As the club marks this milestone, IGIHE spoke to Byusa Wilson, widely known as Rudifu, one of the club's founding members when it was established in Mulindi, Gicumbi District.
Rudifu shared that the idea of creating the team originated with President Paul Kagame, who at the time was leading the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA).
'The idea came from President Kagame back in 1992. At the time, each battalion had its own team, and we used to play friendly matchesâ€"our Byumba team would play against the Nyagatare side, and so on,' he said.
'In 1993, President Kagame got wind of this and asked, 'Why don't we create a league?' We continued playing until combat resumed, and we had to pause.'
According to Rudifu, APR FC began with 32 players selected from a pool of 90.
'They selected 32 players out of 90. Those chosen became the first APR FC squad. This happened in April 1993.'
APR FC's first match was against a team of PSD members who were visiting Mulindi. That same period also saw the launch of the club's volleyball and basketball sections.
Among the original members were Uwimana Michael, Lt. Col. Alphonse Muyango, Gen. Mubarakh Muganga, Maj. Gen. Willy Rwagasana, Gen. Jean Bosco Kazura, and others.
Not born in black and white
Interestingly, APR FC didn't originally don the now-iconic black and white colours. Rudifu recounted how the team's colours evolved:
'Many of us had come from Burundi and were fans of Vital'O FC, which wore mauve and white. One day, Katarebe, who was the president of Rwanda FC, attended a meeting with his close friend Kazura.'
'Kazura had played for Inter Star, which wore black and white. That's how we ended up adopting those colours. But originally, we were mauve and white.'
Entering the league with spirit and purpose
In 1996, APR FC entered the Rwandan Premier League for the first time and won it.
'We had no proper facilities, but what drove us was sheer determination,' Rudifu said. 'We often said, 'We came from the bush'â€"unlike other teams that had better conditions. What gave us the edge was our fighting spirit and the will to prove ourselves.'
The club was also founded with the support of three civilian members from the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi).
Some of the first notable players to join included Nshimiyimana Eric, Julien Ndagano, and Nkunzingoma Ramadhani.
'As players, we received a bonusâ€"what we called a primeâ€"on top of our military salary. The civilians, of course, had their own contracts,' Rudifu explained.
Now a coach at Intare FC, Rudifu credits APR FC's continued success to strong leadership, consistent support for players, and a culture of fearlessness grounded in its history.
'The club's leadership engages closely with players, and there's a shared hunger for success. APR FC doesn't fear any opponent.'
Over the course of its 32-year history, APR FC has built a legacy of unparalleled success in Rwandan football. The club has claimed the Rwandan Premier League title an astonishing 23 times, with victories spanning from 1995 to 2025. These championship seasons include 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, and consecutively from 2020 through 2025.
In addition to its league dominance, APR FC has lifted the Peace Cup 14 times. The club first won the trophy in 1994 and went on to claim it in 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, and most recently in 2025.
APR FC's influence has extended beyond national borders as well. The team has triumphed in the CECAFA Kagame Cup on three occasions: 2004, 2007, and 2010, solidifying its reputation as a regional football powerhouse.
IGIHE
