The Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, Dr Jean-Damascène Bizimana, has urged senior pastors of the ADEPR Church to uphold leadership that promotes unity and to avoid anything that could divide Rwandans in their daily spiritual and social activities.

Running from October 5 to 10 at the National Ubutore Development Centre in Nkumba, Itorero for ADEPR leaders brings together 50 senior pastors who operate at national and district levels, representing a network of more than 2,015 churches nationwide.

The initiative aims to deepen the faith leaders' understanding of Rwanda's history, foster patriotism, prevent genocide ideology, and maximize the role of religious organizations in building a unified, secure nation.

Leadership Anchored on Historical Truth and Accountability

Addressing the clerics during the opening ceremony, Minister Dr Bizimana emphasized that spiritual leadership must be coupled with absolute social accountability and a devotion to national unity.

"We have a better country that thinks about its citizens. Accept that leadership comes with accountability, from spreading Scripture to serving society. Learn the history of your country; that is where you will understand how we ended up in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi," Minister Bizimana stated.

Dr. Bizimana further called on the faith leaders to confront historical truths with strict objectivity, urging them to serve as guardians of memory within their respective communities. He explicitly noted that historical clarity requires transparency, even when personal or community links intersect with Rwanda's painful past.

Minister Dr Bizimana MINUBUMWE commended the leadership of ADEPR for its historical transparency and active steps to confront the legacy of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, specifically noting the church’s courage in exposing and holding accountable former clergy who participated in the Genocide.

According to Rev. Isaie Ndayizeye, the Senior Pastor and Legal Representative of ADEPR, the church has systematically scaled its unity and resilience programs across all districts over the last three decades. Beyond integrating messages of forgiveness into evangelical preaching, ADEPR actively participates in social reintegration frameworks that welcome and support genocide convicts who have completed their judicial sentences.

"The good news of our Lord must go hand in hand with the well-being of the family. When we teach people to love their spouses as they love themselves, let us also be involved in promoting national unity and community resilience," Rev. Ndayizeye added.

A Holistic Partnership for Community Transformation

The Governor of the Northern Province, Maurice Mugabowagahunde, welcomed the senior clergy to the civic training, stressing that their social influence is a vital asset to local governance. He challenged the pastors to leverage their renewed insights to protect youth from substance abuse, heal broken families, and anchor local communities in peace.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Pastor Justin Karangwa noted that the program will effectively align spiritual messaging with national reconciliation frameworks.

Through institutional partnerships like this Itorero program, MINUBUMWE continues to collaborate with diverse faith-based organizations to safeguard historical truth, dismantle divisive ideologies, and build a highly resilient, unified Rwandan society.