Rwanda envoy hails improved Kigali–Kampala ties ahead of Kwibuka 32

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The Rwandan High Commissioner to Uganda, Joseph Rutabana, has commended the improved state of Kigali-Kampala relations ahead of the 32nd Kwibuka commemorations.

“In terms of trade, if you go to Gatuna border point, Kagitumba border post or even south towards Kisoro, the borders are very active. The borders, especially Gatuna, Kagitumba and Mirama Hill operate 24 hours. The mobility of people between our two countries is big. We have many people coming to Uganda and from Uganda to Rwanda. Daily, we have more than 20 buses crossing the borders,” Rutabana said.

Rutabana made the remarks while briefing journalists in Kampala, April 2, 2026, about the Embassy’s preparations to mark the 32nd anniversary since the end of the 1994 Rwanda Genocide, which left over 800,000 mainly Tutsi dead.

“We foresee a good future between our two countries. We have excellent relations between our two countries, and diplomatically at the level of governments, we have mechanisms including the Joint Permanent Commission, and the last one was in Rwanda, and the next one will be in Kampala,” Rutabana said.

Kampala and Kigali restored full diplomatic relations on January 31, 2022, with the reopening of the Katuna/Gatuna border post following years of tension. This followed high-level talks, including negotiations by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, which addressed issues of security, trade, and the restoration of freer movement.

Rutabana said the 32nd Kwibuka commemorations in Uganda will be held on April 10, 2026, at Golo Memorial Site in Mpigi district.

According to Rutabana, prior events will kick off on April 7, 2026. “As it has been in previous years, Kwibuka 32 will spread for 100 days, a period for remembrance, reflection and unity,” Rutabana said.

Rutabana added: "This event will bring together members of the Rwandan community in Uganda, members of the diplomatic corps, friends of Rwanda, partners and the wider public, especially the people of Golo. The High Commission is also planning to carry out other commemoration activities like a walk to remember, and public lectures in some of the local universities."

Rutabana made the remarks during a press conference convened at the Rwandan Embassy in Kampala.

“This is a time to honour the lives lost, continue to support survivors of the genocide and reinforce the commitment to never again,” Rutabana said.

According to Rutabana, Golo is among the places where the bodies of Rwandans killed during the genocide and thrown into River Kagera and River Nyabarongo were later retrieved from Lake Victoria.

He indicated that three memorial sites have since been established in Kasensero in Rakai district, Lambu in Masaka, and Golo in Mpigi.

“Therefore, why we shall be commemorating the 32nd Kwibuka in Golo, one is because of the memorial site, and we mainly go to Golo because it is close to Kampala, where most people, diplomats, government officials, friends of Rwanda, and the media come from. Sometimes we celebrate it in Lambu Masaka, but for Kasensero it is a bit far,” Rutabana said.

Over 4,000 bodies of genocide victims were reportedly thrown into the rivers during the 100 days of violence that left over 800,000 people dead.

After the genocide, Rutabana said the country was left devastated, with people traumatised, institutions collapsed, and trust destroyed.

“At that defining moment, Rwanda faced a fundamental choice to pursue ravage or choose a different path. Our leaders, guided by the resilience of our people in lesson of our history, they chose unity. There was a possibility of choosing ravage because most people in the Rwandan Patriotic Front found their families completely destroyed. But leadership chose reconciliation and national building,” Rutabana said.

He said mechanisms were established, including the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission in 1999, tasked with fostering dialogue, healing, and social cohesion.

“Today, we actually have a minister of national unity and civic engagement, which has strengthened the commission and some other institutions. Also for justice, we had re-margin another mechanism,” he said

He added; “Convention of systems alone could not handle the scale of crimes committed. In response, Rwanda revived a traditional mechanism called the Gacaca courts justice traditional mechanism in 2002 that allowed truth telling, accountability and reconciliation. Over decades, more than two million cases were tried, perpetrators confessed, survivors spoke, and communities began a long process of healing.”

Rutabana said unity and reconciliation were further enshrined in Rwanda’s 2003 Constitution, which emphasises inclusiveness, power sharing, and consensus-building through dialogue.

“Today, Rwanda stands as a testament to what is possible, whether a nation chooses to confront its past with honesty and courage. Today, Rwanda has embarked on many economic reforms. The security is good in Rwanda for many years, which allows for development to take place,” Rutabana said.