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye @PR_Diomaye, and members of the cabinet. pic.twitter.com/QsEI5G1D2J
— Presidency | Rwanda (@UrugwiroVillage) May 11, 2024
President Kagame is scheduled to hold talks with his Senegalese counterpart on strengthening fraternal and cooperation relations between the two countries.
The two Heads of State are also expected to attend the Basketball Africa League (BAL) game between Senegal’s AS Douanes and Rwanda’s APR, ahead of playoffs and finals set to be held in Kigali from May 24 to June 1.
Faye, 44, became the youngest man elected president in Senegal, after defeating main rival and ruling party coalition candidate Amadou Ba and winning the election with over 54% of the vote
The former tax inspector’s candidature was backed by prominent opposition figure Ousmane Sonko. Sonko endorsed Faye for the presidential seat after being barred from vying.
After his victory, Faye appointed Sonko as the country’s Prime Minister and pledged to restore stability and bring economic progress in the country.
Faye participated in the election barely two weeks after being released from prison in Dakar.
He had in April last year been charged with several offences, including contempt of court, after broadcasting a message critical of the judiciary in legal cases against Sonko.
Wilkens was then the Head of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency International in Rwanda and was living in the country with his wife and three children when President Juvénal Habyarimana’s plane was shot down, igniting ethnic tension in Rwanda, leading to the killing of more than one million people.
When it became apparent that things were out of hand and the killings by the Interahamwe group in Kigali’s neighbourhoods intensified, the American embassy decided to temporarily close and evacuate its citizens to safety.
Many Americans who had witnessed the killings firsthand could not hesitate but utilize the 72-hour window given to flee the country. But as everyone else was struggling to be among the first groups to be evacuated, Wilkens chose to remain behind with two domestic Tutsi workers after the American Embassy made it clear to them not to bring any Rwandans with them.
He sent his wife and children with an American convoy to Burundi and stayed at his home in Kigali with the two workers.
Speaking at the Kigali Public Library on Friday, May 10, as the country continues to commemorate 30 years since the Genocide against the Tutsi, Wilkins explained that he chose to remain behind because of the fears that Juan and Anita would be harmed.
“They [American Embassy] left us very little space for choice. We had this young lady who lived and worked at our home, so when the embassy gave us that order, I was like, no. I felt like that was an immoral thing for us to turn our backs and just abandon people,” he recounted.
“My heart was saying, how can you walk away from these two – the young man who was the watchman and the young lady? I often compared her to immediate family because we were so tight,” he added.
The 66-year-old noted that the US embassy’s orders still give him stomach pains to date.
“I understand the government’s responsibility towards its citizens and stuff, but then we need a plan B. And now here America is saying no, if you are from Burundi, Tanzania you can get in the convoy. It still gives me pain in my stomach,” Wilkins explained.
Over the next 100 horrific days of the genocide, Wilkins managed to save the lives of 400 Tutsis, including orphans from Gisimba Orphanage, whom he moved to safety through deadly roadblocks, thanks to his influence and networks.
He recounted that on the day he rescued the orphans more than 50 killers had surrounded the orphanage waiting to kill everyone. But the kids’ lives were spared after he reached out to the Governor of Kigali Tharcisse Renzaho and Prime Minister Jean Kambanda.
The discussion, moderated by Barbara Umuhoza, centered on Wilkins’ book ‘I’m Not Leaving,’ written in the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
On why some missionaries turned their backs on Rwanda, Wilkins said, “We never know what is going on in the hearts and minds of other people. When my wife got to the American ambassador’s home with the children and my mother and father, another missionary came to her and asked where Carl was. And she said he is not leaving, and this man said, you mean we could stay? It’s just that it never occurred that that was even a possibility to him. He was a dedicated man, and I believed he probably would have except by that point he didn’t see a turn point. So that could be one possible explanation.”
He noted that some missionaries have never forgiven themselves for turning their backs on Rwanda.
Answering a question from the audience about where God was during the genocide, Wilkins said: “I see God’s hand, but through people, not through supernatural miracles like an invisible shield around somebody. I believe big miracles probably happen. But for me, what’s most empowering is not to believe that God is going to send a supernatural shield. What’s most empowering is believing that we have the power to love, to step forward for somebody else.”
This is Wilkins’ second visit to the country since leaving in 1996. Prior to the genocide, the then 36-year-old had lived in Rwanda for nearly 10 years.
The training was held at Kanombe Barracks in Kigali and was tailored to impart new drivers with skills in safe driving, traffic management, and techniques focusing on both heavy and light-duty vehicles in various operational scenarios.
The pass-out ceremony was presided over by RDF Chief of Defence Staff, General Mubarakh Muganga, who lauded the commissioned drivers for their achievements.
He emphasized the need for RDF personnel to be capable of operating different types of vehicles effectively.
General Mubarakh also reminded the new drivers to maintain discipline, and professionalism, and particularly refrain from consumption of alcohol, which he said is a major cause of road accidents.
Last year, Rwanda was awarded the Kofi Annan Road Safety Award for its commitment to road safety measures, particularly regarding the safety of vehicles.
The country’s road safety measures were recognised on September 26, 2023, during the 2nd edition of the Kofi Annan Road Safety Award, jointly organized by the Government of Morocco, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety.
Ambassador of Rwanda to Morocco, Zaina Nyiramatama, received the award on behalf of the government of Rwanda.
The ambassador said the Rwandan government is committed to putting in place both soft and hard infrastructure initiatives aimed at combating road crashes.
“In order to produce positive road safety outcomes, we have to bear in mind that strong management in all aspects of road safety is key. The presence of a funded lead agency to guide the national road safety effort and implement a Safe Systems approach should be a guiding factor on this cause,” she said.
To address road accidents, Rwanda has implemented several measures, including the mandatory use of speed governors to regulate vehicle speed and the installation of speed cameras on key roads, resulting in reduced road fatalities.
In a statement, the company with a presence in 10 countries spanning Africa, Europe and the Middle East said the move is aimed at fulfilling its long-time running of democratizing travel and optimizing customer experience for both domestic and international travellers in the East African markets.
Wakanow Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bayo Adedeji affirmed that the new market entries would redefine how business executives, tourists and fun travellers access end-to-end travel services.
“Wakanow.com brings a fresh perspective and industry expertise to delivering travel services that suit the needs of local and international travellers.
“Wakanow.com continues to push the boundaries of travel technology, and our entry into East Africa represents a milestone in our commitment to enhancing travel experiences across the continent. Our online platform will empower East African travellers with a one-stop-shop for all their travel needs”, Adebayo stated.
He further disclosed that the company has invested in technology to optimise customer experience when they book flights, hotels and other services on the website.
“At Wakanow, our unwavering focus on the customer and our relentless drive to innovate on their behalf distinguishes us from the competition. Unlike any other player in the market, we harness technology to its fullest extent, enriching the customer experience with added value”, Adebayo added.
The CEO emphasized that Wakanow’s entry into the East African market also creates a gateway to a multitude of opportunities for both the business and tourism sectors.
He also announced the appointment of Josephine Fifi Rurangwa as the Business Development Manager for the new East Africa market.
Rurangwa, the CEO said, will spearhead initiatives aimed at offering exceptional end-to-end travel deals, including flight booking, visa assistance, hotel reservation, protocol services, airport transfers (Wakanow Ride), and travel insurance.
Rurangwa welcomed the appointment and vowed to leverage her experience to deliver exceptional service to the East African market.
“I am honoured to lead Wakanow’s business development efforts in East Africa. This region holds immense potential, and I am excited to leverage my experience and expertise to ensure that Wakanow becomes the preferred travel partner for individuals and organizations in Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda,” she stated.
Rurangwa affirmed Wakanow’s commitment to prioritizing customer satisfaction and democratizing travel for Africans through the Pay Small Small (PSS) offering. This program allows customers to spread the cost of their flights overtime on Wakanow.com, removing financial obstacles to booking.
“We are actively forging partnerships with local businesses, tour operators, and hospitality establishments, which will not only benefit our customers but also contribute to the local economy and tourism sector,” she added.
The company affirmed that Rurangwa, who has a decade-long career in the travel industry, brings a wealth of experience to her new role.
Prior to the appointment, Rurangwa served at Wakanow as Head of Africa Expansion.
Wakanow has been in existence for the last 16 years and is accredited by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
As Wakanow ventures into East Africa, the company anticipates achieving new milestones under Rurangwa’s leadership, reinforcing its commitment to excellence, customer satisfaction, and innovation in the region.
Founded in 2008, Wakanow has rapidly grown to become a one-stop platform for travel enthusiasts, offering a comprehensive suite of services including flight bookings, hotel reservations, travel insurance, airport transfers, vacation packages, visa assistance, and more.
Besides Nigeria, Wakanow also operates in a number of other markets including, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Liberia, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the UK.
A feasibility study report unveiled earlier this month identified four Sweet Spots for introducing CBDC in the country, including the need to increase resilience against possible network outages, power failures, and natural disasters; improve innovation and competition; contribute to achieving the cashless economy national initiative over time; and develop faster, cheaper, more transparent, and more inclusive cross-border remittances.
The feasibility study, which began in September 2022, also identified risks related to the adoption of the CBDC by the public, financial providers, and merchants with a high level of concern. To mitigate these risks, the study recommends additional investments in promoting CBDC and education in order to shift existing consumer habits to this new innovative product.
As the consultation process continues, many people are wondering what CBDCs are and how they differ from popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
In simple language, a CBDC is like digital cash issued by the central bank. It’s similar to regular money we use but in a digital form.
The main difference between CBDC and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum is that CBDCs are issued and controlled by a country’s central bank, just like physical cash.
On the other hand, cryptocurrencies use a decentralized system for transactions and creating new units.
Because CBDCs are central bank-backed, they are considered a very secure way to hold and transfer money.
If the process to establish the digital currency sails through, Rwanda’s CBDC will be the official digital currency regulated by the National Bank of Rwanda.
“While crypto values change, Rwanda’s CBDC will always match the value of regular money,” BNR explains on its website.
Notably, the CBDC can be like a bank account (account-based) or like digital cash (token-based). Account-based CBDC links ownership to an identity and keeps records with a third party. Token-based CBDC doesn’t need a third party and is like using physical cash.
BNR affirms that CBDC will not replace existing digital payments like cards and electronic payments. However, it may offer new services and more payment options.
The ongoing consultation is aimed at getting public opinion on the Rwanda CBDC. The information will help the central bank understand the technology, regulations, and risks of the new digital money product before its rollout.
Three countries – the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Nigeria – have fully launched CBDCs, while several others are in the piloting stage.
In Nigeria, the eNaira is a central bank digital currency (CBDC) backed by law. It is the digital form of the Naira and is used just like cash.
The delegation, led by Brigadier General Gabriel Elias Kwiligwa, arrived in Rwanda on Tuesday and is scheduled to attend the 10th meeting between the Rwanda Defence Forces and TPDF Brigades deployed along the Rwanda-Tanzania borderline.
“The delegation was welcomed by Col Justus Majyambere, Commander 5Div, upon their arrival at Rusumo One Stop Border Post. They proceeded to visit the Kibare Market in the Ndego sector of Kayonza district, an active hub where Tanzanians from Karagwe district frequently engage in trade,” RDF stated in a statement.
The quarterly security meeting will be held in Nyagatare, Eastern Province, and will be preceded by visits to some border areas in Kirehe and Kayonza districts, as well as Akagera National Park.
During the meeting, the forces are expected to deliberate on key issues, including sharing intelligence and information about the border, cross-border crimes, and security issues affecting communities living at the border points.
A similar meeting between Rwanda and Uganda authorities was held in the Eastern Province on Monday, during which the two governments pledged to renew their pledges to enhance cross-border cooperation.
The delegations were led by Clementine Mukeka, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Rwanda, and Ambassador Julius Kivuna, Head of the Regional Peace and Security Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uganda.
“Excited to host the 2nd Rwanda-Uganda Cross Border Security Meeting in Nyagatare! Our shared commitment to peace and prosperity is evident in the high-level attendance from both nations. Let’s work together to build a secure environment and promote sustainable development across our borders,” PS Mukeka said.
Ambassador Kivuna said the meeting provided the delegations with an opportunity to reflect on the progress made by the two countries since the last security meeting held in Butale, Uganda, where they discussed key aspects such as immigration, trade and customs, health, security, and mapping and demarcation of the borders.
“I am proud to report that Uganda has made significant strides in implementing the agreements and frameworks that we discussed in our previous meeting,” Kivuna stated.
“Our commitment to collaboration and cooperation with our Rwandan counterparts has only strengthened, and I am confident that our partnership will flourish in the years to come,” he added.
The officials first met in Kabale, Uganda, in December last year for high-level security deliberations following the reopening of the Gatuna-Katuna border post in January 2022.
Born in Uganda in 1977, the 47-year-old Rwandan grew up in Uganda when the National Resistance Army (NRA) prepared to topple Milton Obote’s administration.
Speaking during a recent interview on Sanny Ntayombya’s podcast ‘Long Form’, Habineza disclosed that he spent most of his childhood hiding alongside his family due to the political instability in the country at the time.
“I was born when there was war in Uganda. There were NRM rebels fighting Obote government and my region was called the Royal Triangle where the war taking place there. We used to see soldiers coming and taking our cows and we used to run,” he said, adding, “It was a sad moment but finally the war ended.”
Besides the political instability, Habineza also revealed that he and other Rwandan children had to endure constant bullying from local kids in the foreign land.
“It was a very difficult time to be in Uganda. We used to be beaten by other Ugandan kids who used to call us Banyarwanda as if Banyarwanda was a crime. I had this name of Habineza which couldn’t be hidden. Sometimes I felt like I was going to hide my name because every time they would call me Kanyarwanda,” he revealed.
“We used to fetch water from some piped water which would come from some springs in the mountains. So they find you there putting a jerrican there they hit you in the head. I could cry I say what is Munyarwanda. I go back crying. I knew that Munyarwanda was a crime. At first, I thought it was an abuse then I let it was a crime and then I said why don’t I change my name? They could tune my name and turn it into abusive words.”
He changed his name four times. First, he called himself Mugisha but faced opposition from his father. He later called himself Frasco, then Francis, and finally settled on Frank.
“I think Frank was more modern because we had some Congolese musicians like Franco,” he remarked.
When normalcy resumed in Uganda after the coup that saw President Yoweri Museveni of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) assume power, he was able to resume school, but sadly, he was forced to deal with the pain of losing his mother at an early age.
“It was a difficult process, and my mother died in between when I was in Primary 4. So that was a very difficult episode. We were three kids, so my father had a responsibility of taking care of us: three kids, one boy, and two girls. It was very difficult,” he said.
The challenging times forced him to get involved in activities of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) which was then preparing to liberate Rwanda in 1990. He was still in primary school.
“We used to attend youth meetings. The meetings were not public; we used to have them in the bushes. They also used to teach us Kinyarwanda dance. It was good,” he revealed.
In 1994 after the RPF took control of Rwanda following the 100 days of the Genocide against the Tutsi he was among Rwandans who returned home. They settled in Kayonza District in the Eastern Province.
“I was here in early October of 1994. We came in a big truck. The trucks that carry coffee,” he said.
However, he could not stay for long as schools were yet to reopen and he had to go back to Uganda to resume his high school studies.
“In March 1995, I had to go back to Uganda. I had left when I was in Form Three, and by the time I was leaving, schools were yet to reopen in Rwanda. I realized I could not find a job because as a Senior Three graduate, you don’t have a diploma or any certificate. There was also pressure to enrol us in either the army or local defence force. I realized going to the army when you don’t have even an O-level certificate would be a waste of much time here because you wouldn’t be much useful,” Habineza noted.
Back in Uganda, he benefitted from the foster care of renowned Ugandan writer John Nagenda’s family, where he developed a passion for politics and media. He was also a member of the Scouts Club, Wild Life Club and Chairman of the Red Cross Club.
“I had a lot of exposure there seeing newspapers every time watching TV and reading newspapers.”
It was while at high school that he thought of forming a political party to oppose Museveni’s government. He was about 17 years old.
But as fate would have it, he opted to join the National University of Rwanda in Butare, now the University of Rwanda, for his undergraduate studies after high school in 1999.
“When I went to Butare, knowing the history of the genocide in Rwanda, I thought, ‘What can I contribute in Rwanda?’ I said I would put much effort into environmental protection. I also had a passion for media, inspired by my uncle who used to have a column in the New Vision.
“When I came, I got accepted in the New Times. But I wrote like three, four articles, and none of my articles was published. When I went to Butare, they made me a correspondent for the News Line. I wrote for Rwanda News Line, Umuseso, and later the Rwanda Herald, and stopped in 2003.”
It’s while at Butare that he revived his idea of forming a political party in 2002.
“My love for the environment and the media pushed me into having another image of Rwanda. Seeing of what I wished new Rwanda to be. Later on that is when I decided to start a political party,” he added.
The path to starting a new party was, however, not smooth, as he was forced to shelve the idea after advice from government officials who thought he was not ready to run a party in just the second year of university.
“The officials heard me and said, ‘But you are still a young man and you have not finished university. I think I was in the second year then. You don’t even have money. Political parties are not a small thing. It requires money, it requires commitment.’ They also told me, ‘Maybe you are not seeing what is happening in the country. You see, there are these parties like MDR; they are having divisions, they are breaking up. But maybe when you start a new party, some people may misunderstand you and confuse you, or maybe you can become a new home for those people and they may bring trouble to you.’
“So they said, ‘Maybe it’s not a good time to start a new party as a young person.’ I thought the advice they gave me was genuine. I went and told my colleagues that this is the advice I got from the people in Kigali. They think that this is a wrong time for us. It’s too risky,” he revealed.
In 2005 he graduated from the university and was immediately appointed as a personal assistant to the minister of environment, forestry, water and mines.
When the minister was dropped from the Cabinet in 2006, he joined the National Coordinator for the Nile Basin Discourse Forum in Rwanda (NBDF), a civil society platform that had over 50 NGOs involved in the conservation of river Nile.
In 2007, he officially quit RPF and opted to form the Democratic Green Movement of Rwanda Party to oppose the government of the day. After six unsuccessful attempts, his party was finally registered in 2010.
He cited the decision to break ranks with President Paul Kagame’s RPF due to ideological differences, although he remained tight-lipped on details about his presidential manifesto and what he would do differently if elected president. He noted that it would be revealed at a later date, once sanctioned by the party delegates.
With two seats in parliament and one in the Senate, the MP insists that he is determined to run a non-violent opposition in the country.
He dismissed other opposition leaders, including former coalition member Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, for lacking the best interest of the country and promoting violent opposition ideologies.
“These people, when you say you want nonviolence, they don’t believe in nonviolence, most of them. They would want you to fight. There is a connotation from East Africa where people see opposition fighting here and there, causing trouble, breaking windows, destabilizing everything. So when we say no, we don’t want to do that. Although I was born in Uganda, I don’t want to copy and paste what I see happening in Uganda to here. We have seen a lot of violence in Rwanda, we have the Genocide against the Tutsi. I was not even born here because of those problems from before,” he stated.
“We want something different to do opposition politics, but not like the ones in Uganda or Kenya. But another one where the people of Rwanda will feel safe with you. I have been in a situation where people felt unsafe with me. They said, ‘When you join Franc’s party, you will have trouble and will be put in prison.’ This is what I feel is a better thing than now. People are comfortable being in the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda. People can see a future in the party, people can contribute to the state of the party. We have different ideas and we show them, and we are not killed because we have opposed the government.”
The Head of State argued that nation-building is a collaborative effort and challenged the young people to use their skills to improve their lives and communities.
“There is no one person who can work alone in their own way to develop our people or our country. There is no single person who can do everything alone to benefit other people if they don’t work together,” President Kagame stated.
“This country is not for individuals or a specific group. It is for all of us. When we put our efforts together, when we work together, we are striving for the development of our nation and our collective development as a people.”
He was speaking at BK Arena in Kigali, where more than 7,500 youth volunteers gathered to celebrate their contributions to Rwanda’s development.
Acknowledging the youth volunteers’ sacrifices, Kagame noted that the young people played a key role in the government’s efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The fact that you accepted to sacrifice yourself, it’s just a reminder of our existing tradition of self-sacrifice. You demonstrated that during Covid-19, as youth volunteers, and it helped a lot in our fight against that pandemic. We would not have succeeded in our fight against COVID-19 without the important role you played,” he added.
He challenged the youths to keep up the volunteering spirit and work to better their skills every day.
“Where you have to put a lot of effort, where it all begins, the foundation of it all, is in building yourselves as individuals, each one of you. Build yourselves, and keep on that volunteerism spirit. Your willingness alone is not enough, you have to build your capabilities and equip yourself with skills so that you can put into practice everything you are willing to do,” the president told the volunteers.
Abdallah Utumatwishima, the Minister of Youth and Arts, also lauded the youths for their selfless efforts that helped the country navigate the challenging COVID-19 times.
“In the journey of 10 years, the world was shocked by the Covid-19 pandemic followed by disasters brought about by climate change that claimed the lives of many people. We are grateful for youth volunteers’ contributions through physical and mental work shown as we navigated the challenges,” Utumatwishima lauded the volunteers.
The volunteers, who attended the event, are among thousands of young people motivated to serve their communities in various parts of the country.
Most of the youth are involved in various development activities, including building houses, taking care of vulnerable members of society, and raising awareness about emerging public health issues.
