More than 400 Rwandans living in Malawi gathered in Blantyre on August 7 to celebrate Umuganura, with Rwanda’s envoy to Malawi urging the community to strengthen unity, productive work and self-reliance.
The celebration was organised through a partnership between the Rwandan community in Malawi and the Embassy of Rwanda in Zambia, which also represents Rwanda in Malawi.
Speaking at the event, Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Zambia and representative to Malawi, Emmanuel Bugingo, described Umuganura as more than an occasion for sharing food and celebrating harvests, saying it is an opportunity to reflect on Rwanda’s cultural values and use them to address contemporary challenges.
Bugingo explained that Umuganura comes from the Kinyarwanda verb “kuganura”, referring to sharing and consuming the first produce of the harvest as a way of celebrating and giving thanks.
He said the celebration should also provide an opportunity to assess achievements, plan for the year ahead and find ways of increasing productivity at household and national levels.
Umuganura has deep roots in Rwanda’s history and was traditionally celebrated around the sorghum harvest, when communities gave thanks for the abundance of crops and livestock.
“Celebrating Umuganura means returning to the source of our culture and drawing from it lessons that can help us address the challenges we face as the world changes and Rwanda continues to develop,” Bugingo said.
He urged Rwandans in Malawi to make Umuganura a source of unity, solidarity and cooperation, particularly as they contribute to Rwanda’s development from abroad.
The envoy said the meaning of Umuganura today extends beyond agricultural and livestock production to include achievements in sectors such as manufacturing, banking, technology and innovation.
He encouraged members of the community to focus on productive work, provide quality and timely services and work towards clearly defined goals.
Bugingo also commended Rwandans in Malawi for supporting development initiatives in Rwanda, citing their 2025 effort to mobilise resources to support fellow Rwandan parents participating in the government’s school feeding programme.
He described the initiative as an example of unity and self-reliance.
“The fact that you were able to come together and mobilise that support is a sign of unity and self-reliance,” he said.
He further urged the community to maintain strong bonds and cooperation, stressing that unity remains a key source of strength for Rwandans.
“Unity is our strength,” Bugingo said, calling on Rwandans in Malawi to continue embracing productive work as a foundation for development and self-reliance.
Umuganura is an annual Rwandan cultural celebration rooted in the country’s history. Traditionally associated with giving thanks for the harvest, it has evolved into a broader celebration of productivity, unity, gratitude and collective responsibility.
