Words to live by from the just concluded State of the Nation Address by President Kagame at #Umushykirano24:
1. Do not be apologetic for who you are. You must fight for what you want to be, and what you want to have. Don’t wait for anybody to come and give it to you as a gift. Because nobody will do that.
2. Where we have been 30 years ago, there is nothing worse that can happen to us. That means that if you ever put us in a situation where we have to think it is going back to that time, we will fight like people who have nothing to lose and someone other than ourselves will pay the price.
3. The country is safe, secure and will always be. Ntimugatinye ibitumbaraye, haba harimo ubusa. To see how empty a balloon is, you just need a needle.
On the sidelines of #COP28, President Kagame exchanged with various leaders including UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak @RishiSunak, President of Togo Faure Gnassingbé, Gabon’s Transitional President General Brice Oligui Nguema, and President of the European Council Charles Michel @CharlesMichel
A very happy birthday & great day to the one & only Mama Anaya & Amalia❤️ @AngeKagame. May you continue to grow & glow, and help others grow and live. I am a testimony to your kindness & love, 8 years ago when you led the way in the fight to save my own life & many others followed in your footsteps & before we knew it, the entire country. #Cancer was defeated hands down. That is leadership! My family & I will forever be grateful for you. I have lived to see our daughters grow & to see you give birth to your own daughters & we are watching them grow into the national treasures they are. If that is not an epic story, then I don't know what is. Wishing you & your family the very best ahead & to many more years of impacting lives. Isabukuru nziza.💟🙏
Mama Janet Kagame's incredible Strength: Detained While Pregnant, Giving Birth Amidst War, and the Perilous Fear of Losing Maj Paul Kagame on the Frontlines
Today, I want to take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate Mama Janet Kagame, not as the First Lady of Rwanda, but as a remarkable woman, a loving mother, a devoted wife, and a doting grandmother. While we often talk about President Paul Kagame and give him his flowers because of his incredible leadership and his devoted patriotism, it is equally important to recognize the incredible strength and resilience of someone who’s been on his side since day one.
Throughout her life, she has faced numerous challenges and hardships. She endured years of separation from her husband as he fought on the frontlines alongside countless other men and women. She experienced things she never could have imagined, and at one point, she was even detained while pregnant, simply for being the wife of Major Paul Kagame, as she traveled from America to Belgium.
She was detained by authorities in Belgium without any explanation. Despite this, she remained strong and resilient, never complaining about her circumstances while this was going on she knew Paul Kagame might be killed on the struggle of liberating Rwanda, she kept the struggle and prayers.
But her story is not just one of personal struggle; it is also a story of immense compassion and dedication to others. She has played a pivotal role in ensuring that young girls in Rwanda have access to education and the opportunity to become whatever they aspire to be. She has been a champion for women's rights, fighting for their freedom and equality. She has tirelessly worked to support those living with HIV, ensuring they receive the care and assistance they need. And she has been a pillar of support for the survivors of the genocide against the Tutsi, particularly the elderly who have lost their entire families. Mama Janet has been and will always be a mother to many.
In addition to her countless acts of kindness and support, Mama Janet has also made significant contributions to education and healthcare in Rwanda. She has privately paid school fees for numerous individuals, giving them the chance to pursue their dreams. She established the IMBUTO Foundation, which utilizes digital technology to provide accurate information about sexual and reproductive health to young people. These are just a few examples of the incredible work she has done, and they only scratch the surface of her immense impact.
Mama Janet Kagame, your selflessness, compassion, and unwavering dedication to others are truly inspiring. You have touched the lives of countless individuals, and your legacy will continue to shine brightly. Thank you for all that you have done, and may God bless you abundantly.
I Wanted to write this on her birthday but failed to do so.
Smell your flowers. Long live.
“We have incredible strength coming from this history that tells us we should never allow anybody else to dictate to us how we live our life. That is Rwanda today: we are humble people, we know where we come from, we listen but at the end of the day I want to assure you, that for as long as some of us are still here, we shall have to live our lives, the best way we can, like other people elsewhere in the world.”President Kagame | #Kwibuka29