For many of us, exile marked our very birth. Being a refugee was neither a choice nor something to rejoice in. This imposed status shaped lives marked by resilience, waiting, and quiet trials, yet deeply formative.
The advent of the Inkotanyi made possible what once seemed impossible: the return to the homeland. That return did not merely end exile; it restored dignity, identity, and a sense of national belonging. Returning to Rwanda meant reclaiming the Gakondo, the land of our ancestors, and fully reconnecting with Rwandan identity.
This return also included Rwandans forced into exile by the genocidal regime: the Inkotanyi brought them back to their country and still encourage those who remain abroad to come home. From then on, the status of refugee can no longer define the identity of a Rwandan.
The transition from non-resident to full citizen brought a profound transformation. It made us Inkotanyi by state, not merely by sentiment. Ubukotanyi thus becomes a permanent commitment, a moral, civic, and patriotic posture sustained over time.
This legacy imposes a major responsibility: to be vigilant guardians of national sovereignty.
Rwanda was reconquered at the ultimate cost, the lives of our people. Such a sacrifice precludes any lightness, forgetfulness, or compromise. Honoring their memory requires jealously preserving the nation's independence, unity, and dignity.
As the Rwandan proverb reminds us: 'Umugabo arigira yakwibura agapfa'
'He who takes responsibility for himself will not perish.'
Thus, Rwanda is no longer a place of wandering but a space of life, stability, and hope, firmly rooted in the land of our forebears.
The core values of Ubukotanyi
Ubukotanyi rests on essential, non-negotiable principles:
â€" enlightened and responsible patriotism
â€" national sovereignty
â€" memory and respect for the sacrifice made
â€" the dignity of the Rwandan citizen
â€" unity, resilience, and national cohesion
â€" responsibility toward future generations
Message for 2026
May the year 2026 rekindle and strengthen these founding values.
May Ubukotanyi remain a permanent state, embodied in the actions, words, and choices of every citizen.
Ubukotanyi is not a feeling.
Ubukotanyi is a state.
Liliane Iradukunda
Source : https://en.igihe.com/opinion/article/ubukotanyi-a-state-of-being-foundation-of-rwandan-patriotism
