Rusizi District will host the nationwide Umuganura celebrations on August 7, marking the primary time the district has been chosen to stage the nation’s annual harvest competition since its revival in 2011.
The Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy (Inteko y'Umuco) stated the choice displays Umuganura’s function in selling unity, resilience and cultural values, whereas supporting ongoing efforts to strengthen social cohesion.
This yr’s celebrations will likely be held below the theme: “Umuganura, a supply of unity and a basis for self-reliance.”
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The theme calls on Rwandans to deepen unity, work collectively of their day by day lives and uphold the values related to Umuganura, together with cooperation, patriotism, exhausting work and self-reliance.
Rusizi will turn into the second district within the Western Province to host the nationwide celebrations because the competition was reinstated in 2011.
In line with the Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy, the selection of Rusizi additionally aligns with efforts to strengthen nationwide unity and resilience, values which can be central to Umuganura.
The academy famous that the 2025 Rwanda Nationwide Unity Barometer, printed by the Ministry of Nationwide Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE), confirmed Rusizi recording comparatively decrease scores on indicators associated to unity, reconciliation and resilience.
The district ranked thirtieth with 92.1 per cent within the unity and reconciliation index and twenty first with 89.6 per cent within the broader evaluation of Rwandan unity.
Minister of Nationwide Unity and Civic Engagement Jean-Damascène Bizimana stated the outcomes stay encouraging regardless of Rusizi rating lowest.
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“Though Rusizi comes final, all 30 districts scored above 92 per cent, which is a really encouraging degree,” he stated.
Bizimana attributed among the challenges to the district's location alongside Rwanda's borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.
“As a result of Rusizi and Nyamasheke share borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi, many residents interact in cross-border commerce. Some could come into contact with people who maintain genocide ideology, which may negatively have an effect on their understanding of unity and resilience,” he stated.
He stated the federal government will proceed selling dialogue on Rwanda's historical past and strengthening cultural values to strengthen unity and resilience.
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“The findings present that Rwandans are more and more enhancing their social relations, their sense of belonging to the nation, their willingness to work collectively for its growth and safety, and their satisfaction with the nation's governance system, which locations residents on the centre,” Bizimana stated.
He added that educating residents about Rwanda's historical past and inspiring them to reject genocide ideology stay key priorities.
Unity index continues to enhance
Rwanda's nationwide unity and reconciliation index rose to 95.3 per cent in 2025, up from 94.7 per cent in 2020 and 82.3 per cent in 2010, in response to the newest Nationwide Unity Barometer.
Kayonza topped the rankings with 98 per cent, adopted by Ngoma (97.8 per cent), Ruhango (97.5 per cent), Nyanza (97.4 per cent), Kirehe (97.1 per cent) and Rwamagana (96.9 per cent).
Rusizi and Nyarugenge recorded the bottom scores at 92.1 per cent every.
Bizimana stated the variations amongst districts are comparatively small, noting that Nyarugenge's giant scholar inhabitants highlights the necessity for continued civic training amongst younger individuals.
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About Umuganura
Umuganura is Rwanda's conventional harvest competition, celebrated on the primary Friday of August every year.
The ceremony traces its origins to the monarchy, the place it was one of many 18 royal rituals (inzira z'ubwiru) carried out to rejoice harvests and pray for agricultural prosperity. The phrase Umuganura comes from the verb kuganura, which means to rejoice and share the primary harvest.
The custom was abolished by colonial authorities in 1925 however continued to be noticed informally by many households after independence.
The Authorities of Nationwide Unity reinstated Umuganura in 2011 as a nationwide celebration to advertise unity, self-reliance and collective motion in nationwide growth.
