Every February 1st, Rwanda celebrates National Heroes Day, a day to remember and reflect on the lives and history of men, women, and children who performed supreme acts in the public interest with nobility, courage, outstanding sacrifice, and resilience, allowing Rwandans to live in peace and harmony. On this Saturday, February 1, 2025, Rwanda celebrates the 31st National Heroes Day Anniversary. Hobe Australia has used documents and reports from the Chancellery for Heroes, National Orders, and Decorations of Honor (CHENO) to prepare an interesting story about Rwanda’s heroes. Definition of a

Every February 1st, Rwanda celebrates National Heroes Day, a day to remember and reflect on the lives and history of men, women, and children who performed supreme acts in the public interest with nobility, courage, outstanding sacrifice, and resilience, allowing Rwandans to live in peace and harmony. On this Saturday, February 1, 2025, Rwanda celebrates the 31st National Heroes Day Anniversary. Hobe Australia has used documents and reports from the Chancellery for Heroes, National Orders, and Decorations of Honor (CHENO) to prepare an interesting story about Rwanda’s heroes. Definition of a Hero As stated by Law No. 65/2024 of 20/06/2024 governing the Chancellery for Heroes, National Orders, and Decorations of Honor, a hero is a person who pursues objectives that result in a supreme achievement for the public interest and does so with nobility, courage, outstanding sacrifice, and resilience. To be classified as a National Hero in Rwanda, a person must meet the following criteria: Proven integrity: Demonstrating courage, supporting positive actions, identifying negative actions, and daring to fight them despite potential risks. Patriotism: Promoting the country’s sovereignty, development, national pride, and unity among its inhabitants. Sacrifice: Denying personal interests in defense of public interests and, if necessary, sacrificing one’s life. Vision: Being visionary and understanding truths that are not evident to all. Proven courage or bravery: Being renowned for acts of bravery that are recognized and appreciated by many. Serving as an example: Being known for outstanding achievements that serve as a model for others. Truthfulness: Being characterized by honesty and defending the truth fearlessly. Magnanimity: Demonstrating good manners in behavior, relationships, and interactions. Humanity: Exhibiting love for others rather than materialism. Determination of Hero Categories The classification of heroes is also based on the following criteria: Supreme sacrifice: Devoting oneself entirely, disregarding personal interests, and, if necessary, sacrificing one’s life to defend public and national interests. Importance demonstrated by the hero: Outstanding importance: Actions that contribute to the nation’s creation or survival and significantly improve the well-being of all Rwandans. High importance: Actions that promote social welfare, knowledge, and positively impact the collective vision of Rwandans. Great importance: Actions that bring significant improvements to the well-being of a large number of Rwandans. Example demonstrated by the hero: Outstanding example: An act that all Rwandans, across generations, consider as their greatest inspiration. High example: An act that the majority of Rwandans regard as their greatest inspiration. Categories of National Heroes Rwandan heroes are classified into three categories: Imanzi, Imena, and Ingenzi. 1. Imanzi This category represents the supreme heroes who demonstrated outstanding achievements characterized by supreme sacrifice, exceptional importance, and exemplary behavior. The category includes: The Unknown Soldier: Representing all soldiers who died during Rwanda’s liberation struggle. Major General Fred Gisa Rwigema: The first commander in the struggle, who died fighting for all Rwandans to enjoy their motherland. 2. Imena This category includes heroes who follow Imanzi and are recognized for their extraordinary acts for the country, characterized by supreme sacrifice, high importance, and exemplary actions. Notable figures in this category include:Mutara III Rudahigwa Charles Léon Pierre: The second-to-last king of Rwanda, Prime Minister Agatha Uwiringiyimana, Rwagasana Michel, Felicite Niyitegeka and The Nyange Students. On the night of March 18, 1997, three years after the Genocide against Tutsi of 1994, had been stopped, the remnants of the perpetrators of the Genocide, then known by their local name "Abacengezi", attacked the Nyange Secondary school, killing innocent students indiscriminately after they refused to separate into Hutu and Tutsi. Had they separated, the Tutsi students would have been killed. The students stood together and boldly told the attackers that they were all Rwandans and none of them deserved to die. The attackers threw grenades and shot the students with six dying on spot, two died later, and a big number of them were injured. All the eight dead and 39 survivors are National Heroes. 3. Ingenzi This category includes heroes who follow Imena and are recognized for their remarkable ideas or outstanding achievements characterized by supreme sacrifice, great importance, and high example. As of now, no one has been officially approved as a hero in this category. However, according to CHENO, this does not mean that no one qualifies—rather, the research and approval process takes time.

A little more informed. A little more connected.