Elizabeth Rugina a.k.a Shangazi Rugina is the Asset Register Officer at King Faisal Hospital.

Born on March 17, 1958 in Kibungo (the current Ngoma District) she was forced into exile at the tender age of two. She attended her elementary education while in Karagwe, Tanzania at Kimuli Primary School and later Kalisa Girls Secondary School in Nairobi-Kenya.

"I attained a Diploma in Secretarial Studies especially in typing short hand from Kiyanda Secretariat College,” Rugina said.

She worked for the Transition Uganda Limited in Kenya but after Idi Amin’s regime the company was closed down.

"Being a refugee in Kenya was not easy since one had to get a work permit so as to have a  permanent job hence I was always out of work and the situation was not good at all,” Rugina solemnly explains.

However today, her course of life has changed for the better. At her age and the kind of work she does, Shangazi Rugina always finds time to attend most of RPF‘s Presidential campaigns and she has a lot to say about the ruling party.

"In late 1992 was when we started getting messages in Mombasa about the liberation struggle by the Rwanda Patriotic Front (inkotanyi) and as a refugee who wanted to return to her motherland I was eager to participate,” Rugina said.

She said: "We mobilized ourselves and made fundraising ceremonies, in fact my children were involved in dancing during the ceremonies although they were relatively young and until today, its RPF all the way.”

"I was able to return to Rwanda in 1998 and I’m happy that the struggle was fruitful.”

When asked if she would move from the RPF political party in case there was a change in the regime, Rugina had a response.

"I will continue supporting RPF until I die because it’s the party that brought me back to my country and I’m proud of it because I am no longer referred to as a refugee, I’m working peaceful and my children are in school,” Rugina responds.

Shangazi Rugina is able to balance work and moving on the campaign trail by sacrificing her work off days. Besides going on campaigning trails she is a voluntary leader of the RPF members in her village (umudungudu).  

Regarding the opposition, she said: "The opposition parties are trying their best but they can’t match RPF, we are far ahead of them and the rallies tell the story and I’m happy that the campaigns are peaceful. My message to RPF supporters is to go vote early morning on Monday so that we celebrate the results at midnight.”

"I’m so impressed with what Rwanda has achieved in the past seven years under the RPF rule; however, the housing mortgage should be highly promoted.” 

Shangazi Rugina is a widow with four children, a son and three daughters.

Her favorites:

Dish: Irish and Beans
Sport: Soccer
Team: APR football team
Music: Local Kinyarwanda songs
Artist: The late Cyprian Rugamba
Car: RAV4
Role Model: My Primary teacher Kenezio Rusagara and his wife Florida.
Quote: ‘God bless you.’

Ends