BUJUMBURA/GITEGA/KAYANZA/BUBANZA/KARUSI/MURAMVYA/MAKAMBA, October 17th (ABP) – The President of the Republic of Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimiye, together with his wife, Angeline Ndayishimiye, participated in the ceremonies, in Bujumbura on Monday, October 14, 2024, to commemorate the 63rd anniversary of the assassination of Prince Louis Rwagasore, a hero of Burundian independence.
Also taking part in the ceremonies to commemorate the 63rd anniversary of the assassination of the hero of national independence were the Vice-President of the Republic and his wife, the Prime Minister, the President and two Vice-Presidents of the National Assembly, the Second Vice-President of the Senate, the Burundian Ombudsman, the former President of the Republic Sylvestre Ntibantunganya and his wife, the wife of the late President Pierre Nkurunziza, the Presidents of the Constitutional and Supreme Courts, the Deputy Secretary General of the ruling party, representatives of the diplomatic and consular corps and many other authorities of the country.
On that occasion, the presidential couple paid tribute to the illustrious late Prince Louis Rwagasore, laying wreaths of flowers at the mausoleum on Mont Vugizo in the Kiriri district, where his body lies.
The ceremonies commemorating the 63rd anniversary of the assassination of the hero of national independence ended with a mass celebrated at Regina Mundi Cathedral, in memory of the illustrious deceased.
The readings, especially for that day of commemoration, were taken from the apostle Paul’s epistle to the Galatians (Ga 4, 22-24.26-27.31 – 5,1), Psalm 112 (Ps. 112 (113), 1-4.5a.6-7) and the Gospel according to Saint Luke (Lk. 11, 29-32).
In his homily, Regina Mundi parish priest Félix Fupi drew on the story of the prophet Jonah, who was sent by God to Nineveh to invite the people to repent, but who responded to God’s call with his feelings (by trying to flee), not with his faith in God.
Nevertheless, God showed Jonah forgiveness and mercy in the way he acted towards others, he pointed out.
Curé Fupi called on everyone to be wise, to repent and to believe in Jesus in order to be saved, and finally, to save others. He also called on Burundians to safeguard the legacy of Prince Louis Rwagasore, who advocated unity and development for the country.
In Gitega province (the political capital and center of the country), the ceremonies took place at the Prince Louis Rwagasore monument on Avenue du Triomphe, close to the French Alliance of Gitega. The ceremonies began with an ecumenical prayer on the site.
That was followed by the laying of wreaths by representatives of the provincial and communal administrations, the royal family of Prince Louis Rwagasore and the political parties registered in Gitega. Those included CNDD-FDD, UPRONA, Sahwanya Frodebu, CNL, PIEBU Abanyeshaka, UPD Zigamibanga, PMP Abagenderabanga, ADR, APDR and CODEBU Iragi rya Ndadaye.
Finally, the audience present at the ceremonies, made up mainly of schoolchildren, civil servants and law enforcement and security agents, listened attentively to Prince Rwagasore’s speech, following the victory of his UPRONA party in 1961.
In Kayanza province (north of the country), the ceremonies began with a mass celebrated in memory of Prince Louis Rwagasore at the Rushubi branch of the Rubanga parish in Muhanga commune. They continued with the laying of wreaths of flowers at the monument erected at his former residence in Gisara.
After listening to a speech given by the late Louis Rwagasore after his UPRONA party’s victory in 1961, Vianney Ndikumana, chief of staff to the governor of Kayanza, stressed that the choice of the Muhanga commune was not made by chance, but because Prince Louis Rwagasore had lived on Gisara hill since February 1, 1959.
What’s more, he added, the independence hero settled on Gisara hill when he was head of the Butanyerera chiefdom. Ndikumana stressed that the illustrious departed was not animated by divisionism, adding that it was thanks to that quality that he enabled Burundi to achieve its independence. He pointed out that to achieve the national vision, serenity and the consolidation of peace and security were needed.
On the eve of the 2025 elections, the chief of staff of the governor of Kayanza invited the people of Kayanza in general and those of voting age to register in the next few days so that they can take part in the elections.
For those who do not have their national identity cards, he urged them to go and get them, so as not to deprive themselves of the civic right to vote.
In the province of Bubanza (north-west Burundi), 6 political parties laid wreaths at the monument to Prince Louis Rwagasore: UPRONA, CNDD-FDD, SAHWANYA-FRODEBU, APDR, RANAC and FNL.
In his speech, the governor of Bubanza province, Cléophas Nizigiyimana, called on the local inhabitants to remain faithful heirs to the independence hero by strengthening unity and solidarity among themselves, while overcoming their different tendencies.
May Prince Rwagasore serve as a good reference for them in their love of work, in overcoming fear for the common good, and in working for peace and the well-being of their peers in their respective localities, we were told on site.
It should be noted that flags at various services and public places were at half-mast.
In Karusi province (in the center of the country), ceremonies in all communes began with a mass before moving on to the monument to the independence hero. In the Buhiga commune, during mass at the Sacré Cœur parish in Karusi, parish priest Wilson Nkurunziza pointed out that Burundian colonizers had taken over from the Belgian colonizers, particularly those who plundered the country’s wealth and trampled on human rights in every sense of the word.
At the monument to Prince Louis Rwagasore, representatives of the administration, the Rwagasore family, the CNDD-FDD, UPRONA, SAHWANYA-FRODEBU and APDR parties laid wreaths of flowers.
After listening to part of the independence hero’s speech on the occasion of his party’s victory in 1961, Jean Bosco Bimenyimana, permanent secretary of the Buhiga commune administrator, returned to some of the major issues of the day.
Elections are imminent, and we need to prepare for them in peace and security, as happened with UPRONA during the Rwagasore era,” he said. He recalled that the entire population aged 17 and over must obtain identity cards in order to fulfill their duty to vote.
Communiqués on participation in the elections were distributed to hill chiefs for posting on the same occasion, he concluded.
In Muramvya province (in the center of the country), commemorative ceremonies at provincial level took place in the Bukeye commune, and began with a mass at the Saint Edouard parish in Bukeye. In his homily, the parish priest, Clovis Nduwimana, recalled the biography and life of Prince Louis Rwagasore, which he compared to that of a martyr.
He called on everyone to work for social cohesion and unity to preserve the legacy of Prince Louis Rwagasore. With regard to the forthcoming elections, the parish priest of Saint Edouard de Bukeye called on those who would be taking part to do their utmost to ensure that the peace, security and unity of the people of Burundi are always guaranteed.
After mass, a peaceful march took place towards the independence monument on the RN1, where wreaths of flowers were laid, noted ABP on site.
In his speech, Governor Euphrèm Ndikumasabo recalled the highlights of the life and “ubutwari” of Prince Louis Rwagasore, assassinated in 1961, who achieved his goal of liberating the Burundian people.
He called on the population of voting age to do their duty, and to avoid delays in registering. In order to take part in the next legislative, communal and hill elections in 2025. He reminded them that voter registration is scheduled to run from October 22 to October 31, 2024.
Those commemorative ceremonies for the 63rd anniversary of the assassination of the hero of national independence, in Bukeye commune, were attended by representatives of the provincial and communal administrations, as well as representatives of approved political parties such as CNDD-FDD, Rwagasore’s UPRONA and FRODEBU, who each laid wreaths of flowers at the historic monument to national independence.
In Makamba province (south of the country), those ceremonies began with a mass in memory of Prince Rwagasore, celebrated at the Saint Pierre Claver parish in Makamba. In his homily, the parish priest, Pierre Niyonkuru, asked the population to strengthen the love that is stronger than hate. He pointed out that the foundation of politics is the common good, building on the past to forge a good future.
After mass, the festivities continued at the Monument to National Heroes, with a wreath-laying ceremony. Those laying flowers included the governor’s office, the royal family, the ruling CNDD-FDD party, administrators from the six communes of Makamba province, UPRONA, SAHWANYA-FRODEBU, APDR, PL, CODEBU Iragi rya Ndadaye, AND Intadohoka, CNDD and PIEBU Abanyeshaka.
In her opening address, the governor of Makamba, Tantine Ncutinamagara, called on the population to take the lead in ensuring the proper management of development cooperatives; by correctly using the credits they receive from banks and the government.
She reassured farmers about the shortage of seeds, indicating that other selected seeds would soon be available in the province. Ncutinamagara warned that parents responsible for dropping out of school would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.