Members of the Unity Club have convened for the Fifth annual Unity Forum that was organised by the Unity Club and the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission at Parliament.
The forum was presided over by President Paul Kagame who called for strong support for unity the foundation for Rwandans to realise their dreams.
“Unity Club members continue to be the light for other Rwandans. The strength of Rwandans is their unity,” the president said while addressing hundreds of members at the Parliamentary Building.
The forum was organized under the theme : ”Intwararumuri mu guhesha Agaciro Umunyarwanda twimakaza Ubumwe n’Iterambere”. It rooted for the need for Rwandans to have shared values.
Several recommendations were given including the need to boost activities and programmes that promote unity among Rwandans. All Unity Club members were also encouraged to sensitize Rwandans on issues that promote common values.
It was recommended that government programmes be called citizens’ programmes in order to facilitate local ownership and participation.
Leaders were also encouraged to always be exemplary and serve the citizens diligently. The citizens were praised for participating in the success of Gacaca traditional court that closed recently.
Commenting on a recent survey that found that 80% of Rwandans believed in unity programmes, Prime Minister , Dr Habumuremyi Pierre Damien, encouraged leaders to target the remaining portion of the population not yet believing in unity.
During the event, Inyenyeri Association of Rubavu was rewarded with the 2012 Unity Award for its exceptional performance in upholding values of unity after it reconciled victims of Genocide and families of the perpetrators.
Its representative, Boniface Mudenge, praised President Kagame for guiding and inspiring Rwandans towards reconciliation.
“You became our light,” Mudenge said. while after receiving the award from the President and flanked by Monique Nsanzabaganwa, the First Vice president of Unity Club.
Mudenge presented to the forum association achievements that included reconciliation where members forfeited compensation worth 161 million francs for the sake of unity.
Last year the Award was given to Ubutwari bwo Kubaho, an association of widows of Genocide victims and wives of Genocide perpetrators.
In 2010, the recipient of the Unity Award was President Kagame for his role in restoring unity among Rwandans.
Unity Club was launched in 1996 as a non-profit organisation bringing together current and former senior government officials and their spouses. It targets empowerment of vulnerable Rwandans as well as promoting unity and reconciliation. The fifth forum was attended by senior officials from the governments, the army, national police and local government.
