Rwanda Karate Federation (FERWAKA) President Theogene Uwayo on Tuesday, April 27, received ‘The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver ray’, in recognition of his commitment to the promotion of Karate in Rwanda.

Awarded by the Emperor of Japan, the decoration is given to a person who has contributed to establish and deepen amicable relations between Japan and his own country.

While handing over the decoration to Uwayo, Japanese envoy to Rwanda, Masahiro Imai, described Uwayo as a great Karateka and commended his significant achievements as a former Karateka and a president of the Karate Federation.  

"Of course there are many Karatekas here in Rwanda but Uwayo was the first Karateka who contributed to the creation and promotion of the Rwanda Karate Federation. So why not him?” Imai said.

Rwanda and Japan may geographically be far away from each other but Imai is positive that the two countries have a lot in common, saying that Karate was chosen to become a symbol of the beginning of the friendly relationship between the two countries.

"I see many common things between the two people of our countries. We are both very passionate, diligent and disciplined and Karate is teaching us these principles. That’s why we chose Karate,” he said.

The embassy has been working very closely with FERWAKA on several occasions, especially during the Karate Ambassador’s Cup, which has been organized five times since 2014 and the Grand assistance for Cultural Grassroots Project 2018, in which Japan provides equipment to the Karate governing body.

Since Uwayo took over as the President of FERWAKA in 2008, the federation has built a strong partnership with Japan, through the Japanese Embassy in Rwanda, which led to a number of established Karate coaches (Sensei) coming in Rwanda on several occasions to train locals aspiring to learn and play Karate.

Upon receiving the decoration, he said it’s a privilege to be recognized by the Emperor of Japan but emphasized that it comes to confirm what he and his federation has achieved in promoting Karate and improving the sport.

"The decoration is not only a motivation but also proof that we are on the right path,” he said.

"Thanks to Japanese Karate coaches who come to the country to train our local Karatekas, we have been performing well in Africa and I believe we can achieve more by working closely with the Embassy of Japan in Rwanda, the Ministry of Sports and other stakeholders of the sport,” he added.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports, Didier Maboko Shema hailed Uwayo’s dedication in promoting Karate, saying that the recognition is a result of what he has so far done for the game in Rwanda.

"Uwayo not only promoted Karate in Rwanda but also played a big role in driving cultural exchanges between Rwanda and Japan using Karate. The decoration is a symbol of the job he has done to promote the game as an individual as well as recognize the job the federation has done to give Karate a good vision,” Shema said.

Uwayo started playing Karate at the age of 18 when he was studying at University of Rwanda in 1981.

Karatekas struggled to establish the sport again after the Genocide against the Tutsi, until Uwayo and some Karatekas were given permission to start a Karate Federation in Rwanda in 2008. He became the president of the federation then.

It’s during his tenure that the federation started working with the Embassy of Japan in Rwanda to promote the game in Rwanda.

The Embassy has been inviting different Karate coaches from Japan to help local talents improve their level of performance.