The National Umushyikirano Council will take place on February 5 and 6, according to resolutions of the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday and chaired by President Paul Kagame. The forum returns after a one-year break, with the last edition having been held in January 2024. The upcoming gathering will mark the 20th edition of Umushyikirano since its inception. ALSO READ: PHOTOS: Umushyikirano 2024 in pictures Umushyikirano is a national forum determined by the Constitution. It brings together citizens, leaders, and members of the Rwandan diaspora to discuss issues related to national unity, governance, and development. Chaired by the head of state, the dialogue is one of home-grown solutions aimed at strengthening participatory governance. ALSO READ: Umushyikirano: Kagame challenges youth to take charge of development agenda The annual dialogue provides an opportunity to assess the country’s progress over the past year, review decentralization efforts, and identify policy priorities going forward. It also allows citizens to directly raise concerns and propose solutions to leaders. Participants typically include Cabinet members, Parliamentarians, local government leaders, representatives of the media, members of the diaspora, and invited guests. Citizens are able to engage through multiple channels, including physical attendance, telephone calls, SMS, and social media platforms. First held in 2003, Umushyikirano has evolved into a cornerstone of Rwanda’s accountability and dialogue framework, serving both as a national stocktaking exercise and a space for addressing development bottlenecks.
