Mubuga Secondary School, from Karongi District, has been named the winner of the 2026 National Kinyarwanda, Culture and Heritage Competition after emerging ahead of schools from across Rwanda.
The school secured the top position with a score of 86% during the national finals held on June 20, 2026, at Lycée de Kigali. The competition brought together 20 schools that had advanced from regional qualifying rounds held across the country.
Held under the theme “Take Pride in Your Language, Preserve Your Culture and Heritage,” the competition sought to promote the use of Kinyarwanda while strengthening awareness of Rwanda’s cultural identity and values among young people.
Out of 20 schools that participated in the preliminary stages, 5 progressed to the final round.
The winning schools were awarded trophies, certificates and books in recognition of their achievements. G.S. Mubuga took first place, followed closely by G.S. Remera Rukoma with 85.5%, while Ecole des Sciences de Musanze came third with a score of 84%.
E.S. Bumbogo secured fourth place with 83%, and TTC Kabarore rounded out the top five with 75%.
Arsène Mukwiye, a third-year student studying Mathematics, Physics and Geography (MPG) at G.S. Mubuga, said the competition played an important role in deepening students’ knowledge of Rwanda’s history, traditions and cultural heritage.
According to him, taking part in the contest encouraged students to value their Rwandan identity and recognize the importance of preserving cultural values for future generations.
The competition received support from the Ministry of Youth and Arts, which provided books focusing on Rwanda’s history, culture and heritage. Kinyarwanda teachers also contributed by helping students prepare for the event.
During the award ceremony, Ambassador Robert Masozera highlighted the significance of Kinyarwanda as a cornerstone of Rwanda’s national identity.
He urged young people to embrace and promote their mother tongue, noting that language remains one of the country’s most valuable cultural assets.
He further stressed that Kinyarwanda should not be viewed as a language reserved for older generations, but rather as a shared national treasure that belongs to all Rwandans.
Dr. Nelson Mbarushimana, Director General of the Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB), commended the initiative for enhancing students’ language proficiency while fostering a deeper appreciation of Rwanda’s culture and heritage.
Organizers expressed optimism that the competition will continue motivating young people to celebrate their language and actively contribute to safeguarding Rwanda’s rich cultural legacy.
The competition was officially launched on February 10, 2026, by the Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, Dr. Jean Damascène BIZIMANA, who emphasized the importance of preserving the Kinyarwanda language and Rwanda’s cultural heritage as key pillars of national identity. Since its launch, the initiative has engaged students from different parts of the country in activities aimed at promoting cultural values and linguistic excellence.
Alice DUSABIMANA / KIGALI TIMES