“The Rwanda Defence Force is deeply saddened by the death of a Rwandan peacekeeper serving under the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), following an attack on 13 Jan 2021 by elements of an armed group opposed to the peace process,” reads in part RDF statement.
“The RDF expresses its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the fallen peacekeeper. RDF peacekeepers remain committed to the protection of civilians within the mandate of MINUSCA, and the other peacekeeping missions under which our troops serve,” adds the statement.
Apart from the deceased, another Rwandan peacekeeper was slightly wounded during the attack.
The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres has also called for action to ensure accountability for the coordinated assaults near the capital, Bangui in the Central African Republic (CAR) that left a Rwandan peacekeeper dead and another wounded.
The UN mission in the country, MINUSCA, reported that some armed elements were killed, while others were arrested and weapons seized.
“The Secretary-General recalls that attacks against United Nations peacekeepers may constitute a war crime,” his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said in a statement.
Vladimir Monteiro, MINUSCA spokesperson, said in a statement that the attack was repelled by the peacekeepers, together with the Central African armed forces.
“MINUSCA strongly condemns the attacks by the anti-Balaka, UPC, 3R and MPC coalition armed groups and their political allies, including former President François Bozizé,” he said.
“The Mission holds them responsible for the consequences of this violence on the civilian population and stresses that attacks against peacekeepers can be considered as war crimes and prosecuted.”
The Secretary-General also expressed concern over continued destabilization efforts by armed groups in the CAR.
He called on all parties to stop violence and engage in meaningful dialogue, and underlined the UN’s commitment to ongoing peace efforts.
Rwanda Defence Force is one of the largest troop contributors to MINUSCA since 2014.
The man born in 1975 resides in Muyumbu sector, Rwamagana district of Eastern Province but runs businesses of selling African print wrappers in Kigali City. His merchandises imported from countries like China are wholesaled to different buyers across the country.
IGIHE has learnt that Kibyeyi has two companies registered to his names since 2016. These include Manual Trading Ltd and Imani textile Ltd but has six more companies which he registered to other persons including domestic workers.
He was heard in tax fraud cases at different times that Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) seized his goods in October last year for failure to pay taxes.
At the time, RRA seized 585 bales of made in China African print wrappers worth Rwf 4.3 billion.
The man is said to have opened six companies including two registered to potters, two registered under the names of his domestic workers, one registered to his wife and one registered to his aunt.
He is reported to have used identities of these workers which he presented to start companies in Rwanda Development Board (RDB) without informing owners. Kibyeyi imported goods on behalf of these companies but didn’t pay taxes.
IGIHE has established that one of his companies dubbed ‘Baze Company Ltd’ opened in 2019 was registered to a potter in Quartier Matheus, a commercial center in Kigali City.
The company owes Rwf 188 million taxes to the Government, an amount of money the potter has never possessed.
Nsengimana Martin, 33, is a potter who used to seek job from Kibyeyi. He is considered a business owner since Baze Company Ltd was registered to his names since 22nd October 2019.
“We knew each other as a boss and potter. We didn’t have special friendship. He would ask me to go with him or unload something from his car. I was not aware that Baze Company Ltd is registered to my names until RRA staff came to me. I hardly find food, but was surprised to be shown that I am registered owner of the company. I refused it,” he said.
Nsengimana has told IGIHE that Kibyeyi once asked for his identity card and took a photo of it without telling Nsengimana the reason.
“I used to ask him a job because he is a magnate businessman. He once asked me my identity card. He took its picture and returned it to me. He never gave me further details and I respected him as a boss,” explained Nsengimana.
After learning the company was registered to his names, he sought RRA support to get it unregistered to him.
The spokesperson of Rwanda investigation Bureau (RIB), Dr Murangira B. Thierry has confirmed that Kibyeyi was arrested on 11th January 2021.
“The accused is detained at Kimihurura RIB station. He is investigated for two crimes including illegal acquisition of another persons’ item and identity fraud,” he said.
Dr Murangira has explained that his files will be transferred to the prosecution in due course.
RIB has revealed that investigation has been launched against more business persons involved in tax fraud noting that people should stand against such vice lest they are held accountable.
With his decision, Francis gives women the right to act as readers and altar servers, assisting the priest during services or in administering Communion.
Although the move is far from the more significant step of admitting women to the priesthood, Francis said it was a way to recognize that they can make a “precious contribution” to the church.
The new law merely formalizes a role that women in many parts of the world, including Rwanda, have already been holding. But until now, they had been serving as acolytes and lectors as the positions are known at the discretion of local bishops or priests. In some cases, conservative bishops have made a point of enforcing male-only altar services, something they will no longer be able to do.
Speaking to IGIHE, the Archbishop of Kigali, Cardinal Antoine Kambanda welcomed the decision of Pope Francis highlighting that it will foster evangelization.
Referring to Coronavirus preventive measures that saw the Government imposing lockdown and ordering churches’ closure, Kambanda explained that laities have proven capability to contribute to church services where they took responsibility to teach children how to pray and led gospel celebration at home or elsewhere during and after lockdown.
“You understand that laities are getting more involved in leading liturgical services. At home, a child recognizes God, learns to pray, how to remain faithful and seek protection from God. These virtues are imparted by parents. In fact, family is the church’s foundation,” he said.
“Pope Francis wants laities to be involved in church’s activities to increasingly decentralize services to Christians. A priest might not be able to reach all patients who need sacraments but laities provide assistance,” added Cardinal Kambanda.
In a new edict, the pope formalized what in practice has been already allowed for years in many communities around the world.
“The pontiff, therefore, has established that women can accede to these ministries and they are attributed by a liturgical function that institutionalizes them,” the Vatican said.
It also stressed, that these roles were “essentially distinct from the ordained ministry,” explaining that this new step towards women’s equality within the church should not be seen as a precursor to women being ordained as priests – something feared by many conservative Catholics.
The new decree, called “Spiritus Domini,” modifies the Code of Canon Law to establish that women can have access to these ministries and that they are recognized through a liturgical act formally instituting them as such.
The pope said many bishops from around the world had said that the change was necessary to respond to the “needs of the times.”
In recent years the church has struggled in some regions to recruit new members of the all-male priesthood.
Francis specified that he wanted to welcome recommendations which have emerged from various synodal assemblies, writing that “a doctrinal development has been arrived at in these last years that has brought to light how certain ministries instituted by the Church have as their basis the common condition of being baptized and the royal priesthood received in the Sacrament of Baptism.”
The Motu proprio edict was accompanied by a letter addressed to the prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Luis Ladaria, in which Francis explained the theological motivations behind his decision.
The pontiff wrote that “within the spectrum of renewal traced out by the [the 1960s’] Second Vatican Council, the urgency is being ever more felt today to rediscover the co-responsibility of all of the baptized in the Church and the mission of the laity in a particular way.”
Pope Paul VI was the pioneer of reforms placing women in liturgical services since 1963. Later on, his successors gradually appointed women in Catholic Church’s decision making positions.
An under-18 adolescent is considered by the law as a minor and is limited to accessing sexual reproductive health services without parents’ or guardians’ consent.
Rwanda’s 2020 report on human rights shows that 11.6% teenagers were provided with contraceptives while 15,656 unexpected pregnancies among teenagers were recorded last year between January and August.
The Government of Rwanda has been assessing the issue of unexpected pregnancies among teenagers depriving them some of basic rights like education.
As he appeared to the parliamentary chamber of senate in November 2018, Prime Minister Dr. Edouard Ngirente said that the study was underway to seek how teenagers can be allowed to use contraceptives as one of solutions to reduce unexpected pregnancies.
Health Development Initiative (HDI), a non-governmental, non-profit organization based in Kigali that empowers communities to lead healthier lives by providing access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information and services reveals that the requirement for adolescents to access contraceptives in presence of parents impedes the reduction of unexpected pregnancies.
Dr. Aflodis Kagaba, the Executive Director of HDI says that requiring parents to escort teenagers seeking contraceptives is still a challenge to the youth.
“The fact that under 18 teen is required to go with the parent at health facilities can be destructive because the society rests on differences that some parents might lose trust to children. If laws are revised, and extend awareness among the public that contraceptives doesn’t necessarily concern spouses would reduce such worries,” he said.
Dr Kagaba explains that people thinking contraceptives would trigger increased sexual relations and cause side effects to teens have inadequate information.
“People consider the negative aspects because they don’t have enough information. Health care professionals assist teenagers differently considering their age brackets,” he said.
Dr Kagaba says establishing centers with trained health care professionals assisting adolescents in reproductive health would be a great contribution.
Yvette Nyinawumuntu, the executive director of Save Generation Organization, a local non-government organisation dedicated to promoting and advocating for children and women’s rights has also told IGIHE that the current law poses difficulties to people seeking reproductive health services.
“Escorting teenagers for contraception services is a hindrance. Sometimes, adolescents have secrets that they fear to reveal to parents. The culture of educating children on reproductive health within families is also getting decimated. Primitive mindset is still a barrier for teenagers to access improved reproductive services. The situation will get boost, if a parents understand that helping daughters access such services is among consider primary responsibilities,” she says.
Nyinawumuntu explains that every parent should interact with children and develop the habit of educating them on reproductive health, thus creating the bond of friendship that children will be free to tell the truth.
She underscores that revising the law on human reproductive health and training stakeholders would be a step further to improved reproductive health services.
“We want the law to be revised and organize trainings to all stakeholders. We are advocating because parents need to interact and take care of children so that they grow with full knowledge on reproductive health. Parents will also understand that escorting children for such services is a responsibility,” says Nyinawumuntu.
Some adolescents told IGIHE that contraception is a good service for them but expressed concerns that girls fear to involve parents into private life.
“Providing teenagers with contraception services is a good program. It was implemented to help us but it is very difficult to engage the family for such support. Allowing adolescents to access such services without parents’ permission would be commendable,” says Ishimwe Clémentine aged 16.
In December 2020, the Ministry of Health revealed that discussions were underway to seek together how adolescents between the age of 15 and 18 can be allowed to access contraceptives without consulting parents or guardians.
Thirdly, the foundation seeks to conduct research on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in collaboration with relevant organizations through organizing conferences and seminars on the Genocide against Tutsi, archiving the history of the genocide and promoting the culture of reading and writing about the Genocide against Tutsi.
Speaking on the objective of this foundation, Yolande Mukagasana President and founding member said: “The ideology and the denial of the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi is still topical, especially in journalistic and academic sectors influenced by the perpetrators of the genocide and their friends. With the evolution of the media that gave birth to social media which give an easy audience to the most weird statements in the name of freedom of expression. As keepers of memory, we cannot accept the distortion of the history of Rwanda and of the genocide in particular”.
The Foundation was founded by different people; Rwandans and foreigners of all categories in age, education, skills and experiences with different backgrounds, majority being young people who want to rebuild Rwanda, and build on differences. The Foundation will also denounce genocide denial and revisionism.
“We must know that our differences do not make us enemies, but the riches on which we must all rebuild. The genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi is the history of Rwandans, it is the history of humanity. To fight against the ideology and denial of genocide is to fight against hate. Hence, it’s everyone’s duty to get involved in this fight “added Yolande Mukagasana.
Yolande Mukagasana Foundation is open to anyone, to any institution, both national and international, sharing the same vision.
{{About Yolande Mukagasana}}
The genocide against the Tutsi has left Yolande Mukagasana widowed and childless. Since 1995, she has been confronted with the Denial and Revisionism of this genocide in the West. Her struggle began in 1995 in Europe where she spent 16 years talking and testifying about the Genocide against Tutsi, justice, peace and living together despite her wounds.
She has travelled around the world to bear witness to what happened in Rwanda in 1994. She has received various awards including the Honorable Mention of the UNESCO Prize for Peace Education, recognition by the American Jewish Community and many others.
Yolande Mukagasana is also the author of seven books translated into different languages and such are the reasons why Yolande Mukagasana’s commitment to promote the culture of reading and writing about the genocide against the Tutsi, hence keeping the memory alive.
Yolande Mukagasana believes that “There will be no humanity without forgiveness, there will be no forgiveness without justice, and there will be no justice without humanity.”
The decision to repossess the land went into effect on 1st January 2021.
The decision raised mixed reactions despite Government’s repeated reminders to the public on registration deadline.
The Director of Land Administration Unit at RLMUA, Jean Baptiste Mukarage has told IGIHE that the land will be registered to the Government temporarily as they wait for owners to get them registered.
“The Government has taken over a total of 1,499,845 plots of land. These include 31, 997 in Kigali City; 503 274 in Southern Province, 399, 305 in Western Province; 303,383 in Northern Province and 261 886 in Eastern Province,” he said.
Mukarage explained that such lands remain unregistered for various reasons whereby some owners don’t value the activity, try to evade tax while others don’t have identities or lack basic documents to have lands registration.
Other reasons include people exploiting Government’s lands for free fearing to get them registered and others unwilling to expose their wealth.
Mukarage revealed that owners will continue to utilize their unregistered land before the Government communicates further decision.
“People will continue to register their lands presenting ownership documents obtained from cell’s land committees in collaboration with sectors’ officials,” he said.
Mukarage has underscored that deeper analysis will be conducted to understand why each plot of land is not registered before taking further decisions.
He said that the Government might take full ownership of unregistered lands if concerned people continue to keep quiet without claims to complete the registration process.
The Government of Rwanda launched land registration in 2009 completed 2013 but some people have not yet registered their properties.
In January 2020, RLMUA released a statement informing the general public that everyone should have registered his/her land within six months.
The deadline set on 30th June 2020 was extended to 30th December 2020 due to COVID-19. The institution revealed that unregistered land would be considered abandoned properties after the deadline.
Commenting on the deadline that was set towards the end of December 2020, the Director General of RLMUA, Esperance Mukamana explained that Rwanda has no gain in taking over people’s land and encouraged land owners to rush for registration.
“The Government has nothing to gain from taking over anyone’s property. We want people to do the necessary to register their land. If you fail to do so, the Government will temporarily takeover the land and return it when you have had it registered,” she said.
Mukamana explained that people registering the land temporarily owned by the Government will not be subject to fines and pointed out advantages of land registration.
“Land registration has played a critical role in solving land related disputes. For instance, land dispute cases taken to court have reduced. Moreover, land owners can use their land documents to acquire bank loans,” noted Mukamana.
The article 20 of the Law No 43/2013 of 16/06/2013 determining land use in Rwanda shows that land registration is obligatory.
Figures from RLMUA show that 9,965,648 plots of land have been registered since 2009 when the land registration exercise began that remaining ones without registration equal to 1,561,201 across the country.
The new development has been revealed by NEC Executive Secretary, Charles Munyaneza during a talk show aired on Rwanda Television.
The budget that was prepared before Coronavirus pandemic might however be increased because there were no considerations for some expenses like hand sanitizers at every polling station, water to wash hands, and others related to the prevention of Covid-19.
“Citizens’ participation during elections increases as years pass by. The higher number of voters should correspond to increased budget but it should not be a burden to the country which has other areas of focus to promote citizens’ progress,” he said.
“The budget was prepared in 2019. We didn’t know that Coronavirus would emerge. Thus, the budget might increase due to measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 given that polling rooms will be increased from 16,000 of 2016 to almost 17,000,” added Munyaneza.
At least 1.3 million contenders are expected to participate in upcoming elections while 600 are set to vote for the first time.
As Munyaneza explained, the budget is estimated at Rwf 3.5 billion down from Rwf 5 billion of parliamentarians’ elections in 2018.
NEC is set to start receive candidatures for aspirants to join districts’ advisory committee.
NEC Chairman, Prof Kalisa Mbanda revealed that applications will be submitted online to contain the spread of COVID-19.
He highlighted that Coronavirus preventive measures will also be observed during local leaders elections scheduled on 20th to 22nd February 2021.
“Our team has recently visited different sites countrywide to assess if polling stations have enough spaces or need more rooms. Usually, people would interact being closer to each other but we have taken measures enabling voters to respect social distancing to contain the spread of Covid-19,” said Mbanda.
NEC timetable shows that villages’ advisory committees will be elected on 20th February 2021 while cell and sectors’ advisory committees will be elected between 20th and 22nd February 2021.
On 5th March 2021, there will be elections for districts’ advisory committees and executive committees (mayor and vice mayors).
Only Rwandans aged 18 years without particular restrictions are eligible to vote.
Those eligible to vote should not have been served more than 6 month-sentence, should not be pinned to murder cases, not involved in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Among others, an individual sacked from public service is not allowed not vote.
NEC figures show that a total of 6, 469, 037 voters participated in 2016 local leaders elections while 2018 parliamentary elections attracted 7, 172,612 voters.
So far, 7,856,406 voters are registered on the provisional list of elections scheduled from 20th to 22nd February 2021.
Capt Rusine who was once enrolled in Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF) and Col Irombe were arrested on 7th January 2021 through Congolese Special Forces known as ‘Hibou Special Forces’.
Rusine joined FLN in 2018 after dismissal from RDF over conviction for robbery crimes. He was sacked at the rank of Lieutenant.
Col Irombe was heading FLN military court. He was born in 1967 in former Commune Tare currently in Gakenke district. He studied secondary school at Rwesero Junior Seminary.
As RPF soldiers stooped genocide, Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR) fled to DRC where Irombe pursued Laws at Lubumbashi University.
He once served as Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) Judiciary Commissioner and personal secretary of Col Bigaruka. The arrest of the two men follows the death of Lt Col Butera Didier, former FLN advisor killed during FARC operations.
The week-long fight between FARDC and CNRD/MRCD rebel groups in Muzimu and Kigoma of Uvila in Southern Kivu saw 36 FLN fighters killed. The rebel group’s headquarters has also been captured by FARDC.
FLN has been on the brink of defeat since top leaders have been arrested. These include the spokesperson, Nsabimana Callixte Sankara and his successor, Herman Nsengimana as well as the Chairman Paul Rusesabagina who are detained in Rwanda.
Recently arrested leaders are additional to other members of the terror groups extradited to Rwanda including Major Habibu Mudathiru along with rebels who had joined the coalition of armed groups allied to RNC that intended to destabilize Rwanda’s security and FDLR tope leaders like Ignace Nkaka, alias LaForge Fils Bazeye, Lt Col Jean-Pierre Nsekanabo FDLR arrested and facing justice in Rwanda.
The UN Group of Experts (GoE) Midterm report dated 23rd December 2020, claimed that Rwanda sent troops for military operations in Eastern DRC.
In a statement released on Friday, Rwanda has explained that such allegations are unfounded.
“The Government of Rwanda refutes allegations from the UN Group of Experts (GoE) Midterm report dated 23rd December 2020, and reiterates that there were no Rwandan troops on the territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo and that there had been no recent Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) joint operations with the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC),” reads the statement in part.
Rwanda enjoys cordial bilateral relations with the DRC, and there are several existing bilateral cooperation engagements, including military cooperation.
However, the statement further reads that, such cooperation is exclusively limited to intelligence sharing on various armed groups operating in Eastern DRC that are a common threat to both countries.
The Government of Rwanda also reiterated its commitment to promote national and regional natural resources governance mechanisms in the fight against illegal exploitation and trade of minerals in the region.
It is against this background, and in a spirit of cooperation and goodwill, that in February 2020, during the last visit of the UN GoE to Rwanda, they were shown various anti-smuggling efforts in place, and witnessed minerals that had been seized by authorities.
“The Government of Rwanda regrets the shortcomings of the UN GoE report, and the lack of good faith demonstrated by the experts. Despite being granted access to various Government institutions, facilitated in meeting witnesses and provided with responses to all issues raised, the UN GoE report omitted key information and clarifications provided by the GoR,” adds the statement.
The Government of Rwanda has concluded by expressing its deepest concerns towards ‘the lack of rigor from the UN GoE in the fulfillment of its mandate, raising serious concerns about the independence of its reports’.
He succumbed to complications stemming from COVID-19 which he had contracted in October 2020. The priest, who died at the age of 66, was renowned for divine healing prayers, psychiatric as well as unity and reconciliation initiatives.
At the beginning of 2020, Father Rugirangoga traveled to U.S.A for usual mission of spreading the gospel and healing prayers. He had to return in April, the same year but was stuck there as flight travels were suspended due to emerging COVID-19 pandemic.
As flights resumed, Father Rugirangoga caught the virus in October 2020. He recovered from the virus but later suffered from complications stemming from the disease until his demise.
He is said to have succumbed to lungs complications.
The Bishop of Gikongoro Diocese, Hakizimana Célestin who also oversees Cyangugu Diocese has told IGIHE that Father Rugirangiga belonged had read a mass at the hospital where he was admitted on 7th January 2021. It was his first mass after recovering from COVID-19.
Few hours later, caretakers called the brother of Rugirangoga (Révelien) telling him that his elder brother was critically ill. One hour later around 11pm of U.S.A time zone , Father Rugirangoga breathed the last.
IGIHE has spoken to Rugirangoga’s acquaintances who have described him as a kind person who strived for a peaceful society.
Father Rugirangoga has been a priest for 35 years.
His Eminence, Cardinal Antoine Kambanda has said that he was with Rugirangoga by the time he read the first ever mass as he was ordained priest.
Cardinal Kambanda was ordained priest on 9th September 1990 by Pope Jean Paul II during a ceremony that took place at Nyandungu in Kigali. Kambanda read the first mass next day at Junior Seminary Saint Vincent de Paul.
Antoine Cardinal Kambanda has recounted great memories with Father Rugirangoga who attended his mass coming from Cyangugu Diocese where he was accomplishing his pastoral duties.
“The next morning on 10th September 1990, I read the first mass in presence of Father Ubald who had visited us. He was staying at the seminary given that I was living with his friend, a priest with whom they studied together [late Emmanuel Gasana],” he revealed.
After the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Father Rugirangoga played a big role to Rwandan community in divine healing prayers that saw many recovering from incurable diseases and contributed to the country’s unity and reconciliation efforts.
“We have been liaised by the mission of promoting unity and peace and rebuilding Rwandan community. We have been particularly, working together at justice and peace commission in Rwanda’s Catholic Church,” he said.
“We are deeply moved on by his death. We still needed his contribution to this mission of uniting Rwandans. May his soul Rest In eternal Peace,” added Cardinal Kambanda.
The Bishop of Gikongoro Diocese, Bishop Hakizimana Célestin has said that Rwanda’s Catholic Church and Rwanda community loses an important person.
As he explained, Bishop Hakizimana also lived with Father Rugirangoga in Kigali shortly after Genocide.
“He used to say that we didn’t carry out our mission appropriately. Then, he started promoting unity and reconciliation journey in Mushaka Parish which was extended countrywide,” he said.
“We know that he used well his spiritual talent that he toured the entire country praying for patients some of whom fully or partly recovered. He was God’s gift to Rwanda,” added Bishop Hakizimana.
Ubald was the head priest at Mushaka Parish had requested his Bishop to be assigned in a parish where he could easily pray for mass public and help them along unity and reconciliation journey.
Bishop Hakizimana said, he appointed him to head the organization dubbed ‘Ikigo Ibanga ry’Amahoro’ (The Secret to Peace) located in Nkanka Parish, Rusizi district, Western Province.
“He had traveled to America for fundraising to upgrade activities of the organization. So far; a church and priests’ accommodations among other facilities have been set up at the center. He was a man of God who dedicated his life to provide psychiatric services, peace, unity and reconciliation,” he said.
The head priest at Mushaka Parish, Rwabugiri Siméon has also highlighted that he started living with Father Rugirangoga during internship.
“He was a humble person, treating everyone modestly and used to dedicate time for everyone with sufferings seeking his help,” he noted. “After Genocide, he has been uniting perpetrators and survivors and helped to mend members of the community involved in different disputes including poison accusation cases that yielded big,” added Rwabugiri.
Father Rugirangoga has prayed for many patients some of whom recovered from sight problems, HIV/AIDS, Diabetis among other incurable or hardly curable diseases.
He always attributed the healing to Jesus.
Speaking to IGIHE in 2015, Father Rugirangoga revealed that he started healing prayers in 1987 when he was a young priest. “Later in 1991, I started seeing visuals and hearing strange voices speaking to me. In the four previous years, I used to pray for people who would come to tell me that they have recovered,” he said.
Niyibizi Verena from Kicukiro district witnessed that he recovered from heart disease in 2015 after attending Ubald’s healing prayers. He had suffered from the disease for nine years that hospitals in Rwanda, Kenya, Belgium and Germany had failed him.
Father Ubald Rugiranoga was born in February 155 in former Rwabidege sector, Mwezi parish in Commune Karengera, Prefecture Cyangugu currently in Rusizi district. He was ordained priest in 1984 at the age of 29. He used to organize different gospel crusades in which many people healed from different diseases.
He has been a priest for over 32 years.
In 2015, Father Rugirangoga was selected Protector of Friendship Pact ‘Umurinzi w’Igihango’ for outstanding contribution to unity and reconciliation initiatives that started in Mushaka Parish and extended countrywide.
