Individuals recognised as national heroes or awarded national medals for exceptional courage, service and sacrifice may lose those honours if they later engage in serious misconduct, according to the Chancellery for Heroes, National Orders and Decorations of Honour (CHENO). ALSO READ: What is the meaning behind categories of Rwandan heroes? Rwanda recognises its heroes annually on February 1 under three categories, led by the Imanzi, currently held by the Unknown Soldier and the late Maj Gen Fred Rwigema, followed by the Imena, which includes four individuals and the Inyange students, while Ingenzi category has yet to designate any recipients. ALSO READ: Heroism today means hard work, integrity - Minister Bizimana Because the Imanzi category consists of deceased figures, it is less likely to be subjected to inquiries. However, CHENO officials note that this does not completely rule out review. Nicolas Rwaka, Division Manager for Research on Heroism, Outstanding Achievers and Decorations at CHENO, explained that while death limits further actions, it does not entirely close the door to reassessment. “If credible information or documents emerge that question the values on which their heroism was based, we would conduct thorough research, just as we do during the initial process,” Rwaka told The New Times. He added that any new findings would be carefully compared with existing records. ALSO READ: Rwanda's Heroes Mausoleum gets a facelift More scrutiny applies to the Imena category, which includes both living and deceased heroes. Living recipients, Rwaka noted, remain subject to review, and inappropriate conduct may lead to the loss of the hero status. He said actions that undermine the state or threaten national unity are among the main grounds for revocation. This includes behaviour that fuels division, causes social tension or disrupts peace, all of which are incompatible with the values of heroism. Rwaka added that honours are not only about past deeds but also about maintaining good conduct in society. Referring to the Inyange students who resisted divisionism in 1997, an act that cost the lives of many of their peers their lives, Rwaka stressed that even such a strong legacy does not exempt living honourees from accountability. Any behaviour that contradicts the values for which they were recognised would prompt a review of their status. “You can lose the heroic title if research confirms that the allegations are true,” he said, emphasising that decisions are based on evidence, not public claims. Actions that revive divisionism, segregation or regionalism, he added, would be treated seriously. For deceased heroes, however, the possibility of losing recognition remains low, mainly because their identification process has involved long and careful research. Rwaka said this explains why new heroes are not approved frequently. “That is why we take time to gather information from many sources, to avoid regret after announcing someone as a hero,” he said, noting that problems would only arise if strong evidence later emerged showing conduct clearly inconsistent with heroic values. In addition to heroism titles, Rwanda also awards national medals to both citizens and foreign nationals, often during Heroes Day celebrations, in recognition for outstanding courage, service and sacrifice. Like heroism titles, these medals are granted after extensive research and can also be withdrawn under similar conditions. ALSO READ: Who is eligible for Rwanda’s Hero’s medals Key decorations include the National Order of Bravery (Indengabaganizi), the National Liberation Medal (Uruti), and the Campaign Against Genocide Medal (Umurinzi). Two additional medals, recognising contributions in culture and labour, are yet to be awarded, as research is still underway to identify eligible recipients. ALSO READ: Roger Winter, recipient of Rwandan heroes’ medals, dies at 80 Rwaka said that when concerns arise about a medal recipient’s conduct, the matter is investigated thoroughly. If the claims are confirmed, CHENO may also decide to withdraw it, a decision that is announced publicly. Investigations may be initiated by CHENO or based on information submitted by members of the public.
