Heroes Day 2025: Kamonyi inaugurates renovated Kinyaruka Bridge

The Kamonyi District leadership officially opened the Kinyaruka Bridge, which connects the Karama and Kayumbu sectors. The bridge had previously been destroyed by floods, and the community is happy that they are no longer isolated.

The event coincided with the celebrations of National Heroes Day, held in Karama Sector on February 1, 2025, marking the 31st anniversary of the day.

Mukagasana Francine, a resident of Ryagashaza Village in Bunyonga Cell, Karama Sector, explained that the previous bridge was completely washed away by floods, causing disruption in interactions between the residents of both sectors.

She said, “Interactions had stopped for over three years. People could not cross the Kayumbu River, and efforts like community work and the VIUP manpower couldn’t help, leading the district leadership to intervene, and now the bridge is complete.”

People who needed to cross the river had to struggle, with motorcycle taxis transporting passengers through the water. Students who had to travel between sectors for their education faced significant obstacles, and it was a challenge for patients to reach the hospital.

“The leadership worked hard to rebuild the bridge, and we are grateful that they considered our situation and helped us out of isolation”, she added.

Dushyikumugabo Desiré from Bunyonga Cell also shared that the destruction of the bridge had a major impact on residents from both sectors.

He said, “When the bridge was gone, anyone who tried to cross the water without knowing how to swim was at risk of being carried away by the currents. No women could cross at all. We continued to appeal to the leadership, and now, today, we are happy that trade has resumed.”

MP Uwamariya Odette, the team leader of other MPs in the Parliament of Rwanda who participated in the National Heroes Day celebrations with Kamonyi District, praised the bridge’s construction, noting that it would provide long-term solutions to the challenges faced by the community.

The 31st National Heroes Day is celebrated under the theme “Heroism and Unity of Rwandans, Pillars of Development.”

MP Uwamariya said that reflecting on the actions of national heroes gives each Rwandan the chance to learn from their deeds and use them as examples in daily life. It’s also a way to encourage Rwandans to develop a culture of patriotism, unity, good citizenship, hard work, respect, and humanity.

She encouraged the youth to remember that the culture of heroism has been the foundation of the country since its early days, urging them to avoiding cowardice and not being swayed by any challenges.

In addition to the Kinyaruka Bridge, other infrastructure were inaugurated across Kamonyi District, including the Nkongori aerial bridge in Nyarubaka Sector, and the Rushikiri Bridge between Rukoma and Runda sectors.

A road was also constructed with the help of the community in Runda Sector, a multi-purpose hall was built in Nyamiyaga Sector, five cell administrative offices were renovated across different sectors, and a new student dining hall was completed at GS Kabasare in Ngamba Sector.

According to Dr. Nahayo Sylvere, Mayor of Kamonyi District, there was also support for 20 girls from Rugalika Sector, who were trained in vocational skills and provided with sewing machines to help them continue developing. Additionally, cows were distributed to disadvantaged families, among other initiatives.

Uwamariya emphasized that all these activities are evidence that heroism is something Rwandans must continually strive for, particularly by advancing and protecting the progress that has been made.

The celebrated heroes are classified into three categories: Imanzi, Imena and Ingenzi.

The category of Imanzi features a supreme Hero who demonstrated outstanding achievements characterized by supreme sacrifice, outstanding importance and example. This category includes Maj. Gen. Fred Gisa Rwigema and the ‘Unknown Soldier’. The latter represents all those fighters who died during the 1990-1994 Liberation Struggle.

The Imena includes the Hero who is reputed for his/her extraordinary acts for the country which are characterized by supreme sacrifice, high importance and example. This category includes King Mutara Rudahigwa III, Michel Rwagasana, Agatha Uwiringiyimana, Felicite Niyitegeka and the Nyange Secondary School students.

The third category, Ingenzi refers to the Hero who is notorious for his/her good ideas or his/her outstanding achievements characterized by supreme sacrifice, great importance and high example.