Category: Social

The leadership handover, held at Kigali Serena Hotel on Sunday, celebrated a year of remarkable growth in which the club implemented four global grant projects focused on youth empowerment, inclusive education, health promotion and economic development.

The ceremony brought together diplomats, Rotarians, Rotaractors, development partners, business leaders and friends of Rotary. Kenya’s High Commissioner to Rwanda, Ambassador Janet Mwawasi Oben, was the guest of honour and was recognized as an Honorary Rotarian for her support of Rotary’s humanitarian mission.

Founded in 2024, the Rotary Club of Kigali Cosmopolitan has quickly established itself as an active force in community service. During the past Rotary year, the club completed and secured projects valued at more than $210,000, benefiting vulnerable communities across the country.

Among its flagship initiatives were vocational training programmes in tailoring and fashion design for disadvantaged youth, support for DeafBlind learners and teachers in Rwamagana District, employment-focused skills development programmes, and a nationwide hypertension prevention and non-communicable diseases screening initiative targeting more than 100 primary healthcare facilities across seven districts.

The club also secured funding for water storage and purification infrastructure at Kayonza DeafBlind School, strengthening access to clean water while improving learning conditions for children with disabilities.

Outgoing president Srinivas Cheruvu said the club’s achievements reflected the power of partnerships and collective action.

He noted that collaboration among members, development partners and supporters had enabled the club to create opportunities for vulnerable communities while delivering tangible improvements in people’s lives.

Beyond community projects, the club also expanded opportunities for youth leadership by chartering four new Rotaract clubs, bringing the total number established by Kigali Cosmopolitan to five.

As she assumed office, Ngali pledged to build on the club’s achievements by focusing on sustainable community impact and expanding Rotary’s reach across Rwanda.

She said the club begins the new Rotary year with three major global grant projects already lined up for implementation. These include an employment-based vocational training programme for underprivileged youth in Musha, Rwamagana; a project to improve learning conditions at Kayonza DeafBlind School through assistive technology, teacher training, educational materials and solar power; and a nationwide initiative to strengthen hypertension detection and screening for non-communicable diseases in primary healthcare facilities.

Ngali also outlined priorities for the coming year, including expanding the club’s membership, strengthening collaboration with Rotaract clubs, increasing public awareness of Rotary’s work and launching additional service projects that respond to community needs.

She emphasized that Rotary’s greatest strength lies in people working together to create lasting change, adding that leadership should be measured not only by projects completed during a president’s term but also by the opportunities created for future generations.

The ceremony also recognized individuals whose service has had a lasting impact on society. Veteran educator Florida Nyiranturege received a special community service award in recognition of nearly five decades of teaching and mentoring generations of Rwandan youth. Despite surviving the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, she continued dedicating her life to education and community service.

The club’s continued growth was further reflected in the induction of seven new Rotarians, while six other professionals expressed interest in joining the organization. Six members also received Paul Harris Fellow distinctions, one of Rotary’s highest honours for contributions to humanitarian service through The Rotary Foundation.

The evening concluded with the symbolic handover of leadership and a renewed commitment to Rotary’s motto, “Service Above Self.” With a strong pipeline of grant-funded initiatives and a growing membership base, the Rotary Club of Kigali Cosmopolitan enters its third year aiming to deepen its impact through sustainable projects that improve lives across Rwanda.

The support was extended on June 5, 2026, as part of activities marking the 32nd commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi.

The initiative began with a visit by the hospital’s staff and leadership to the Ntarama Genocide Memorial in Bugesera District, where they were briefed on the history of the genocide in the area and toured a recently opened historical exhibition.

They paid tribute to more than 5,000 victims laid to rest at the memorial and laid wreaths on the graves in their honour.

Following the visit, the team travelled to Musabende’s residence, where they handed over a new prosthetic leg valued at Rwf4 million.

They also unveiled a fully renovated house that had previously fallen into severe disrepair and was at risk of collapsing. The home was upgraded to provide safer and more dignified living conditions, and plans are underway to furnish it.

Musabende expressed her gratitude, saying the support had transformed her life after years of hardship.
She explained that she had been struggling to live in a deteriorating house because she lacked the financial means to repair it.

“I am very happy,” she said. “I was living in isolation, unable to do much on my own, while watching the house gradually fall apart. The walls had begun separating, and visitors would often tell me to leave the room because it could collapse at any moment. I would simply tell them that if it happened, I would go the same way others had gone before me.”

Musabende said she initially doubted that the promised renovations would materialise, having previously received visitors who documented her situation but never returned with assistance.

“I thought they were making promises that would never be fulfilled,” she said. “But when I saw construction materials arriving, I realised it was really happening.”

She also welcomed the new prosthetic leg, noting that the one she had been using was worn out and missing some parts, while financial constraints had prevented her from replacing it.

The Director General of Inkuru Nziza Hospital, Dr. Mpatswenumugabo Bosco, said supporting survivors of the Genocide against the Tutsi is one of the ways the institution contributes to remembrance and recovery.

“This mother was living in difficult conditions, and we felt compelled to help her secure decent housing so that she can live with dignity,” he said. “As a hospital that specialises in prosthetic and orthotic services, we also decided to provide her with a new prosthetic leg. In a way, it is like extending a helping hand and encouraging her to stand up and move forward.”

Dr. Mpatswenumugabo noted that such initiatives are carried out annually, particularly in Kicukiro District, where the hospital regularly supports Genocide survivors. He added that there are plans to expand the programme to benefit survivors in other parts of the country.

He said the visit to the Ntarama Genocide Memorial was intended to draw lessons from one of the darkest chapters in Rwanda’s history, where people who sought refuge in a church were instead massacred.

“Churches and hospitals are places meant to protect and preserve life, yet those who fled to Ntarama were killed there,” he said. “As a faith-based hospital, this is something we must continue to remember and teach so that such atrocities never happen again.”

Inkuru Nziza Hospital operates under the Inkuru Nziza Church in Rwanda and is known for providing specialised orthopaedic care, rehabilitation services, prosthetics, orthotics and support for people living with disabilities.

The visit brought together members of the broader King Faisal family of institutions, reflecting a shared commitment to remembrance, unity, and the preservation of Rwanda’s history for future generations.

The visit, organized as part of the ongoing Kwibuka 32 commemoration activities, marked a significant milestone, as employees from the three institutions had jointly participated in a memorial activity of this nature.

The initiative brought together staff members from different generations and professional backgrounds, reinforcing a shared commitment to remembrance, unity, and the prevention of genocide.

While King Faisal Hospital Rwanda has consistently participated in genocide commemoration activities over the years, this year’s visit marked a significant milestone as it brought together staff from KFH, the KFH Foundation, and AHSU, reflecting the shared values that unite the King Faisal family of institutions.

Their participation underscored a collective commitment to remembrance, education, healing, and nation-building while honoring the victims of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi.

Why the visit matters

The Bisesero Genocide Memorial Site stands as one of Rwanda’s most important historical landmarks, preserving the memory of thousands of victims who were killed during the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi.

It serves not only as a place of mourning and remembrance but also as a center for education and reflection on the devastating consequences of hatred, division, and poor leadership.

During the visit, participants toured various sections of the memorial and historical accounts and engaged in discussions about the importance of preserving collective memory and promoting peace.

Honoring victims and learning from history

Speaking during the visit, King Faisal Hospital Rwanda’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Frederic Ngirabacu, paid tribute to all Rwandans affected by the Genocide Against the Tutsi and expressed appreciation to the Government of Rwanda for preserving memorial sites that safeguard the country’s history for current and future generations.

He emphasized that memorials are more than historical landmarks; they are living testimonies and tangible evidence of what occurred during one of the darkest periods in Rwanda’s history.

“It is important that history is never forgotten,” he said. “Our purpose for coming here is not only to honor the victims but also to ensure that such atrocities never happen again. We have a responsibility to ourselves and to future generations to continue learning, healing, and transmitting these lessons.”

Mr. Ngirabacu also recognized the courage and sacrifice of those who stopped the genocide, noting that the tragedy ended because Rwandans took responsibility and stood against the perpetrators.

“We must not only remember the victims, but also appreciate those who stopped the genocide. We honor both those who are still living and those who have passed away. Peace and freedom do not come by chance or by miracle; they are achieved through courage, sacrifice, and responsible leadership,” he stated.

Lessons on leadership and responsibility

A key message highlighted during the visit was the role leadership plays in shaping society. Participants reflected on how destructive leadership and extremist ideologies contributed to the genocide, while responsible and courageous leadership helped restore peace and rebuild the nation.

The visit served as a reminder that understanding history is essential to preventing future atrocities and fostering values of unity, inclusion, accountability, and respect for human dignity.

The role of youth in preserving memory

Mr. Ngirabacu further stressed the critical role of young people in ensuring that the history and lessons of the Genocide Against the Tutsi remain alive.

He noted that many of the perpetrators and organizers of the genocide were young people who had been influenced by divisive ideologies, while many young people also played a vital role in stopping the killings and rebuilding the country.

“Young people are at the center of both the present and the future of every nation,” he said. “Many of today’s youth were born after the genocide and did not experience it firsthand. It is therefore our responsibility to educate them, share these lessons, and ensure they understand the consequences of hatred and the importance of protecting humanity.”

A shared commitment to ‘Never Again’

The joint visit by KFH, the KFH Foundation, and AHSU demonstrated the institutions’ collective commitment to remembrance, healing, and education.

By coming together at Bisesero, participants reaffirmed their dedication to preserving the memory of the victims, honoring the heroes who stopped the genocide, and promoting a future founded on unity, peace, and responsible citizenship.

As Rwanda continues its journey of remembrance and resilience, such initiatives remain vital in ensuring that the lessons of the past are passed on to future generations and that the pledge of “Never Again” remains a living commitment for all.

The two activities took place on May 29, 2026. The staff first toured the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where they were taken through the history of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, including how it was planned and executed.

They were guided through different exhibition sections that document the events leading up to and during the genocide.

They then observed a moment of silence in honor of more than 250,000 victims buried at the memorial and laid wreaths at the burial site as a sign of respect.

After the memorial visit, employees of Prime International Carriers Ltd proceeded to Remera Sector in Gasabo District, where they visited a house they are constructing for Iribagiza Chantal, a genocide survivor.

The housing project, which is nearing completion, is intended to provide improved living conditions for the survivor and her family.

Speaking during the visit, Prime International Carriers Ltd Rwanda Managing Director Akimana Audrey said commemorating the Genocide against the Tutsi is an important duty, but added that it should also be accompanied by efforts to support survivors and contribute to rebuilding their lives.

“We also think about people who were affected by the Genocide against the Tutsi, so each year we try to support at least one survivor in order to stand with them on this journey and show them that the future is bright,” she said.

Akimana also noted that visiting the memorial offers an important opportunity to learn from history, especially for young people and foreign employees working at the company, helping them understand the past and build a better future based on those lessons.

She added: “The most important thing we must do is to move forward without forgetting. In particular, we must fully understand this history of genocide and teach it to young people and future generations so that it never happens again.”

Prime International Carriers Ltd provides logistics services including international freight forwarding for imports and exports, customs clearance support, and facilitation of trade for Rwandan businesses.

Beyond Rwanda, the company also operates in Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya.