Rwandans who foster unity and reconciliation, locally known as Abarinzi b’Igihango, will be registered nationwide for recognition.

The joint initiative between the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC), Unity Club and various government institutions aims to strengthen unity and reconciliation.

"Recognising Abarinzi b’Igihango will inspire people, showing them the kind of the real Rwandan we need, the one who understood Ndi umunyarwanda before it was initiated,” Johnson Mugaga, the division manager at NURC said last week during a one day training of district officials who are set topreside over the selection of Abarinzi b’Igihango nationwide.

Those to be selected are ones who performed exceptionally and proved to be patriotic, from 1990 to date.

Others include those who saved lives of Tutsi during the 1994 Genocide, revealed the whereabouts of insurgents during the insecurity days in the north west of the country, convinced FDLR fighters to repatriate, those who persuaded prisoners to confess and repent, pardoned those who killed their relatives during the Genocide, among other categories.

Hope Tumukunde, the Vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs in the City of Kigali, said Abarinzi b’igihango deserve to be recognised.

"The country was experiencing terrible times in 1990s and before. For instance, it was risky to hide a Tutsi during the Genocide since one could lose their life together with those they tried to hide. But some took such risks,” Tumukunde said.

Selections will be carried out at the grassroots; 60 persons among them will be awarded during the 8th general assembly of Unity Club in October.

Unity Club is composed of current and former Cabinet members and their spouses.

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