{"id":55524,"date":"2025-09-07T10:59:24","date_gmt":"2025-09-07T10:59:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/rwanda-is-your-home-you-are-always-welcome-president-kagame-tells-guests-at\/"},"modified":"2025-09-09T18:16:17","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T18:16:17","slug":"rwanda-is-your-home-you-are-always-welcome-president-kagame-tells-guests-at","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/rwanda-is-your-home-you-are-always-welcome-president-kagame-tells-guests-at\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cRwanda is your home, you are always welcome,\u201d President Kagame tells guests at Kwita Izina gala"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Speaking at the dinner, hosted in Kigali a day after the gorilla naming ceremony in Kinigi, the Head of State underscored Rwanda\u2019s unique model of sharing tourism benefits with local residents.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn Rwanda, 10% of tourism revenue goes directly to the communities living around our parks. It\u2019s not just support \u2013 it\u2019s an incentive to protect and sustain our shared heritage,\u201d President Kagame said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo our friends and partners: Rwanda is your home. You are always welcome,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<p>This year\u2019s Kwita Izina marked two decades of the celebrated conservation tradition, with 40 baby gorillas named, bringing the total since 2005 to 438. <\/p>\n<p>The ceremony drew global icons, including American film director Michael Bay, Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh Todt, Nigerian Afropop star Yemi Alade, former Arsenal and PSG football legends Bacary Sagna and Javier Pastore, and dignitaries from conservation organisations worldwide.<\/p>\n<p>Held at the foothills of Volcanoes National Park in Musanze District, the colourful event was presided over by Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva and graced by First Lady Jeannette Kagame. It featured traditional performances and strong community participation, highlighting the deep cultural roots of Rwanda\u2019s conservation journey.<\/p>\n<p>Tourism remains a pillar of Rwanda\u2019s economy, with $647 million generated in 2024, including over $200 million from gorilla trekking alone. <\/p>\n<p>Rwanda Development Board (RDB) CEO Jean-Guy Afrika described Kwita Izina as a symbol of the country\u2019s dedication to protecting its natural heritage and uplifting communities, with revenues from tourism financing more than 1,200 community projects.<\/p>\n<p>At the event, Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva affirmed plans to expand Volcanoes National Park by nearly 25 per cent, ensuring a secure future for its growing mountain gorilla population.<\/p>\n<p>The government plans to increase the park\u2019s size from its current 160 square kilometres by approximately 37.4 square kilometres (3,740 hectares), a move expected to support a 15-20% increase in the gorilla population and reduce infant mortality by 50%.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-94005 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/25-kwita-izina-gala--kigali-6-september-2025_54770000064_o-116bd.jpg\" alt=\"President Kagame assured Rwanda\u2019s friends and partners that they are always welcome.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-94000 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/11-kwita-izina-gala--kigali-6-september-2025_54768922037_o-8a204.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-94007 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/28-kwita-izina-gala--kigali-6-september-2025_54769763211_o-1fa61.jpg\" alt=\"President Kagame exchanges pleasantries with guests at the Kwita Izina gala dinner.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-94006 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/29-kwita-izina-gala--kigali-6-september-2025_54769763016_o-043d9.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-94003 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/19-kwita-izina-gala--kigali-6-september-2025_54770008913_o-65b70.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-94002 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/17-kwita-izina-gala--kigali-6-september-2025_54770000459_o-c8fe9.jpg\" alt=\"Rwanda Development Board (RDB) CEO Jean-Guy Afrika also spoke at the Gala.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-94001 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/09-kwita-izina-gala--kigali-6-september-2025_54769762556_o-063ee.jpg\" alt=\"Artist Ruti Joel was among the performers at the event hosted by President Kagame.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-93999 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/08-kwita-izina-gala--kigali-6-september-2025_54768922042_o-e5a50.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-93998 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/07-kwita-izina-gala--kigali-6-september-2025_54770105855_o-c5856.jpg\" alt=\"Singer Bukuru Christiane also performed at the gala.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-93997 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/06-kwita-izina-gala--kigali-6-september-2025_54770007788_o-9992c.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-93996 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/05-kwita-izina-gala--kigali-6-september-2025_54770105940_o-bb616.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-93995 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/04-kwita-izina-gala--kigali-6-september-2025_54769762756_o-6eae4.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>President Paul Kagame reassured Rwanda\u2019s friends and partners that they are always welcome in the country at a gala dinner for the 20th edition of the Kwita Izina ceremony on Saturday, September 6, 2025.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":2000093994,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[75],"byline":[192],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-55524","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-homenews","byline-wycliffe-nyamasege"],"bylines":[{"id":192,"name":"Wycliffe 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