Starting a journey with success can feel like planting a seed and watching it sprout immediately. It couldn’t get better for Rwandan parents who welcomed newborns, in some cases firstborns, at the start of 2025 believed this marked the beginning of something wonderful. Phoebe Mugeni, a resident of Kinyinya Sector in Gasabo District, gave birth to a baby boy at 5:50AM at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK). “It was a great surprise; I didn’t expect to give birth on New Year’s Day,” Mugeni told The New Times. ALSO READ: PHOTOS: Mothers’ bundles of joy, gratitude, on Christmas Day Mugeni named her son Savannah Rwiza Sangwa, expressing confidence that his birth on the first day of the year is a sign of blessings to come. “Since he is my firstborn, I believe this is the beginning of many blessings,” she added. Sandrine Uwera from Gahanga Sector in Kicukiro District gave birth to her first child, a baby girl, at 4:30AM at CHUK too. Uwera described her joy at the unexpected timing, saying, “It’s a blessing I didn’t expect. God did this.” ALSO READ: Nearly 900 babies born in Rwanda on Christmas Day She expressed optimism for the year ahead, saying, “Starting the year with the birth of my daughter birth feels like a special signal for good things to come.” Elie Nshimiyimana and his wife Jeanne Nyiraminani, who live in Shyorongi sector in Rulindo District, welcomed their second child, a baby boy, at 2:22PM at Kacyiru Hospital. He expressed his excitement, saying, “It feels like a big achievement to start the year with a new baby.” ALSO READ: Over 70 babies born on New Year’s day Nshimiyimana also stressed the importance of being present for his wife during childbirth. “Being with my wife while she gave birth made her feel supported, and it gave her strength,” he said. The couple named their son Heriot Aganze Arerwe. Naomie Niyobuhungiro, also from Kinyinya Sector, gave birth to a baby boy at 2:00 p.m. at Kacyiru Hospital. Holding her newborn, Niyobuhungiro described it as a miracle. “I wasn’t expecting to give birth on New Year’s Day, but God surprised me,” she said. She said this unexpected blessing marked the start of what will be a fantastic year. “This is God’s way of showing me that the year will be full of good things,” she added. Jovin Nizeyeyezu, a resident of Rugarika Sector in Kamonyi District, became a father of a baby girl at 4:00 a.m. at La Croix du Sud Hospital. Describing the experience as a “double celebration,” he said, “We were already celebrating the festive season, and all of a sudden my wife had labour pains.” Nizeyeyezu said he and his wife Chantal Mushimiyimana named thier daughter Alimas Eunice Nizeyeyezu. “When you start the year with something this good, it’s a sign that the rest of the year will be great too,” he said. According to data from the Ministry of Health, at least 308,000 new births were reported between January and November 2024. Statistics indicate that May saw 30,618 births, the highest number of births of any month in the past year. More than 334,000 births had been reported in 2023. Rwanda's population stood at just over 13.2 million in 2022, according to the latest census data. The fertility rate stood at 3.6 children per woman.
