Family and friends are mourning Frank Rubaduka, the founder of Miss Career Africa, who died on Sunday, December 27, by drowning in Lake Cyohoha in Bugesera District.

Rubaduka’s passing was confirmed by Sandrine Munezero, the Executive Director of Miss Career Africa.

According to Munezero, Rubaduka died around 3 pm after he failed to overcome the powerful wave in Lake Cyohoha.

"He was there for the Christmas weekend. He preferred to holiday alone. He last spoke to me on Christmas Day to wish me Merry Christmas. His body is now at Rwanda Military Hospital,” she said in a telephone interview.

Rubaduka, 28, is known for being behind the annual ‘Miss Career Africa’ contest, a programme that empowers young women professionals and entrepreneurs and aspiring students through the provision of university scholarships, career guidance, entrepreneurship incubation development, leadership training, and networking.

His death, however, comes too soon and as a huge blow for his dream in empowering girls by supporting them in their income-generating projects through the competition.

However, Munezero assured that she and her team will do their best to achieve his dream although filling his void is far from easy.

"He has really left a huge gap among us and the community in general but Miss Career Africa project is not over. We are not ready to let it go but do it for him, for his vision because it was a dream that he wanted to achieve. We will carry on with the project and continue where he stopped,” she vows.

During their last conversation, Munezero gathered that Rubaduka was finalizing his latest book ‘100 Mistake I Don’t Regret’ that he was preparing to release soon.

The book would have been his second after another one, ‘The 4 Genius Windows’ that he released earlier this month [December] together with his co-author Eric Niyitanga.

The latter, which revolves around its subheading ‘discovering why you don’t know what you don’t know’,  gives a glimpse into their honest account of their faith on a test, temptations, career mistakes, aspirations, and inspirations.

It also gives tips about what African blood can achieve on the global market.  It is now available on Amazon.

Rubaduka was born in Gatsibo, Eastern Province. The dates and place where his funeral ceremony will be held are yet to be revealed.

The vigil is being kept at the deceaded's brother in Kanombe, Kicukiro District.