As Rwanda celebrated the International Day of Families on May 18, 2025, citizens and leaders emphasized that dialogue among family members is a key pillar in building a peaceful and stable household. The Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF) called upon Rwandans to prioritize communication as a means to prevent conflicts and promote unity within the family.
This year’s theme, “Meaningful Dialogue, the Foundation of a Strong Family,” was highlighted in discussions held in Kigali City, where parents, youth, and leaders reflected on the importance of healing and effective home leadership through open conversations.
The family of Emmanuel Ndaribumbye and Jeannette Uzayisenga, residents of Kadobogo Cell in Kinyinya Sector, was showcased as a model family demonstrating how dialogue at home plays a major role in preventing conflicts and achieving development goals. Having been married for 14 years, the couple attributes their lasting bond to honest, continuous communication rooted in love and teamwork.
Ndaribumbye shared: “When we were about to get married, we made a pact not to keep secrets. We advise each other. When the children fight, we sit them down and let them talk it through and decide on appropriate consequences for each other. It teaches them how to live harmoniously.”
He added that they maintain a family performance notebook, which helps them track their achievements and plan for the future. “At the end of each year, we sit down, review our goals, and set a new direction for the coming year,” he explained.
Jeannette Uzayisenga emphasized that trust, mutual respect, and honesty are the foundations of their strong family. “When we bring our ideas together, it helps us work hard, earn money, and take care of our children and our household responsibilities,” she said.
This message was echoed by the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Consolée Uwimana, who highlighted that dialogue is a key to building peace and mutual understanding in families. “This theme reminds us of the power of communication in family-building and development. As Rwandans, we must sit together and prioritize dialogue as a path to peace and conflict resolution,” she stated.
She reminded the public that Family Evening Dialogues are not just for local leaders or women alone, but are a platform for all family members to come together and foster healing and unity.
She added: “Family conflicts are at the root of many issues we face—malnutrition, school dropouts, child abuse, theft, suicides, and more. A family without peace cannot properly raise children.”
A 2024 study by the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) showed that domestic conflicts are largely driven by alcohol abuse (82.8%) and lack of communication (82.6%). Other contributing factors include infidelity, polygamy, poor financial management, misunderstanding gender equality, drug abuse, and distraction from social media—leaving families with little time to talk to one another.
The International Day of Families is globally observed on May 15 each year. It was established by the United Nations in 1993 and first celebrated in 1994 to emphasize the family’s importance as the foundation of sustainable development.
