Meet Hon. Connie Bwiza Sekamana

The first thing you notice when you talk to her is the openness and genuineness in her voice. Her stern look confirms her seriousness in everything. This is Hon. Connie Bwiza Sekamana. Born in a family of six, she is the last born. Hon. Bwiza was born and raised in Uganda where the parents had taken refuge due to the political turmoil that were in Rwanda. She went through her lower primary that is P.1 to P.3 in Kisoro Primary and upper primary in Rwera Primary School, all in Ntungamo District, Uganda. She passed her primary leaving examinations with flying colours in. She has always been in leadership ever since she can remember. She was a Head Girl in primary school as well as in high school. Her mother, a single parent, was a source of strength and inspiration. According to Hon.Bwiza, she always encouraged her to study hard since her elder siblings could not go on with higher education due to financial constraints. She is also grateful to her maternal aunt who catered for her school fees in primary school until she relocated to Kinshasa. Accordingly, her paternal uncle took over the role and catered for her high school education. Lack of money almost made her not continue with her studies. “I would cry throughout the day and night just thinking of it.” She however managed to continue her education from St. Mary’s College Rushoroza in Kabale District. There, she attained a diploma in business studies. Life during college was not easy though. However, during that time, Hon.Bwiza Connie was already involved in the mobilisation of the youth wing of the Rwandese Patriotic Front. This was the time, in the 80s, that Rwandans were chased away from Uganda during the elections. Her parents were among those who left Uganda because the Ugandan regime at the time thought all Banyarwanda supported rival Yoweri Museveni. He is now president of Uganda. By God’s grace Bishop. Barnabas Harelimana of Rushoroza Diocese took them in and they stayed with him as a guardian. “I owe Barnabas a lot of gratitude and respect and I believe I am whom I am today because of him.” She decided to come back to Rwanda in search of her parents. However, on reaching Rwanda, she was jailed on suspicions that she had been sent by the enemy. This is when she understood what it meant being denied a right to her country. The spirit of patriotism got into her then and has always been her driving force. Hon. Bwiza has scars on her legs, evidence of her struggle during the liberation war of Rwanda in 1991. The same year she was nominated among others to go to Arusha as part of the peace negotiation team. Between 1995 and 1998, she worked in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and a UNDP Project in the Ministry of Land. In May 1999, the RPF Party nominated her to join Parliament where she has been re-elected up to date. Hon. Bwiza the woman Hon. Bwiza got married to Jean Marie Sekamana in 1995. The two are blessed with three sons. One of them, Ian Manzi, topped last year’s Primary Leaving Examinations in the country with 93 percent. Hon.Bwiza has to balance her political, social and family life. She is also back to school and is now doing her BBA at the School Finance and Banking. “To me the sky is the limit.” She wishes the girl-child in Rwanda realises the potential in them by not allowing anyone to look down on them. According to her, they should have self confidence in everything they do. They should strive to be knowledgeable. Finally she congratulates President Paul Kagame and the First lady for their continuing effort in their campaign of advocating for the girl-child’s education, among other things. Ends