Real heroes do not work for accolades or any form of reward, rather they serve selflessly to impact society in a positive way, a don has said.

Charles Kabwete Mulinda, a Law Professor at University of Rwanda, was speaking yesterday during a panel discussion at a one-day consultative meeting on the ‘culture of heroism’ ahead of February 1 Heroes Day celebrations.

"You can only be a hero if your acts are from the heart and not driven by personal gain. And that title can only be given by those who were touched by your actions,” he said.

Officiating at the opening of the meeting, the Chairperson of the Chancellery for Heroes, National Orders and Decorations of Honor (CHENO), Pierre Damien Habumuremyi, said that, for the Rwandan society to completely heal from its tragic past, there is need to draw from the country’s rich history and traditions, particularly about the things that served as source of pride, communal harmony, and dignity.

"It is time to look back and return to what used to bring us together as Rwandans. This is an opportunity to explain to Rwandans, especially the youth, the values of heroism, which was the foundation of Rwanda and remains a central pillar of our development,” he said. "We appeal to all Rwandans to uphold these values,” he said.

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Technology and Arts of Byumba (UTAB), Prof. Faustin Nyombayire, called for preservation of Rwandan culture.

"Culture is a major component of humanity,” he said.

Nyombayire said that culture should not be dismissed as something old, or ancient because its value in the society is timeless.

"Culture evolves, it grows. This doesn’t mean that it gets old, it only evolves with time. Values don’t get old, they cannot be affected by time,” he said.

Heroes Day will be celebrated at the grassroots level across the country.

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