Rwanda is set to host a permanent hub for Ride for Unity (RFU), an international initiative that uses sports to reconnect communities and promote social cohesion across the globe. The announcement was made on Sunday, August 17, during a press conference held at the Kigali Heights roundabout, after the Car Free Day exercise that drew both local and international cycling enthusiasts. ALSO READ: Kigali schools to close during UCI Road World Championship Daniel Bernard, co-founder of RFU, said the organisation’s decision to establish a long-term base in Rwanda reflects the country’s progress in leveraging sports, especially cycling, to unite communities and position itself globally. “We are not just here for eight days. We’re hopefully going to be here for decades,” Bernard said. “The hub will provide sports development, mentorship, and leadership programs. Most importantly, we want to do it together, learning from Rwanda’s example and bringing Rwanda to the world.” Founded in the aftermath of global disconnection worsened by recent events, RFU seeks to rebuild trust and solidarity by bringing people together through sport. In Rwanda, the team of 20 riders will tour the country over eight days, cycling through Kigali, Musanze, Gishwati, Kamembe, Nyungwe Forest, Nyanza, and other sites while engaging local communities. ALSO READ: Cycling: Nirere turns focus on 2025 World Championship Mayor of Kigali, Samuel Dusengiyumva, welcomed the initiative, noting that the city is positioning itself as a hub for international events, with sports serving as a key driver for unity and development. “We are aware that sport is one of the things that can bring people together and create a conducive environment for people to thrive and be the best they can be,” he said. The President of the Rwandan Cycling Federation (FERWACY), Samson Ndayishimiye highlighted the significance of the partnership, especially as Rwanda prepares to host the 2025 UCI Road World Championships, the biggest cycling event ever to be held on the African continent. “Ride for Unity’s presence in Rwanda could not have come at a better time,” Nsengimana said. “As the riders tour the country, they are also helping us promote the World Championships, which will be a historic moment for Rwanda and Africa.” Leah Tedrow, RFU co-founder, added that Rwanda was chosen because of its remarkable story of rebuilding communities over the past 31 years, describing it as a place that embodies the values of resilience and unity that RFU stands for. Organisers also emphasized that Ride for Unity is not a competitive race, but rather a collective ride symbolizing togetherness. Cyclists of varying abilities ride side by side, supporting one another along the way. The focus, they noted, is on engagement with communities throughout the tour. Over eight days, the riders will host 12 different community events. These include symbolic stops such as the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which sets the historical context for the journey, and sports activities in Nyanza engaging more than 1,000 children. ALSO READ: Cycling: Rwanda Junior Tour 2025 to race through four districts The team will also connect with special needs groups, notably through Rwanda Action, the event’s charity partner, spending time with children and trainees in Huye. Candy Basomingera, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports, highlighted the wide-ranging benefits expected from the Ride for Unity, noting that beyond the spirit of togetherness, the event will boost the economy as thousands of visitors, cyclists, and champions spend time in Rwanda. “We will also have economic benefits, because that’s a huge number of people that will be consuming in the country, so it’s going to be a good boost for the economy,” Basomingera said. She added that such gatherings also promote cultural exchange, turning the country into a global village where people from different nations discover Rwanda, experience its hospitality, and, in turn, become ambassadors of its story. As Bernard summed it up, the initiative is anchored in a single Kinyarwanda word he learned from Former Prime Minister Bernard Makuza during Car Free Day workouts: Turikumwe — “all of us together.”
