Regional
UBUDASA: Rwanda’s collective identity?
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UBUDASA a Kinyarwanda word which translated
directly means uniqueness or distinction has been found to be a fundamental
characteristic of Rwandans. Developed countries are known for running big
economies with modern infrastructure, science, and advanced technologies.
Rwanda, a small country with GDP of $10.63 billion is known for
its unique ways of solving its developmental challenges with ambition and
excellence despite its limited fiscal space.
UBUDASA has led for Rwanda to be seen as an outlier among African
countries and beyond. This concept dates back in our history where the country
was colonized by super-powers who however had little success in abolishing
Rwandan administrative structures and cultural values.
Despite their invasion, Rwandans kept their single language and
even when one segment of the society was banished from the country, they kept
the same values where they sought refuge.
Indanga gaciro z’abanyarwanda na kirazira remained the catalyst of
unity among Rwandans and defined their identity for more than 50 years in
exile. The Ubudasa principle has steadily gained traction and has been embraced
by Rwandans becoming a symbol of unity and remains a distinctive characteristic
of Rwanda’s collective identity.
It is
therefore significant to draw a positive correlation between Rwanda’s success
as a model nation of excellence globally with an explicit recognition that
draws on its Ubudasa cultural and social values.
No country in recent history has suffered loss of innocent lives
and mass destruction like Rwanda did in 1994 Genocide against Tutsi. The whole
world abandoned Rwanda because the circumstance did not fit the urgency to save
Rwandans and to stop the Genocide.
Rwandans however denied abusing their moral responsibility and got
the courage to fight on their own to save lives and restore humanity. The
journey of Rwanda’s resurrection is a miracle that gives the world hope that
even after such a tragedy, there is always a window of opportunity to start a
new and successful beginning.
Rwanda’s
power of winning when nothing is left to build on is defined by UBUDASA, a
unique virtue backed with visionary leadership that has set the stage in
shaping Rwanda the new paradise, stable and strong state.
Rwanda’s fate in 1994 was incomparable to any country or a people
because it was unique and only required a distinctive approach to address the
issue. The art of UBUDASA facilitated Rwandans in making their own choices by
redefining who they are, where they want to go and how to achieve this goal.
This is the cultural value on which Rwanda is built today.
Rwanda’s approach to solving issues facing them is unique and how
they deal with it follows their own response modalities that surpass external
and conventional systems.
UBUDASA
deeply characterized Rwanda’s liberation struggle. Rwandans in exile from all
over the places joined forces to fight for their destiny and put an end to
banishment by the bad leadership of the past. Liberating the country and
stopping the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi was achieved through the power of
resilience and the spirit of perseverance of the Rwanda Patriotic Army
currently known as the Rwanda Defence Force.
The Genocide taught Rwandans a lesson that the world has no
protector and thus the duty fell on them to protect their people and deal with
post-conflict challenges. The magnitude of the post conflict challenges were
immense that no value of aid or donation could have met the needs of Rwandans
by then.
Only
UBUDASA shaped the minds and approach to which Rwanda found solutions to these
issues. The liberation was a rebirth of a nation with a whole new governance
approach to establishing a country of one people. The art of UBUDASA gave
Rwandans many reasons to forgive each other, work together for one common good
and live together peacefully leaving behind their past.
This
milestone has never been a best practice borrowed from any country but found to
be the best choice for Rwandans and has proved to be the best alternative for a
unified nation.
The
concept of UBUDASA also affirms Rwanda’s spirit of embracing homegrown
solutions which are localized instruments of governance, economic development
and social inclusion that have had immense impact on the country’s development
path, a great attribute to UBUDASA.
Examples of successful models adopted from Rwanda’s culture and
history include Gacaca Courts, Umuganda, Imihigo performance systems, Ubudehe,
Girinka programme, Abunzi, Abanjyanama b’ubuzima, Umushikirano and Umwiherero.
Rwanda’s
new leadership and governance ethics introduced by the Government of Rwanda led
by His Excellence President Paul Kagame enhanced accountable systems, increased
citizen participation in the development process ensuring each voice is heard
and equally participates in solving problems facing society.
The economic and social integration strategies have been
consistent and impactful in the development of Rwanda. Good governance has been
a key driver to this success. Inclusive economic development, and
socially-oriented policies such as free universal 12 years basic education,
universal health insurance, social protection frameworks and above all building
a stable, safe and peaceful nation.
The
outcome to this approach is the social contract built on TRUST and CONSESUS
between the government and Rwandans. A sense of responsibility has been built
among Rwandans ensuring that they are at the forefront of finding solutions to
their problems instead of waiting for someone else to resolve them.
To add the many examples of UBUDASA is the country’s response to
Covid-19 pandemic, its effects on the lives of Rwandans and the economy in
general.
The drivers for Rwanda’s success on achieving these results were
majorly established on the existing effective health systems, operational governance
structures, the level of coordination and the trust of government by Rwandans
but mostly the citizens abiding to the COVID-19 regulations and mutual support
to the poorest affected more by the pandemic.
Another
great example of UBUDASA is Rwanda’s commitment to peace and stability in the
region. A country which suffered Genocide while the world was watching has
taken up a great responsibility to protect civilians upholding the moral
significance of humanity which is fundamental to build collective hope of the
African continent and beyond. By this, Rwanda champions the implementation of
the Kigali Principles, an international commitment to the protection of
civilians in conflict situations and Vancouver principles on the prevention of
the recruitment and use of children as soldiers in situations of armed
conflict.
The country has contributed to not only protecting civilians but
also building peace in countries like Sudan, South Sudan, Central Africa
Republic, Haiti and Mozambique among others.
Ubudasa has been a unifying factor for Rwandans, a catalyst for development growth and a significance in restoring Rwanda’s identity. For Rwandans, we believe that each one of us has played a unique role in shaping our history to a new beginning which is building an equal society that is peaceful and excelling in economic and social dynamics. We therefore have the duty to maintain and protect what has been achieved.
Source: www.newtimes.co.rw