Musanze, Rwanda — today, 19 February 2026

The Chairperson of the Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission, Valérie Nyirahabineza, together with Commissioners, today received a senior delegation of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) at the Mutobo Demobilisation Centre, in the Northern Province.

The visit formed part of the 7th meeting of border commanders currently underway in Musanze, bringing together security leaders from Rwanda and Uganda to review cross-border cooperation and regional stability.

Led by Major General Paul Muhanguzi, the UPDF delegation was accompanied by senior Rwanda Defence Force officers, including Major General Ruki Karusisi, Commander of the 5th Division, and Brigadier General Deo Rusanganwa, Commander of the 2nd Division. The delegation was briefed on Rwanda’s demobilisation and reintegration framework and its contribution to peace and security in the Great Lakes region—particularly through voluntary disengagement from the FDLR.

During a guided tour of Mutobo, the visitors observed vocational training programmes designed to equip former combatants with practical skills for civilian life, underscoring Rwanda’s emphasis on sustainable reintegration and economic self-reliance.

The delegation later engaged directly with beneficiaries, hearing first-hand testimonies that reinforced the Commission’s presentation. Hafashimana Mbale, a recent returnee from the FDLR, recounted his decision to leave armed life in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where he had operated around Pinga alongside the FARDC. He thanked Rwanda for the reception accorded to returnees and urged those still in the forests to repatriate voluntarily.

Virginia Niyitegeka, a former female member of the FDLR, shared an emotional account of her return following the fall of Goma. While rebuilding her life in Rwanda, she appealed to those still in armed groups—including her husband—to choose peace, highlighting the human cost of prolonged conflict.

Additional testimonies from former combatants-turned-entrepreneurs illustrated the tangible outcomes of reintegration support. One former corporal NGIRUWONSANGA Jean Marie Vianney described how initial start-up assistance enabled him to build successful ventures in agri business and livestock farming—an example, officials noted, of many returnees who have transitioned into productive civilian livelihoods.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Major General Muhanguzi commended the Commission’s work and praised the prevailing security cooperation between the two countries. He also acknowledged the leadership of President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda, expressing hope for lasting peace across the region.

The border commanders’ meeting is scheduled to conclude on Thursday, 20 February 2026, in Musanze. It aims to assess and address security challenges while strengthening bilateral cooperation along the Rwanda–Uganda border.

End.