Due to the refugee life, Tito and his peers spent four years unable to attend school, but eventually, they resumed their studies. He completed his secondary education and part of his university studies in Uganda before continuing his education in France.
In an interview with IGIHE, Tito Rutaremara, currently the Chairperson of the Rwanda Elders' Advisory Forum, shared that life as a refugee was extremely difficult, with refugees receiving much worse treatment compared to the support they receive today.
'When you are a refugee, you have nothing. Back then, refugees had to fight for survival. You'd find that they were given food only for three months, and after that, people had to fend for themselves,' he said.
Rutaremara explained that refugees lacked rights and lived in extreme poverty during those times.
'When you are in a place where you have no rights, you may have studied and be hopeful to get a job, but you only find the job rejected by nationals. To be allowed to study subjects like medicine or law, you would have to lie and register as a native citizen.'
Tito Rutaremara pointed out that the issue of Rwandan refugees was neglected by the international community.
After growing up in adversity and hardship, he decided to enter politics to combat these injustices and to fight for peace for Rwandans.
"The main reason I entered politics was to fight injustice. We lived under oppression, with no country to call our own after being expelled from our homelands. Even in the host countries, we were denied freedom. Such circumstances push you into politics.
"Even if it wasn't your initial intention, you are compelled to join when you encounter people involved in political movements," Rutaremara explained.
He revealed that when they decided to return to Rwanda and fight for an end to oppression, they had to set a clear direction and purpose, uniting their efforts to address the challenges they faced.
Political legacy
In 1986, after being in Europe, Rutaremara decided to move to Uganda. The following year, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) in 1987 and Rutaremara participated in building the organization's structures. Three years later, the struggle to liberate Rwanda began.
Rutaremara played a significant role in Rwanda's history, being one of the longest-serving political figures in the country.
He is widely known for his role in the liberation struggle and his contributions after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. He was also an influential figure in the leadership of the RPF and one of its senior members who joined in 1987.
Tito Rutaremara and other members worked to unite Rwandans in exile and find ways to fight for their rights, having grown weary of living in refugee camps and under oppression.
He contributed to promoting democratic values, unity, and reconciliationâ€"core principles of the RPF-Inkotanyi.
In 1990, when the RPF launched a military struggle to liberate Rwanda, Rutaremara was in the party's leadership.
Though he was not a soldier on the front lines, he played a critical role in providing ideas and helping create strategies that supported the political journey alongside the military struggle.
"Fighters must have supporters. If someone goes to fight, how will they get food? How will they get medicine? And the weapons they useâ€"don't they require funding to restock? There's also the sacrifice of being willing to send their own children," Rutaremara stated.
Rutaremara was one of the leaders who encouraged Rwandans to understand the importance of the liberation struggle and the fight for the rights of every Rwandan, without discrimination or oppression.
"A struggle is not just about shooting. It extends to the elderly woman left behind, gathering small amounts of money and contributing with others so that the fighters can have weapons, medicine, food, diplomacy, and peace efforts, as well as participating in negotiations and other activities," he noted.
Despite facing moments of doubt during the struggle, Rutaremara emphasized that they remained strong because they believed in their cause, knowing that they were fighting for truth and justice, supported by a vision of good governance.
After the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi was stopped, Tito Rutaremara was pivotal in establishing reconciliation policies, urging Rwandans to unite, work together, and build a new Rwanda based on unity and justice.
His leadership roles include serving in the Transitional National Assembly between 1994 and 2000, heading the Constitutional and Legal Commission from 2000 to 2003, and being the first Ombudsman of Rwanda from 2003 to 2011, where he worked hard to fight corruption and promote good governance.
In 2011, Rutaremara became a Senator before taking on the role of leading the Rwandan Advisory Council in 2019.
He is also known for unity and reconciliation, often speaking about the historical objectives and strategies of the RPF during the liberation struggle.
'The first goal was to fight oppression. Once we defeated it, we could begin working towards transforming the country and building the Rwanda we have today. Now, we continue to work on development and progress,' he stated.
Advice for the youth
Tito Rutaremara highlighted the significant opportunities that Rwandan youth have, particularly in having young leaders who understand their needs and are able to relate to them.
"They have leaders who understand themâ€"leaders who were once young themselves and recognize the importance of youth. These leaders can relate to the challenges and aspirations of young people because they have been in their shoes and believe in their potential to achieve great things," he noted.
Rutaremara also revealed that the youth in Rwanda have been given opportunities to study and make the most of these opportunities, with programs designed to help them become future leaders.
He emphasized that Rwanda offers youth opportunities to take on leadership roles and participate actively in decision-making processes.
'They have opportunities that many other countries don't, where youth begin to lead early and work with others from the grassroots to the parliament.'
Rutaremara urged the youth to seize these opportunities, emphasizing that they should not be squandered, as previous generations including those who were refugees or affected by the Genocide against the Tutsi, did not have such chances.
IGIHE
