About Uwamahirwe's Country

Rwanda consists mainly of grassy uplands and hills that extend southeast from a chain of volcanoes in the northwest. It is divided by several rivers and has many lakes. The climate is temperate with t read more...wo main annual rainy seasons. Rwanda's culture is an anguished story of three ethnic groups inhabiting the same country: the Twa, Hutus and Tutsis. The Twa were joined by the migration of the forbearers of today's Hutus and constitute a small percentage of the population today. The Hutus were agriculturalists and thus culturally in contrast with the Tutsis, who raised livestock. Tensions between the Tutsis and Hutus became the basis for one of the most devastating civil wars and genocides in world history. Today most families live in a self-contained compound. Those with HIV/AIDS number half a million. English is the official language of Rwanda, although French and Kinyarwanda are still used. Most Rwandans are Catholics; Protestant is the second largest religion. Compassion works throughout the country. For more than 400 years, Rwanda was ruled by a Tutsi monarchy. In 1959, Hutus gained control of the government and forced the Tutsis to flee the country. A Tutsi-led insurrection in 1990, fighting to return to their country, caused civil strife that culminated in 1994 when over one million people were killed and two million fled to neighboring countries. A new constitution was adopted in 1995, and many refugees have since returned but the country still struggles with the devastating effects of the war and genocide. In 1999, Rwanda had its first local elections installing President Maj. Gen. Paul Kagame. Kagame was reelected in 2003 and 2010.