At the memorial, the founder of Microsoft laid a wreath at the final resting place of more than 250,000 victims buried at the site, taking time to honour their memory and reflect on one of the darkest chapters in Rwanda’s history.
According to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Gates also toured the memorial’s permanent exhibitions, where he learned about the planning and execution of the Genocide against the Tutsi, its devastating human impact, and Rwanda’s remarkable journey of recovery, reconciliation, and rebuilding over the past three decades.
“Today, we welcomed Mr. Bill Gates to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where he paid his respects to the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi with a wreath-laying at the burial place,” the memorial management said in a statement shared on X.
“During his visit, Mr. Gates toured the memorial exhibits and reflected on the history, impact, and lasting consequences of the Genocide, as well as Rwanda’s remarkable journey of recovery and rebuilding,” it added.
The visit to the memorial comes as Gates continues a multi-day visit to Rwanda aimed at learning more about the country’s progress in health, agriculture, and digital public infrastructure.
Earlier during his stay, Gates visited the TKMD syringe manufacturing plant in Rwamagana District, a facility helping expand Africa’s capacity to locally produce essential medical supplies. He is also expected to visit Mwulire Health Centre and meet with community health workers to gain firsthand insight into Rwanda’s primary healthcare system.
Ahead of his visit, Gates praised Rwanda’s development trajectory, attributing the country’s progress to sustained investments in people, strong institutions, and effective service delivery.
He highlighted Rwanda’s significant improvements in health outcomes since 2000, including an 80 percent reduction in under-five mortality and an 85 percent decline in maternal deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth.
The Gates Foundation has partnered with Rwanda for more than two decades, supporting initiatives to strengthen healthcare systems, agricultural development, and innovation.
Earlier this year, Rwanda became the first beneficiary of the Horizon1000 initiative, a $50 million artificial intelligence programme launched by the Gates Foundation and OpenAI to help African countries harness AI to improve healthcare delivery.
Gates has said he hopes his visit will provide an opportunity to engage with government leaders, researchers, innovators, frontline health workers, and communities to better understand Rwanda’s approach to development and the use of technology to improve lives.
His visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial adds a solemn moment to his engagements in the country, paying respect to the victims while acknowledging Rwanda’s resilience and transformation in the decades since the Genocide against the Tutsi.
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