{"id":2000123461,"date":"2026-08-24T11:28:47","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T09:28:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/?p=2000123461"},"modified":"2026-08-24T11:28:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T09:28:49","slug":"rwandans-in-utah-celebrate-umuganuraexpress-interest-in-hosting-rwanda-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/rwandans-in-utah-celebrate-umuganuraexpress-interest-in-hosting-rwanda-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Rwandans in Utah celebrate Umuganura,express interest in hosting Rwanda Day"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The celebration provided an opportunity to reflect on achievements, celebrate Rwandan cultural values and renew a commitment to contributing to Rwanda\u2019s development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blaise Bizimana, President of the Rwandan community in Utah, highlighted some of the key initiatives the community has undertaken, including contributing to the Dusangire Lunch programme and paying community-based health insurance premiums for 1,000 residents of Nyagatare District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bizimana thanked the Government of Rwanda, particularly President Paul Kagame, as well as the Rwandan Embassy in the United States, for the leadership and support provided to Rwandans living abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The more than 500 Rwandans living in Utah also expressed interest in hosting Rwanda Day and submitted a letter to the Rwandan Embassy formally requesting to host the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Godfrey Gasasira, First Counsellor at the Rwandan Embassy in the United States, who represented Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana at the celebrations, commended the community for organising the Umuganura event and inviting the Embassy to join them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gasasira reminded participants that Umuganura is an annual occasion to celebrate the fruits of collective efforts and achievements, while also providing an opportunity to set new goals and make fresh commitments towards building Rwanda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUmuganura holds great significance in Rwanda\u2019s history. It is a day to celebrate the fruits of everything we have accomplished. The Umuganura ceremony is a step towards building the Rwanda we want,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using economic data, Gasasira highlighted Rwanda\u2019s continued economic growth and emphasised the contribution of Rwandans living abroad to the country\u2019s development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2025, remittances sent to Rwanda by members of the diaspora reached $640 million, an increase of 27% compared with 2024. The funds support families and contribute to education, healthcare, businesses and other sectors of the economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also noted that the diaspora\u2019s contribution goes beyond sending money home. It includes attracting investors and tourists, promoting Rwandan culture and representing Rwanda positively abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participants were encouraged to remember that every Rwandan, whether living in Rwanda or abroad, has a responsibility and role to play in building the Rwanda they want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The celebrations featured traditional Rwandan dances and a performance depicting the history and significance of Umuganura, entertaining and engaging the participants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Members of the Rwandan community in Utah have celebrated Umuganura through traditional performances and cultural activities.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
The President of Rwandan community in Utah Blaise Bizimana addresses participants during the Umuganura celebration.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
More than 300 people attended Umuganura celebration organised by the Rwandan community in Utah.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
First Counsellor at the Rwandan Embassy in the United States Godfrey Gasasira addresses the Rwandan community during Umuganura celebrations in Utah.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rwandans living in Utah in the United States celebrated Umuganura, Rwanda\u2019s harvest festival, in an event attended by more than 300 people. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2000123465,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[151,69],"byline":[170],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-2000123461","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diaspora","tag-editors-choice","tag-homehighlights","byline-igihe"],"bylines":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"contributors":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"featured_image":{"id":2000123465,"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/08\/img-20260823-wa0136-53c8d.jpg","alt":"","caption":"Members of the Rwandan community in Utah have celebrated Umuganura through traditional performances and cultural activities.","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":1000,"height":667,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/08\/img-20260823-wa0136-53c8d.jpg","width":1000,"height":667},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/08\/img-20260823-wa0136-53c8d.jpg","width":1000,"height":667},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/08\/img-20260823-wa0136-53c8d.jpg","width":1000,"height":667},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/08\/img-20260823-wa0136-53c8d.jpg","width":1000,"height":667},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/08\/img-20260823-wa0136-53c8d.jpg","width":1000,"height":667}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000123461","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2000123461"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000123461\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2000123466,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000123461\/revisions\/2000123466"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000123465"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2000123461"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2000123461"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2000123461"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=2000123461"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=2000123461"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}