The Rwandan community in Uganda, yesterday, celebrated Liberation Day with a call to stay the course in achieving more development in Rwanda.

The ceremony took place in the capital Kampala at the residence of the Rwanda High Commissioner to Uganda, Frank Mugambage.

Marked by cultural music and patriotic songs that reminisced the RPA struggle, the event was well attended by many heads of diplomatic missions, the business community and friends of Rwanda.

"The Liberation Struggle was induced by the determination to re-establish peace, dignity, full rights and also give hope to all Rwandans after decades of misrule that culminated into the tragedy of Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994,” Mugambage said.

The envoy added that the occasion was to emphasise unity, as the strategic choice that Rwanda took as a pillar to shape its vision of achieving socio-economic development.

The guest of honour at the occasion, Philemon Mateke, Uganda’s state minister for regional cooperation, said that through deployment of peacekeeping forces, Rwanda had also led to the development of other countries on the African continent. 

"Following the Liberation of Rwanda in 1994, quite a number of things like infrastructural development and the construction of good hospitals has been achieved in Rwanda compared to prior and during the Genocide,” Mateke said.

He commended the excellent relations between Rwanda and Uganda, adding that his government looks forward to the continued close cooperation.

"As Rwandans celebrate 22 years of Liberation, the citizens have reaped the gains of liberation, with poverty level terrifically reduced while progress has been made in education, health, infrastructure and the governance,” the minister said.

Edith Ariko, a Rwandan elder in Uganda, gave a moving prayer thanking the Rwandan government for bringing peace and fundamental rights of the citizens of Rwanda.

Didas Nshingiro and his team under the initiative dubbed "Indashyikirwa” promised to build a school that will be teaching Kinyarwanda and inculcating discipline and culture among Rwandan youth across the world.

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