President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame, on Saturday, February 1, laid a wreath in commemoration of Rwandan heroes before observing a moment of silence at the National Heroes Mausoleum. Kagame and the First Lady were accompanied by senior government officials, military and police leaders, diplomats, and family members of honored heroes. The ceremony was part of the activities to mark the National Heroes' Day which takes place on February 1 annually. This year’s celebration is the 31st edition of the event during which heroes are honoured in three categories: Imanzi, Imena, and Ingenzi. ALSO READ: PHOTOS: Progress underway to designate Ingenzi heroes The theme for this year’s Heroes Day is Ubumwe n’Ubutwari bw’Abanyarwanda, Inkingi z’Iterambere, which translates to Heroism and Unity for Rwanda’s Development. Reflecting on the day, officials said that all Rwandans can be heroes no matter their age or gender as long as they uphold the values and ideals that Rwanda stands for. “You don’t need to wait until you're older or reach a particular age to be a hero. Heroes can be found at any stage of life – among children, youth, and the elderly,” Mireille Batamuriza, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, told the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA). She highlighted that people have, in the past, associated heroism with masculine qualities, but everyone can be a hero as long as they uphold values like integrity. Anselme Ruhumuriza, a representative of Rwanda National Youth Council, spoke about the role of youth in Rwanda's development. He acknowledged the sacrifices made by Rwandan heroes and encouraged young people to contribute to the country's well-being by pursuing education and hard work. ALSO READ: The birth of Rwanda's heroic tributes “We are not focused on fighting with words, but rather through action. We aim to study and work, understand our country’s path, learn from our predecessors, and know where to seek guidance from,” he noted. Colonel Désirée Migambi from Rwanda Defence Force explained the history of heroism, noting that it was a key value in Rwanda in the pre-colonial times. “The ideas of heroism, unity, sovereignty, and prosperity – such as owning cattle and producing milk – were key,” he said, adding that when colonialism came in, it disrupted Rwanda’s unity, introducing division and even anthropological studies designed to physically categorise people. ALSO READ: Ubutwari 2024: How national heroes are selected Despite such negativity, he pointed out that Rwandan heroism persevered, and the Rwandans rose up to rebuild their country and to reunite.
