President Paul Kagame has called on Rwandans to safeguard the values of their culture, emphasizing the importance of proper use and pronunciation of Kinyarwanda.
This message was delivered as part of the resolutions of the 17th RPF-Inkotanyi meeting, held in Rusororo on December 17, 2025.
Addressing RPF-Inkotanyi members, President Kagame stressed that Rwandans should master their language, particularly those who know it but often speak it incorrectly.
“You know how Kinyarwanda has been distorted; people have introduced words and expressions from outside our borders, from the north or south.” He said.
The President expressed concern over common misuses of the language, citing the word “guha”, which is frequently mispronounced as “guhereza.”
“There is a word that always sounds wrong to me. I hear it often in the army and police when people say ‘guhereza’ instead of ‘guha.’ This is not proper Kinyarwanda. Let us stop it here and now.” He explained.
He also highlighted the distinction between similar expressions, such as “gutanga inka” versus “yaguhereje inka,” and “gusoza” versus “kurangiza.” He noted, “We need to know when to use ‘kurangiza ikintu’ versus ‘gusoza.’ Not everything can be translated as ‘gusoza’; each has its proper context.”
President Kagame added that many misused words come from neighboring countries where related languages, such as Runyankole, are spoken. He concluded by stressing the importance of preserving Kinyarwanda in its authentic form, saying, “Let Kinyarwanda remain Kinyarwanda.”
