Rwanda’s Ambassador to the United States, Mathilde Mukantabana, has urged Rwandans living in the US to turn the spirit of Umuganura into concrete contributions to Rwanda’s development through investment, knowledge sharing and other initiatives.
Mukantabana made the call as Rwanda’s Embassy in Washington launched Umuganura celebrations, bringing together members of the Rwandan community from Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia, friends of Rwanda, embassy staff and their families.
She said Umuganura should go beyond celebrating Rwanda’s achievements and provide an opportunity for every Rwandan to reflect on their responsibility in shaping the country’s future.
“Every Rwandan, whether at home or abroad, has a seed to plant, a role to play and a responsibility to help build the Rwanda we want to leave to future generations,” Mukantabana said.
She noted that the traditional spirit of Umuganura was built around sharing the harvest and pooling efforts for the common good, rather than celebrating individual achievements.
Mukantabana urged Rwandans to preserve this spirit by using Umuganura to celebrate progress while identifying areas where more effort is needed to advance the country.
She pointed to Rwanda’s economic performance as one of the achievements worth celebrating, saying the economy grew by 9.4% in 2025 and expanded by 10% in the first quarter of 2026.
Agriculture grew by 7%, industry by 7% and services by 9%, she added.
“These figures show that citizens and their leaders have played a role in bringing us to where we are today,” Mukantabana said.
The ambassador said the modern meaning of Umuganura has expanded beyond agricultural harvests to include progress in education, healthcare, infrastructure, technology and tourism, as well as creating opportunities for future generations.
She also highlighted the growing contribution of the Rwandan diaspora to the national economy, particularly through remittances, investment and the transfer of knowledge and expertise.
Remittances sent to Rwanda by citizens abroad reached $640 million in 2025, compared with $379 million in 2021. They stood at $461 million in 2022, $505 million in 2023 and $502 million in 2024.
Mukantabana called on Rwandans in the US to find more ways to channel their skills, experience and resources into Rwanda’s development.
The embassy’s celebration marked the beginning of a series of Umuganura activities expected to be organised by Rwandan communities across the United States.
A broader Umuganura celebration for Rwandans living in the US is scheduled for August 22 in Utah.
In Rwanda, the national Umuganura celebrations were held on August 7 in Rusizi District, marking the first time the main event was hosted there.
The 2026 celebrations are centred on strengthening the culture of sharing, working together and taking responsibility for Rwanda’s development, both at home and in the diaspora.
