On 5^th August 2022, Rwanda Diplomatic Mission in Sudan hosted the UMUGANURA event at Al-MADINA Hotel in Khartoum. The event was attended by about Sixty (60) members of the Rwandan Community in Sudan also joined by friends.
In his remarks, the Head of Rwanda Diplomatic Mission, Mr Abel Buhungu, thanked all those who turned up for the UMUGANURA celebration. He gave a brief background on the history related to Umuganura as part of Rwandan culture introduced back in the 11th century by King Gihanga Ngomijana. Before it was outlawed by the colonialists in 1925, Umuganura was annually hosted at the beginning of every harvest season. This was a time for Rwandans to bond and strengthen their unity and celebrate their good harvests as well as plan for the future, he said.
He further added that like many other Rwandan traditions and values, it was outlawed by Colonial Masters in 1925 but thankfully later reinstated by the Government of National Unity in 2011. Umuganura as an important cultural event is protected by provisions of the Rwandan Constitution in its article 11 which reads as: “In order to build the nation, promote national culture and restore dignity, Rwandans, based on their values, initiate home-grown mechanisms to deal with matters that concern them. Laws may establish different mechanisms for home-grown solutions”.
He mentioned that Umuganura Festival since its revival is celebrated annually on every first Friday of August, and that this year Rwandans are celebrating it under the theme: “Umuganura isooko y’ubumwe n’ishingiro ryo kwigira” (Umuganura, a source of unity and foundation of self-reliance).
He elaborated that in modern Rwanda, Umuganura is no longer about crop faring and cattle farming only but rather cerebrated noting other vital sectors such as in: mining; tourism; infrastructural development; Governance; national cohesion; education; ICT; Industrial Development; tourism and diplomacy.
Mr. Abel outlined some of the remarkable achievements registered twenty eight (28) years after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, including in: (i) Good governance; (ii) National Security; (iii) Ease of doing business; (iv) economic growth; (v) increased school enrolment including world class Universities e.g. ALU and Carnegie Mellon University; (vi) increased access to health services; (vii) Infrastructure: good roads, access to clean water, electricity penetration, schools, hospitals, hotels, Airports (Bugesera & enlarging Kanombe airport) and world class facilities for sports (BK Arena) and Conferences (Intare and KCC); (viii) National Unity & Reconciliation; (ix) women and Youth empowerment; (x) combating causes of refugees; (xi) Fighting corruption & ensuring rule of law; and (xii) growing of diplomatic relations with other nations based on mutual respect. He added that Rwanda’s earning of respect in the family of nations explains the increasing responsibilities the country and Rwandans have lately taken on such as in CHOGM, Francophonie, representing the UN-Secretary General in the Central African Republic, and hosting of big Conferences and Meetings.
He called on Rwandan Community Members in Sudan to continue working hard to observe the following: (i) protection of their dignity as Rwandans; (ii) working hard and smart; (iii) sharpening their knowledge and strengthening their capacities; (iv) protecting and showcasing the Rwandan culture; (v) cultivating good relations with residents and nationals of the host country; (vi) social cohesion and supporting each other as Rwandans; (vii) marketing and defending the interests of Rwanda; and (viii) contributing towards fighting destructive propaganda and genocide related ideology propagated through social media by Rwanda’s detractors.   
He concluded his remarks by thanking the Rwandan community in Sudan for their support in different Government programs including most recently when they raised funds for Caana-Challenge (led by BRD) with a total of USD 7, 082 which helped provide solar lighting to 481 Rwandan families.  
The event was comprised with the remarks of the day by the Head of Mission and a poem on Umuganura by Jean Claude Ntakirutimana, a Rwandan student who recently graduated from the International University of Africa. There was also serving of milk to some young Rwandan children as one of the Rwandan traditions related to Umuganura. The audience later shared a Rwandan traditional meal with videos of Rwandan songs and cultural dancing projected.
As a side event and following an earlier election of the Leadership Committee of Rwandan Community in Sudan (RC-S) in February this year, the Chairman of the RC-S, Mr Taratibu Japhet presented a draft Constitutional Guiding Manual which was also adopted by the community with some minor modification.