The Chamber of Deputies has directed the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement (Minubumwe) to revise the National Policy of Unity and Reconciliation within 12 months, saying it should reflect the country's current realities and the ministry's expanded mandate. The resolution was adopted on Wednesday, July 8, after lawmakers considered a report by the Committee on Unity, Human Rights and the Fight against Genocide on its analysis of the policy adoped in 2020. ALSO READ: Unity, reconciliation rise to 95 percent: new report Presenting the report, MP Madina Ndangiza, the committee chairperson, said Rwanda has made notable progress in promoting unity and reconciliation but emerging challenges require the policy to be updated. The policy has largely achieved its overall objective of building a united Rwanda where all citizens enjoy equal rights and contribute to good governance and national development. However, there are still challenges that require further attention, Ndangiza said. Minubumwe should expedite the revision of the National Unity and Reconciliation Policy to align it with the current context and the ministry's responsibilities within a period not exceeding 12 months, said MP Philbert Uwiringiyimana. ALSO READ: Unity and reconciliation through the eyes of youth in a Rwandan village The committee found that although government institutions have incorporated activities promoting unity and reconciliation into their action plans, some stakeholders, particularly the private sector, have yet to integrate the policy into their programmes. Ndangiza said many private companies contribute by providing employment without discrimination and participating in the annual commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. However, she noted that such initiatives are often not implemented under institutional programmes specifically designed to advance national unity and reconciliation. The report also raised concerns about the role of some faith-based organisations. Some religious leaders have not yet fully understood their role in fostering unity and resilience among Rwandans through their teachings, while some continue to convey misleading messages to their followers, Ndangiza said. ALSO READ: Inside Rwanda’s reconciliation journey, 31 years after the Genocide She said Minubumwe should provide faith-based organisations, civil society organisations and the Private Sector Federation with clear operational guidelines on promoting unity and reconciliation. Lawmakers also expressed concern about the spread of genocide ideology, genocide denial and genocide trivialisation on social media. While public awareness on unity and reconciliation continues to improve through civic education programmes and the media, Ndangiza said some individuals use digital platforms to disseminate misinformation and content promoting genocide ideology. There is a need to strengthen efforts to hold accountable those who deny or trivialise the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi through social media, she said. The committee also noted progress in teaching Rwanda's history and that of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in schools, Itorero and other civic education programmes. However, it found that some teachers remain reluctant to teach genocide history because they are still affected by trauma linked to the country's past. There is a need to intensify civic education so that teachers overcome fear and confidently teach Rwanda's history, particularly the history of the Genocide against the Tutsi, Ndangiza said. On research, the committee observed that despite the Rwanda Reconciliation Barometer being conducted every five years, studies on unity and reconciliation remain limited due to inadequate funding for higher learning and research institutions. It noted that the planned Kamonyi Research and Historical Centre is expected to help address that gap. The committee cited steady improvements in the Rwanda Reconciliation Barometer, which rose from 82.3 per cent in 2010 to 92.5 per cent in 2015, 94.7 per cent in 2020, and 95.3 per cent in 2025. According to Ndangiza, the overall 13 percentage-point increase reflects sustained government efforts to promote equal opportunities, combat discrimination and injustice, strengthen counselling and access to justice, and improve citizens' socio-economic wellbeing. Despite the progress, the committee found that some institutions mandated to protect the interests of Genocide survivors do not regularly visit the beneficiaries to assess their needs and recommend necessary interventions. Lawmakers also called for stronger youth engagement to counter genocide ideology, expansion of trauma healing and psychosocial support services to underserved communities, continued training of history teachers, better documentation of testimonies, and improved reintegration programmes for Genocide convicts who have served their sentences. Ndangiza said that Minubumwe informed the committee it would use the upcoming Unity and Reconciliation Month in October to collect citizens' views as part of the policy review, while continuing to digitally preserve testimonies from genocide commemoration events, particularly those of elderly witnesses.
