Rusizi District will host the 2026 Race to Remember, scheduled for the weekend of April 25–26 This will mark the first time the event is held in Rusizi, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the district and the Rwanda Cycling Federation (Ferwacy) on Tuesday, April 21. The ceremony was graced by Ferwacy president Samson Ndayishimiye and Rusizi District Mayor Phanuel Sindayiheba. Race to Remember is organised annually to honour cyclists, coaches, fans and administrators who lost their lives during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. “We want to ensure that the people of Rusizi embrace cycling while also reflecting on what happened in Rwanda during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi,” said Ndayishimiye. Rusizi last hosted a cycling competition in 2017, and this edition marks the district’s debut as a host of the Race to Remember, which has previously been staged in areas including Kigali and Bugesera. Sindayiheba welcomed the development, saying the event will help promote cycling in the region. “We are pleased to host this event because it will inspire people in Rusizi to form clubs and encourage individuals to take up cycling,” he said. “We have a well-developed town and roads that are suitable for cycling. We believe this race will not only help us remember those who lost their lives during the Genocide, but also strengthen unity, reconciliation and community development.” Ferwacy will oversee the technical organisation of the race, while Rusizi District will support administrative arrangements. “We all have a responsibility to build a community that loves the country and promotes a healthier lifestyle,” Sindayiheba added. According to the race programme, elite riders will begin the first stage in Karongi and finish in Rusizi town, while junior riders will set off from Nyamasheke and also finish in Rusizi. As part of the event, participants will visit Genocide memorial sites in Rusizi to learn more about the history of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Race to Remember is part of a series of Genocide Memorial sporting events organised annually by different federations in partnership with the Ministry of Sports, the Rwanda National Olympic Committee and the Rwanda National Police, among others.
