The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, has urged Rwandans to use Umuganura as a moment to reflect on the country they are building and the legacy they will leave for future generations. Nduhungirehe made the call on Friday, July 7, during Umuganura celebrations in the City of Kigali, where he joined Mayor Samuel Dusengiyumva in serving milk to children as part of activities marking the National Harvest Day. ALSO READ: How Umuganura is transcendental and unifying in Rwandan society He said Umuganura should not be viewed simply as a one-day celebration of the harvest, but as an opportunity to assess what has been achieved, identify what needs to improve and ensure that the progress made is passed on to the next generation. “The question we should therefore ask ourselves is: what kind of Rwanda are we preparing to leave to our children? What kind of Rwanda are we preparing to leave to the young generation?” he said. Umuganura built on sharing Umuganura, derived from the Kinyarwanda verb kuganura, meaning to share the first harvest, traditionally brought Rwandans together to give thanks for what they had produced and share it with others. Nduhungirehe noted that in ancient Rwanda the tradition was not limited to those who enjoyed a good harvest. Families and neighbours shared with one another, while people who had experienced poor harvests because of disease, disasters or other challenges were also included. “This reflected the values of solidarity and mutual support,” he said. The minister said the tradition also provided an opportunity to reflect on achievements and shortcomings and determine what needed to be improved to achieve better results in the following year. ALSO READ: The history of Umuganura: Rwanda’s festival of unity and gratitude Givin milk to children reflected this principle, with leaders joining residents in sharing food and drinks as part of the celebration. Traditional cultural performances also brought different generations together to celebrate Rwanda’s heritage. Unity and responsibility Nduhungirehe said Umuganura provides an opportunity to reflect on the national principles of unity, work and patriotism. “Unity is the foundation of everything we do. This country was destroyed by a lack of unity and has been rebuilt through unity. There can be no Umuganura without unity,” he said. He said unity should bring together different generations, particularly young people and older citizens, as they work toward building the Rwanda they want. He also linked patriotism to responsibility for fellow citizens, saying love for the country should be demonstrated through care for its people. “Above all, loving your country means loving Rwandans. No one can claim to love the country while not loving its people,” he said. Protecting the next generation Nduhungirehe linked this responsibility to the ongoing crackdown on illicit and substandard alcohol, which he said threatens the wellbeing and productivity of Rwandans. ALSO READ: Govt should take tough stance against illicit alcohol More than 50 people have died this year after consuming substandard alcohol, while more than 100 have lost their sight, according to figures presented during the event. More than 11,000 people were also reported to have developed severe alcohol dependency. More than 140 companies have been closed and hundreds of alcohol brands recalled from the market. He said the crackdown should not be viewed as an attempt to target young people or investors, but as a measure to protect Rwandans. “The decisions taken to crack down on substandard alcohol are not intended to harass young people or target investors. Rather, they are measures aimed at protecting Rwandans,” he said. He also urged parents and communities to take greater responsibility for children, warning against leaving them exposed to harmful influences. “If you see a three-year-old child alone on the street in the morning, do not simply say, ‘That is not my child, so it is not my concern,’” he said. “A child belongs to the family, but also to the community and the country.” Nduhungirehe said young people should also be provided with productive activities, including sports and cultural programmes, particularly during weekends and school holidays. He said the traditional sharing of drinks during Umuganura should not be confused with excessive alcohol consumption. “It was a symbol of fellowship among Rwandans, not an invitation to consume alcohol excessively, become drunk and lose the ability to contribute meaningfully to society,” he said. He urged Rwandans to ensure that the progress celebrated during Umuganura continues to grow, leaving future generations with a stronger country. “We must prepare a better Rwanda so that the progress we are celebrating during this year’s Umuganura will increase rather than decline next year,” he said.
