03 November 2020

In the partnership of Unity Club Intwararumuri and National Unity and Reconciliation Commission, on 31 October 2020 held 13^th annual forum of Unity Club Intwararumuri at parliament under the theme, “Ndi Umunyarwanda: Igitekerezo-ngenga cy’Ukubaho kwacu” loosely translated as “I am Rwandan”, the fundamental idea of our own being.

Opening the forum, the chairperson of Unity Club Intwararumuri, Her Excellency Madam Jeannette Kagame, revealed how those who don’t wish well for Rwanda raise their noises whenever Rwandans are getting along and making steps forward.

Her Excellency Jeannette Kagame expressed her gratitude to the forum attendants, who attended in the tough time of containing Covid-19 plague, and added that, in this time of fighting against coronavirus, the power of prioritizing the unity of Rwandans is vital as it enables to grapple with hard times.

She also spoke about the coincidence of this year’s forum which held within the month of celebrating unity and reconciliation of Rwandans, the month reminding people of patriotism culture.

Her Excellency Jeannette Kagame explained how Rwandans and Unity Club members in particular, had undergone many different problems resulting from the effects of the history that the country had passed through, but deciding to be one and accepting bitter remedies gave birth to unity through Ndi Umunyarwanda as our main identity in our life.

She reminded them that it is not time for folding arms, mostly due to the fact that when Rwanda is cozy, anti-Rwanda voices raise against her.

She said, “This is why we keep up with our dialogues, this forum for instance, for assessing our steps. Obviously, when we are comfortable progressing, the foes of Rwanda raise their voices intending to distort our history as well as impeding our Rwandanism.” 

Her Excellency Jeannette Kagame, talked about the youth who didn’t take part in the dark history of Rwandans, but are still enslaved by it because of their families, she said that sometime people deceive them intending to ignite genocide ideology.

She continued, “I would like to remind you of that Intwararumuri and Rwandans are devoted to fighting genocide and its ideology as it agrees with our constitution.”

She also said that it is impossible to say “Ndi Umunyarwanda” without revolving around the family’s contribution because the family is the centre of Unity and life as well as the class of humanity, being friendly to others, to understand and to love the country.

In this forum, Bishop John Rucyahana, president of the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC), spoke about the importance of the month of unity and reconciliation in the sense of Ndi Umunyarwanda: the fundamental idea of our own being, by stressing on that Ndi Umunyarwanda Campaign intends to remind Rwandans of their role in piling up and protecting the achievements.

He said “Ndi Umunyarwanda programme is the opportunity to remind the Rwandans of their part in protecting the achievements made as well as developing themselves, analyzing the hindrances and sorting them out.”

In the closing remarks, the first vice chairperson of Unity Club, Dr Monique Nsanzabaganwa urged that Ndi Umunyarwanda should characterize the life of any Rwandan in any place.

She said, “Rotating around Ndi Umunyarwanda doesn’t mean that we don’t know where we are heading to, instead of that it is because it should be the identity of each Rwandan everywhere. We as Intwararumuri, most centrally, have to be on the front line by being the light of Rwandanness.”