Come what may, it appears that this time – following two postponements occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic – the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, or CHOGM, which is held every two years, is coming to Rwanda's sparkling capital, Kigali, this June.

During this high-level event, senior officials from 53 Commonwealth countries, and up to 10,000 other guests, will gather in the beautiful city of the land of a thousand hills to discuss global issues.

Despite her detractors' endless, but unsuccessful spoiling antics, Rwanda will be honored to host CHOGM after few years of admission, a testimony of how much this resilient African country is appreciated in achieving the Commonwealth objectives.

President Kagame has a track record before hosting CHOGM

Rwanda joined the Commonwealth not only to benefit from it but also to contribute to its mandate. CHOGM is the Commonwealth’s highest consultative and policy-making gathering. Commonwealth leaders selected Rwanda as host for their next summit when they met in London in 2018.

On January 31, 2022, Rwanda's President Paul Kagame and Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland announced that the week of June 20, 2022 as the new date agreed with member countries for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) which would take place in Kigali, Rwanda.

Speaking on the announcement of the new date President Paul Kagame said: “Rwanda is pleased to welcome all delegates and participants to Kigali for a safe and productive CHOGM Rwanda 2022. The last two years have made it clear to us that we are more connected than ever before and we must work together to achieve the tangible and sustainable results we want.

"The long awaited meeting will be an important occasion to come together to address the challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and to build on innovative technological and economic opportunities to solve other key problems facing our citizens.”

The Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said: “I am delighted that the Commonwealth family can finally be reunited, four years on from our last CHOGM in London. Our meetings in Rwanda will give us a real opportunity to reaffirm the values that bind the Commonwealth together and focus on vital issues, including the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, tackling climate change and poverty, boosting trade and promoting sustainable development – all issues that can only be dealt with decisively through multilateral cooperation and mutual support.

“We have adapted throughout the pandemic, holding ministerial meetings online. It is with great joy and anticipation that I look ahead to a face-to-face Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. This will be the first CHOGM to be held in Africa for over a decade and I would like to commend the Government and people of Rwanda for their outstanding commitment and dedication to delivering an exemplary CHOGM in Kigali. I thank all Rwandans for their grace and fortitude in undertaking such detailed preparations to ensure a safe, secure and productive CHOGM that drives the Commonwealth forward in these trying times.

Postponing CHOGM for two consecutive years had affected private sector players, especially those who had taken bank loans to increase their financial capacity to offer services to the delegates. The announcement that the meeting will still happen gave optimism to Rwanda’s business community.

Businesses in the country welcomed the confirmation that the highly anticipated  Summit would finally take place in June 2022.

Ignore Rwanda’s foes raising the ante at the eve of CHOGM 2021

Ian Williams, General Manager of Mantis Epic Hotel in Nyagatare district told local media how most businesses had lost hope in the meeting but are now elated.

He said: “We’re very excited that the meeting is finally going ahead, we were very worried that the meeting would be cancelled after this time or taken virtual."

For Aubin Bahizi Mutesa, Manager of Sovana Restaurant in Kigali, CHOGM will be an immense opportunity.

“We promise to do our best and serve the guests with integrity, and we shall also reap from that, as they will have to spend some time here."

“We’re also upgrading our digital platforms to sell our products, so that they can be accessible to our clients and the guests in all possible forms, so as to increase the access."