The late Marie-Immaculée Ingabire was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Development Journalism Awards held on Friday, November 7, at Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village.
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The awards, organised by the Association of Rwandan Journalists (ARJ) in partnership with the Rwanda Media Commission (RMC), Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) and the Association of Rwandan Female Journalists (ARFEM), recognised Ingabire’s immense contribution to Rwanda’s media landscape. She was represented by her daughter during the ceremony.
Ingabire passed away on October 9 at the age of 63.
She had previously worked with the public broadcaster – the former Office Rwandais d’Information (ORINFOR), which later became the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA). She went on to become one of the pioneer reporters at Imvaho Nshya newspaper. She later joined Transparency International Rwanda, where she served as Chairperson until her passing.
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Earlier, on October 13, members of the media fraternity gathered at her home in Kicukiro District to celebrate her life and lasting contribution to journalism and accountability. Her former colleagues described her as a courageous and principled journalist who played a key role in navigating the sensitive task of post-genocide reporting.
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During the award ceremony, Emmanuel Habumuremyi, the Executive Secretary of ARJ, described Ingabire as a fearless journalist whose "noble heart beat for truth.”
He said she embodied honesty and devotion throughout her career, combining passion with professionalism.
"She told the truth in life and work, contemporary, passionate, devoted,” he said.
Habumuremyi noted that after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Ingabire was among the figures who helped reshape and reorganise Rwanda’s media sector.
He recalled that she was a founding member of both ARJ and RFM, the first Vice President of the Media High Council in 2003, and later served as a commissioner on the Rwanda Media Commission following the 2013 media reforms.
Dan Ngabonziza, Chairperson of ARJ, also reflected on Ingabire’s lifelong commitment to empowering women.
"A few days before her passing, she expressed a wish that any contribution made during her burial should go to her foundation,” Ngabonziza said, adding that the media fraternity had set aside Rwf2 million in support of the cause.
He said this gesture was a way of honouring her final request and recognising her enduring passion for women’s empowerment.