The visit was wrapped up on the evening of Thursday, February 8, 2023 where they were seen off at Kigali International Airport by a delegation including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vincent Biruta; the Minister of Environment, Dr. Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya; the Minister of Trade, Ngabitsinze Jean Chrysostome; and the Chief of Defence Staff for the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), Gen Mubarakh Muganga, among others.
Below are activities that marked his working visit to the Country of Thousand Hills:
Signing of MoUs
The Head of State arrived in Rwanda on the evening of Tuesday, February 6. Throughout his stay in the country, he engaged in several activities, including a closed-door meeting with his counterpart, Paul Kagame.
Subsequently, both leaders presided over the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) aimed at fostering trade and economic cooperation.
Additionally, the MoUs covered collaboration in green technologies, environmental engineering, geology, and energy efficiency. The leaders jointly addressed the press to communicate the outcomes of their discussions.
The agreements were signed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Vincent Biruta and Andrzej Szejna, Polish Secretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In his remarks, Kagame acknowledged the positive outcomes of collaboration in education, citing the presence of Rwandan students in Polish universities.
He emphasized the importance of developing the sectors covered by the signed agreements to enhance resilience in the face of global challenges.
“We have accomplished a lot together, the diplomatic presence in our respective countries will only serve to accelerate and solidify the good progress we are making,” he said.
President Duda, recognizing the hardworking societies of both countries, expressed Poland’s interest in credible partnerships with African nations that share common values.
He highlighted the deepening ties, especially with an increasing number of Rwandan youth studying in Poland, extending an invitation for interested Rwandans to enroll in military studies.
Poland-Rwanda Business Forum
During his three-day visit to Rwanda, President Duda participated in the Poland-Rwanda Business Forum along with his counterpart, Paul Kagame.
During the forum, it was disclosed that Polish investments in Rwanda have reached a notable milestone, amounting to an impressive 72.3 million US dollars (Rwf92 billion).
This disclosure came on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, where Jeanine Munyeshuli, Minister of State for Public Investment and Resource Mobilization shared insights with attendees from both nations.
Munyeshuli highlighted that Poland and Rwanda possess distinct capabilities and resources that can be leveraged for mutual gain.
In his address, President Kagame acknowledged the shared potential between Rwanda and Poland, highlighting Rwanda’s conducive investment environment.
He underscored the country’s commitment to innovation, having overcome challenges by prioritizing the needs of its citizens—a strategy he deemed the best investment made.
The Head of State outlined Rwanda’s focus on developing key sectors like health, tourism, and sports, aspiring to become the preferred destination for investors, both regionally and internationally.
Meanwhile, Polish President Andrzej Duda remarked on the consideration of Rwandan investments by Polish companies, citing the appeal of the local market’s security and stability.
He pointed out that Rwanda offers sought-after stability, high-level management, excellent investment conditions, abundant natural resources, and a population known for its ambition and hard work.
Visit to Kigali Genocide Memorial
During his visit to Rwanda on February 7, 2024, President Andrzej Duda of Poland visited Kigali Genocide Memorial, where he was deeply moved by witnessing how hatred, when allowed to thrive, could bring about the complete destruction of a nation.
At the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi, President Duda paid his respects to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi which took lives of more than 1 million victims. In the memorial’s guest book, he expressed profound sorrow for the events that unfolded in Rwanda in 1994.
In his written statement, President Duda conveyed that the people of Poland stand in remembrance of the millions of innocent lives lost during the Genocide against the Tutsi.
The visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial offered a poignant lesson on the dangers of divisive ideologies fueled by external influences that saw neighbors turning against each other, and the social fabric torn apart.
President Duda emphasized the historical significance of the Genocide, pointing out that it serves as a universal lesson, illustrating that allowing hatred to fester can lead to the complete destruction of a nation.
However, he commended Rwanda for its resilience, highlighting the remarkable role that justice and forgiveness played in the country’s reconstruction.
Touring tin processing plant
On the second day of his three-day visit to Rwanda, President Andrzej Duda of Poland also toured the LuNa Smelter plant, a tin processing facility in Rwanda. He highlighted the plant as a prime example of successful investment supported by Poland and emphasized its significant benefits for Rwanda and the region.
LuNa Smelter Ltd, operational in Jabana in the Gasabo District since 2018, has the capacity to melt 360 tons of cassiterite per month. The facility employs 50 permanent staff and additional casual workers.
The processed tin metals derived from these precious stones serve various purposes, including metal welding, battery manufacturing for certain vehicles, glassmaking, and the production of telephones and computers, among other applications.
Visit to Kibeho Holy Land and Visually Impaired Children
On the third day of his stay in Rwanda, the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda made a historic visit to the Kibeho Holy Land, located in Nyaruguru District.
President Duda explored Kibeho, renowned for the apparitions of the Virgin Mary, on Thursday, February 8, 2024. His visit was met with a warm reception from various officials, including the Governor of the Southern Province, Kayitesi Alice, and the Mayor of Nyaruguru District, Dr. Emmanuel Murwanashyaka.
Leaders in the Catholic Church of Rwanda, including the Archbishop of Kigali, Cardinal Antoine Kambanda, and the Bishop of Gikongoro Diocese, Hakizimana Célestin, also extended a warm welcome to President Duda.
Kibeho holds significance as one of the most renowned places in the world within the Catholic Church due to the Virgin Mary’s apparitions in this area.
The first apparition occurred on November 28, 1981, when the Virgin Mary appeared to a girl named Alphonsine Mumureke, who was studying at the ‘Mère du Verbe’ school in Kibeho.
Subsequently, the Virgin Mary appeared to other girls including Anathalie Mukamazimpaka and Marie Claire Mukangano, both students at the same school at the time. This annual pilgrimage site attracts thousands of devout pilgrims each year.
Father François Harerimana, the Director of the Virgin Mary Sanctuary in Kibeho, recently told IGIHE that President Duda’s visit marks a historic moment, as he becomes the first Head of State to explore the sacred grounds, further enhancing the area’s reputation.
On the same day, President Duda visited the School and Education Centre for Visually Impaired Children in Kibeho supported by Poland.
Over the years, Rwanda and Poland have strengthened bilateral relations in areas such as higher education, defense, agriculture, trade, and investment. Notably, there are currently over 1,500 Rwandan students studying in Poland.
The diplomatic ties between the two nations have deepened, with Rwanda opening an embassy in Warsaw in 2021, reciprocated by the establishment of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Kigali in December 2022, further enhancing the rapidly evolving cooperation between the two countries.
President Duda concluded his visit to Rwanda on Thursday evening. He left the Country of Thousand Hills for Tanzania where he was welcomed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the State House in Dar es Salaam.
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