As Rwanda marks the 22nd Liberation Day today, Rwandans shared views on the importance of liberation to them.

Jean de Dieu Tuyisenge, an artist and president of the artists’ association in Rwanda: I’m an artiste; that’s my profession and I live off it.

Known by his stage name ‘Intore’, Tuyisenge’s traditional style inclined music focuses on songs with civic message encouraging Rwandans to build and further development.

I composed the song "Umutamenwa” – the "Shatterproof” and dedicated it to those who liberated the country.

I particularly thank the Government of Rwanda as it has realised that artistes have a big influence in the development of a country and there is a fund dedicated to artistes that is going to be set up soon.

In the past, artistes had no say in Rwanda. When one was asked what they do and replied that they were artistes, they were replied with ‘‘what-else-do-you-do’’ question.

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Jacqueline Mukakanyamugenge, Member of Parliament: Rwanda was liberated from a dictatorial and divisive regime. Rwandans are now united and share the country’s resources equally.

All Rwandans have access to education, and are catered for in the development agenda.

There is a government policy on eradicating corruption and injustice.

As a woman, I testify that women have been given their say, which was not the case previously.

The current Government realised that women too have capacity and no citizen should be excluded, including youth, which is yielding fruit.

In addition, women have a right to land and, therefore, they get capital to run profitable businesses. A woman’s fortune is channeled to developing their household and once the household has developed, the country also develops.

In schools, it was believed that girls were for soft courses [only] as though they had different brains. But today girls excel in sciences.

Rwanda has been calling on Rwandans living abroad to return to their country and is welcoming them, which is different from the situation under the past regime which deprived many Rwandans of their rights to citizenship and residency.

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Dieudonne Mbonigaba, an employee at Ebenzer Insurance Brokers Ltd: I was born and raised in a foreign country due to bad governance. We were deprived of our right to come back to our own country. We returned after the country was liberated. We are now enjoying the milk and honey that the country is producing. I remember when we were crossing the border coming back to Rwanda, the army welcomed us with hugs.

In foreign countries where we lived, we would run away whenever we saw a soldier. Greeting a soldier for me was like a dream. 

The liberation led to unity among Rwandans. It is impressive to see Rwandans living in peace after 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. I thank the government for fostering unity and reconciliation.

I appreciate the Ndi Umunyarwanda initiative. To be called a Rwandan is a core fruit of liberation to me. May God bless the people who liberated the country and taught us unity and reconciliation. Currently, Rwandans are united and work together for the country’s self-reliance.

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Emmanuel Nkundiye, a village leader in Kimisagara Sector: Presently every Rwandan has freedom to live anywhere they want in their country; there is security and democracy in our country.

People sit together and, through public discourse, share ideas on how their country can develop. Rwanda has remarkably developed thanks to the prevailing peace and unity in the country.

Democracy means having a citizen doing what they want in their country. No Rwandan can die of hunger.

When you have peace and security you can achieve everything. Our vision is to work diligently to develop our country.

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Pascal Iyamuremye, a mason in Nyamagabe District: I realise that development has been achieved. There is security. I’ve achieved a lot thanks to good governance. In my work, I get paid on time and enjoy security.

Before the liberation, there was discrimination in education, which deprived competent students of their right to education, but that has changed.

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Gonzaga Muganwa, Executive Secretary of the Rwanda Journalists Association: The first achievement of liberation is being able to unite Rwandans following the defeat of the old divisive government which implemented discrimination, genocide and exiling of Rwandans.

The fact that people are free to live in their country is a big achievement of the liberation. The second achievement is the prevailing security of persons and property. The third one is that people have hope for a brighter future; there is a sense of hope among the people that the country is getting better.

However, the other factors that would make them be more accountable have not developed much. I mean, a more robust parliament, vibrant media, and a more robust civil society. But, these entities are developing with time because the legal framework is open that allows for the civil society actors to play their role.

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Yussila Uwineza Mutimawurugo, an artiste, resident of Kimisagara, Nyarugenge District: I think the fruits of liberation have been tasted by every Rwandan. Thanks to liberation, women have made it in the music industry and they are thriving.

That is something worth celebrating. Muslims’ rights were not recognised before the liberation, but thanks to the liberation, Muslims are now recognised country-wide.

We are, therefore, grateful to those who partook in that cause.

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Dr Joseph Nkurunziza, Never Again Rwanda Country Director: The most important fruit of liberation is that the citizens are at the centre of government policies and actions.

That means that Rwandans or the citizens are part and parcel of the policies in place, those policies respond to the issues of the citizens at the grassroots because there are platforms where people express their ideas.

For instance, under Ubudehe (social stratification programme), citizens sit, identify the needy among them. When it comes to poverty alleviation opportunities, when they access them, their lives are transformed and they get out of poverty. So, it means that the leadership is working towards uplifting all people from poverty.

Thanks to the liberation, people have freedom. When it comes to civil society, we have been able to have free space where people have a platform to share what they can do with the government, but previously, the civil society could not even operate.

Another success is citizen participation. From the village, cell, sector to district, there is citizen participation.

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Felicien Rutikanga, 30, a motorcyclist from Musanze District: When I was in the countryside I had no hope of coming to work to the city. But now I am working freely in the city.

A young person like me could not easily acquire a loan from a bank to operate a business or buy property like a motorcycle for transport business, it was not possible. But now, it is possible.

Cooperatives now offer guarantee to help a member secure loan. 

I got a motorbike on Rwf2 million loan four years ago, and managed to repay it.

I get up at 4am to start work. I get Rwf10,000 per day and I save Rwf150,000 on my account every month after covering all expenses.

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Afisa Deborah Uwamahoro, director of good governance at the National Women Council in Nyarugenge District: Previously women were deprived of their right to leadership but now we can compete for any posts we want. We board planes to go abroad and drive trucks for business purposes after being empowered.

I sell vehicle spare parts. Previously, I could not do it. I love this business as it provides for my family and helps me help people fix their vehicles.

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Froduard Twizerimana, 18, an artiste: In education, authorities taught divisionism among students while other Rwandans were denied access to education. But now all Rwandans have right to education. In addition, currently, the President reaches out to the people and listens to their complaints through regular outreach visits.