Alain Mukuralinda, the decesed Deputy Government Spokesperson, was laid to rest at his birthplace in Rulindo District on Thursday, April 10. His requiem mass at Rulindo Catholic Parish was led by the Archbishop of Kigali, Cardinal Antoine Kambanda. Mukuralinda, who passed away on April 4 at the age of 55, was honoured by a large crowd that included senior government officials, politicians, musicians, journalists, sports personalities, his family, and friends. Among the senior officials in attendance included the RPF Secretary General Wellars Gasamagera and the Government Spokesperson Yolande Makolo, among others. ALSO READ: Deputy government spokesperson Mukuralinda passes away In a heartfelt tribute, Mukuralinda's widow Martine Gatabazi reflected on 29 years she had known him, from their youthful days as students in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, to their marriage and raising their children, Nella and Anthony. “You’re leaving, but you don’t leave me empty-handed. You leave behind a heart and a mind full of wonderful memories, shared moments and intense emotions,” she said. Mukuralinda, who succumbed to complications of a heart attack while receiving treatment at King Faisal Hospital, had a stellar carrier in public service spanning over two decases. Before his appointment in the Office of Government Spokesperson, he worked in the Rwandan prosecution since 2002. He became a national prosecutor and spokesperson of the National Public Prosecution Authority. Mukuralinda held a law degree obtained in 1998 from Université Catholique de Louvain, in Belgium. The lawyer and musician became the Deputy Government Spokesperson in December 2021. His wife described him as a man who dreamed big and loved deeply, especially their son and daughter, whom he once sang about in a song titled “Martina.” “I promise to raise them with your values and to honour your name. I will tell them every day about the incredible man you were,” she said. “You had many dreams and you achieved many. Now you’ve become a star, the thousandth one in the galaxy.” She praised his “boundless energy,” his love for music, debates and care for the underprivileged, and his passion for justice and discipline, which shaped his life. Businessman Gérard Sina, a relative and longtime friend of Mukuralinda, described him as a man who loved his family, his nation, and his work. “Even before leaving the country for work, he would ask for permission from the family—something we always granted because we knew he was driven by purpose,” Sina said. “He left when his family, the country and the world still needed him.” As a musician, Mukuralinda detected and promoted talents. His popular songs include “Tsinda Batsinde,” which praises the national football team Amavubi, “Gloria,” a Christmas song, and “Murekatete,” a love ballad. Cardinal Kambanda reminded the mourners that for Christians, death is not the end of life but a person’s passage to another life. “Late Alain Mukuralinda was a man of faith and hope, which gave him the strength to perform all the duties he had. He loved people because he loved God,” said the Cardinal. He also recalled Mukuralinda’s commitment to uplifting others, especially young people with talent in football and music. Players of Tsinda Batsinde, a football team Mukuralinda founded, also attended his funeral. “He had a passion for children and the weak because he wanted to lift them up,” said Cardinal Kambanda.
