Official Statement

New York, December 6, 2016

The General Assembly of the United States Rwandan Community Abroad (USRCA) convened in Dallas, Texas, on December 3, 2016 to discuss its achievements and challenges after three years of existence, amend its constitution, and elect a new national leadership team.

The USRCA is a non-political organization with the mission to mobilize and strengthen all Rwandan communities and create an environment that favors harmonious collaboration, solidarity, and tolerance in order to form a synergy that encourages members to be exemplary citizens of the USA, create a forum through which common issues, aspirations and solutions are discussed for the advancement of the interests of members, their communities, and their motherland. In the past three years USRCA has strived to form healthy, united and coordinated communities that care for the prosperity of their members.

At the General Assembly, Eng. Gaetan Gatete, the outgoing USRCA President discussed several achievements, including a good working relationship with and support from the US Embassy team in Washington, D.C.; the organization of several Rwanda Day and Rwandan Cultural Day events, a Youth Forum, a Rwandan Women’s Convention; and leadership retreats, among other achievements. He and other local leaders were happy to note that Kwibuka commemorations and Liberation Day celebrations have become annual events in Rwandan communities.

Eng. Gatete also revealed that new communities have been created, and their numbers have grown from 8 in 2013 to 15 in 2016, the most recent being those in Florida and Nevada. Others will follow soon.

Individuals within the USRCA leadership and the US Rwandan Communities at large have also coordinated and provided trainings and workshops, and others have significantly contributed to skills and knowledge transfer through teaching and facilitation of educational exchange programs.

The new executive team includes Professor Aimable Twagilimana as President, Immaculate Busingye as Vice-President, Yehoyada Mbangukira as Secretary General, Raissa Cunningham as Treasurer, Josepha Musabyemariya as Commissioner in charge of Gender and Culture, Roger Remera as Commissioner in charge of Mobilization, Rutsobe Nsengiyumva as Commissioner in charge of Youth, and Dr. Yohani Kanimura as Commissioner in charge of Skills and Knowledge Transfer.

The new team vowed to build on the achievements of the last three years to secure not-for profit organization status at the state and federal levels in the very near future, create more robust local communities, support the establishment of new Rwandan communities, partner with organizations with which it can collaborate on projects, and launch initiatives that lead to more contribution to Rwanda’s development.

The Embassy of Rwanda to the US was represented by Mr. Frank Kayijuka (First Counselor) and Mr. Lawrence Manzi (First Counselor). In the name of HE Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana they expressed the embassy’s appreciation for the job done by the outgoing committee and strengthened partnership during their term. The embassy also pledged their continued partnership and collaboration with the incoming committee in the advancement of the Rwandan Community in the USA.

This statement was provided by Prof. Aimable Twagilimana, USRCA President Buffalo