Rwanda on Sunday commemorated the 32nd National Heroes’ Day, paying tribute to individuals whose actions and sacrifices shaped the nation’s history and continue to inform its values of unity, patriotism, and national development.

President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame led the national observance by laying a wreath and observing a moment of silence at the National Heroes Mausoleum in Remera Sector, Gasabo District, Kigali.

Speaking during the official ceremony, Nicolas Rwaka, division manager at the Chancellery for Heroes, National Orders, and Decorations of Honour, said National Heroes’ Day, observed annually on February 1, is dedicated to recognizing individuals who demonstrated exceptional patriotism, made supreme sacrifices, and upheld values such as truthfulness and integrity.

“Every year, Rwandans gather to honor those who distinguished themselves through selfless service to the nation,” Rwaka said, adding that heroism remains a foundational pillar of Rwanda’s national identity.

The commemoration was held under the theme Heroism and Unity for Rwanda’s Development and was attended by senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and families of fallen heroes.

Addressing a night concert in Kigali on Saturday as part of Heroes’ Week activities, Jean-Damascene Bizimana, Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, urged citizens to reflect on the breadth of Rwanda’s heroic legacy.

“Heroism is not merely history recorded in books; it is a living legacy inherited from our forebears,” Bizimana said. “It spans from the founding of Rwanda, through the struggle for independence, to those who defended the nation’s sovereignty and liberated it from oppression and injustice.”

He emphasized that honoring heroes should translate into active commitment to unity, civic responsibility, and national progress.

Heroes’ Week activities across the country included public discussions on heroic values, cultural events, and sporting activities such as football, basketball, sitting volleyball, and cycling, aimed at reinforcing national cohesion and shared purpose.

The annual commemoration serves as both a remembrance of past sacrifice and a call for present and future generations to uphold the principles that underpin Rwanda’s development. NNA TV+/ Xinhua