Rwanda’s Ambassador to the United States, Mathilde Mukantabana, kicked off Umuganura festivities among Rwandans living in the country, marking the start of a series of celebrations to follow across various Rwandan communities in America.
The event took place on Sunday, August 9, 2026, according to the Rwandan Embassy in Washington. The embassy said “this week the Ambassador launched the Umuganura celebrations,” setting the stage for further gatherings to be held in Rwandan communities throughout the U.S.
The launch drew representatives of Rwandan communities from the Washington, D.C.,Maryland, and Virginia area, along with Friends of Rwanda and embassy staff and their families.
The embassy noted that “Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana emphasized that Umuganura is an occasion to celebrate the nation’s achievements and to recognize every Rwandan’s contribution to the country’s development.” The Washington event came two days after Rwanda’s national Umuganura celebrations, which were held in Rusizi District. Rwandans around the world continue to mark the holiday, a tradition rooted in Rwandan culture, under this year’s theme, “Umuganura: A Wellspring of Unity and a Foundation for Self-Reliance.”
Umuganura is traditionally observed on the first Friday of August each year. The holiday dates back to pre-colonial Rwanda and originally marked the celebration of the year’s harvest, rooted in the country’s agricultural and livestock-rearing traditions.
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