More than 450 members of the Rwandan community and friends of Rwanda gathered in Cape Town on Sunday, 9 August, to celebrate Umuganura 2026 under the theme, “Umuganura, Isoko y’Ubumwe n’Ishingiro ryo Kwigira” — Umuganura, Source of Unity and Foundation for Self-Reliance.

The celebration brought together Rwandans and friends of Rwanda for an afternoon of culture, reflection and community, highlighting the importance of unity, gratitude and collective responsibility towards building a better Rwanda. 

The programme featured cultural performances by Itorero Inkumburwa, the sharing of milk with children and the Kuganura ceremony, giving participants an opportunity to experience and celebrate Rwanda’s rich cultural heritage.

The event also highlighted the contribution of Rwandans living abroad to Rwanda’s development. Presentations on the Rwandan Community Abroad (RCA) Youth Tour to Rwanda and the Rwanda Professionals Abroad (RPA) Medical Outreach demonstrated how members of the Rwandan community abroad are contributing through knowledge, professional expertise and community engagement initiatives. 

Celebrating Rwanda’s progress

In his address, Rwanda’s High Commissioner to South Africa, H.E. Emmanuel Hategeka, reflected on Umuganura as an occasion to celebrate Rwanda’s achievements while recognising the collective responsibility of Rwandans to contribute to the country’s future.

“This is not only a celebration of our harvest and achievements, but an opportunity to reflect on our hard-earned unity, national progress and the contribution of Rwandans living abroad to preserve and sustain development.”

The High Commissioner highlighted Rwanda’s progress across sectors including agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, construction, services and information technology, noting the role of unity, good governance, discipline, hard work and a shared national vision in sustaining the country’s development. 

He also encouraged Rwandans living abroad to continue contributing to Rwanda through their professional expertise, investment, remittances, knowledge and community engagement.

Initiatives such as the RCA Youth Tour and the medical outreach by Rwandan Medical Professionals were highlighted as examples of how the Rwandan community in South Africa can contribute to Rwanda’s development beyond financial support. 

Celebrating culture and passing it to the next generation

The celebration also provided an opportunity to reflect on the importance of preserving Rwanda’s cultural heritage among communities living abroad.

The participation of children in the milk-sharing ceremony, alongside cultural performances and the Kuganura ceremony, gave younger members of the community an opportunity to experience Rwandan traditions first-hand, learn about their significance and remain connected to their heritage. 

The celebration took place within South Africa’s own rich cultural landscape, where different communities have longstanding harvest traditions. Among the Zulu, for example, uMkhosi Wokweshwama marks the first harvest. While these traditions have their own distinct histories and practices, they share familiar values of gratitude, community and sharing. 

A shared responsibility

A key message from the High Commissioner was that Rwanda’s achievements come with a responsibility to preserve and build upon the progress made.

“Preserving Rwanda’s hard-won achievements is a shared responsibility. Every Rwandan, whether at home or abroad, has a role to play in strengthening national unity, safeguarding peace and security, and rejecting divisionism.”

He further called on Rwandans to remain united and guard against narratives that could undermine that shared purpose:

“We must remain vigilant against voices that hide behind political claims while promoting hatred, division and misinformation. Such voices should not distract us from our shared purpose.”

The Rwandan proverb “Ibisangiye imizi bisangira no kuma”, meaning those who share the same roots also share a common destiny, further underscored the importance of unity, solidarity and mutual support within the Rwandan community. 

For the Rwandan community in South Africa, Umuganura therefore provided more than an opportunity to celebrate the harvest. It offered a moment to reflect on Rwanda’s progress, celebrate its cultural heritage and consider how Rwandans abroad can continue contributing to the country’s development aspirations. 

As the celebration drew to a close, the High Commissioner connected the meaning of the harvest with the responsibility to continue building for the future:

“Let’s give thanks for yesterday’s harvest, share its fruits today and together with neighbours whose traditions carry familiar echoes, begin preparing for an even better harvest tomorrow.”

Umuganura, Isoko y’Ubumwe n’Ishingiro ryo Kwigira!