University students should embrace the Ndi Umunyarwanda programme and promote it at all cost because it is a pillar to  Rwanda’s success.

The Minister for Local Government and his Sports and Culture counterpart made the remarks over the weekend while addressing students at the University of Rwanda’s College of Arts and Social Sciences– Huye Campus.

Local government Minister Francis Kaboneka told the students that when Rwanda lost its ‘‘Rwandanness’’, the result was so devastating.

"The outcome was extreme hatred which climaxed into the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. But now, Rwanda has made a dramatic turn-around, with the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) being admired wherever it is serving on peacekeeping missions.

‘‘This achievement is down to the fact that the government of Rwanda has embraced ‘‘Rwandanness’’ whereby it strives for the welfare and development of all citizens,” Kaboneka said.

He said when, the youth embrace Ndi Umunyarwanda, the country will continue to have peace and  sustainable development.

"Ndi Umunyarwanda is a strong weapon, it is a core value of the Rwandan society, an enabler for prosperity and development,” he told the youth.

He noted that past differences  were baseless, with the Hutu, Tutsi and Twa misrepresented as ethnic groups.

‘‘The truth is that those ethnic divisions were based on what one owned. For instance, a person would move from Hutu class to Tutsi class if he owned a certain number of cows,’’ he stressed.

Minister Julienne Uwacu attributed the past divisions to bad governance.

 "Rwanda is driven by good governance of inclusive social protection and welfare programmes like, Girinka, Ubudehe, Umuganda, education among others. We need to ensure that the youth today are driven by common interests, strive and fight for their country while shunning detractors,” added the sports and culture minister.

Jean Luc Musana, a member of Ndi Umunyarwanda Club at CASS said the programe is a remedy for the past historical problems.

He said the club has achieved some of its objectives, including explaining the concept of Ndi Umunyarwanda programme to representatives of various associations operating within the university.

"We don’t want to be distracted from the current development path,” he said.

Schadrack Byukusenge, a  medical student in the pharmacy department, said they are committed to promoting Ndi Umunyarwanda in communities to ensure harmony.

The students pointed out the need to sensitise secondary school students about Ndi Umunyarwanda before they join university.

 Students also requested the Ministry of Sports and Culture to ask Rwandan artists to produce songs promoting Ndi Umunyarwanda programme.