Alright, since our guests are now more or less gone, you can all gather up here and let’s ‘Kwinegura’ (review ourselves). 

CHOGM is over, and honestly, it is very hard to believe it. It indeed was a success. Coup de chapeau to those who were behind the scenes making sure that everything went as smoothly. If you were in any way involved in CHOGM at any level, then you know we had a hectic one and a half week. 

If you were just contemplating from outside, then you will agree that this actually went by really fast. This is when you believe those who say that eventually, like Kigali relationships, nothing lasts forever, not even CHOGM. 

We have been hyped for two years, and some people have really taken advantage, blaming everything on CHOGM. For example, you would hear one ‘mukecuru’ passing by and saying, "because of CHOGM, we won’t be able to attend church.” Or moto guys charging Rwf1, 000 for Rwf500 distance because of CHOGM lol. It is like this ongoing excuse of the rising fuel prices, man someone help us, the car-less people.

Well, our lives went on and there was no lockdown as some had anticipated. Rwandans still went to work, visited their friends, went out in the evenings, and had extra fun with delegates during the different social side events. 

Also, who knew there were so many people in our small city? How come different events happening in parallel, all had mass people in attendance? Also, did you catch Rwandans showing off at the Kigali Run? I know we love working out (do we?) but that particular night run had a lot of people. In brief, Kigali was more fun than ever before.

Special shout out to our traditional troupes that entertained our guests in the different events during CHOGM. Man, y’all outdid yourselves. I’m of course a usual fan of our traditional dance but it should be noted that there’s nothing fanatic here, our traditional dancers are truly amazing.

Now, our musicians, DJs, fashion models and designers, dancers, poets, to list but a few. You really took the entertainment part of CHOGM seriously and even us, Rwandans, were in awe. Someone asked me at the street festival when DI Ira was doing her thing, "is this how it usually is or is it because of CHOGM? Also, do you have many female DJs?”

I looked at her smilingly and said, "yes, Rwandans know how to have fun and yes, we have a number of female DJs.” I’m so glad CHOGM happened after the COVID-19 pandemic because I think it had its own contribution in making Rwandans decide to live every moment to the fullest. Also, it was such pride to see that our women are empowered in all different sectors and economies.

By the way, whoever was in charge of dressing our government officials really did a good job. And if they dressed themselves, then their fashion sense is commendable.

One more time, three cheers to us and especially the team behind preparation. For the first time, at least in my humble opinion, Rwandans were punctual! It should be noted that events would exactly start at the indicated time on the schedule and that is a good progress we managed to put up. 

Unfortunately, it was not all roses. In one of the five star hotels that hosted our guests, during a lunch break, one waiter poured a drink on one female delegate. Yeah, I know what you're thinking but that was not the worst part, he became distressed and panicked, he let go of the bottle and it hit the woman on the head.

It was disastrous and I guess, by the time I’m typing this article, he was fired a long time ago. The manager became hysterical and almost lost it on him. This scared other waiters and waitresses around and then it became chaos. They would drop table forks and knives, miss a step as they walk nervously or hand you a drink with shaking hands. 

This, unfortunately, was not particular to this one five star hotel, I saw worse. Among them are mistaken orders, cold food, waiter falling flat on his belly, and the worst was when one protocol guy holding the door for delegates, let it go and it hit one old man’s head. Turns out the man was not one to let things go so he made a case.  

Of course, mistakes happen and it would be inhumane to not expect them. But then, these mistakes should tell us one thing. Customer service in Rwanda is not at its best yet. If those listed could happen in five star hotels, now imagine what adventurous guests found in our local restaurants.

We should applaud ourselves for the things that went well but we should also improve on our shortcomings, and one pressing one is our service delivery. But on a positive note, as one of my favorite writers in The New Times said, "CHOGM put Rwanda under the spotlight and the country shone bright.”