OTTAWA — A new partnership between RCA Canada and I&M Bank Rwanda brought a practical investment dimension to Rwanda Convention Canada 2026, as Rwandans and friends of Rwanda gathered to discuss how the diaspora’s capital, professional expertise and cultural connections can contribute to the country’s development.
Held at Rogers Centre Ottawa on October 10–11, the convention combined discussions on entrepreneurship, skills and community leadership with financial-service presentations, consular appointments and performances by Rwandan artists. Its programme connected the experience of living in Canada with opportunities to participate in Rwanda’s continued progress.
A Partnership for Banking and Investment
RCA Canada and I&M Bank Rwanda signed a memorandum of understanding on Saturday evening, October 10, formalising a partnership intended to make banking and investing in Rwanda more accessible to Rwandans living in Canada.
In its announcement, Rwanda’s High Commission in Canada said the agreement was meant to “make banking and investing in Rwanda easier for Rwandans in Canada.”
The signing gave a concrete outcome to the convention’s wider discussion of diaspora participation. It established a framework for cooperation between a community organisation and a financial institution, although the announcement did not disclose the agreement’s detailed implementation arrangements.
Fiona Kamikazi, representing I&M Bank Rwanda, an event sponsor, also presented services directed towards Rwandans in Canada. According to the High Commission’s account, these included property purchases through approved developers without intermediaries, a multicurrency card and discounted loan rates.
The presentation outlined potential ways for diaspora members to manage financial connections with Rwanda. Specific eligibility requirements, lending terms and product conditions were not included in the published summary.
Connecting Diaspora Resources with Small Businesses
Charity Kabango, co-founder of ES Partners, brought the discussion to the financing and growth of Rwandan small and medium-sized enterprises.
“How can we bridge the gap for Rwandans abroad to invest capital and capacity into Rwandan SMEs?” she asked, according to the High Commission’s account of her contribution.
Her question broadened the investment conversation beyond financial transfers. By linking capital with capacity, it drew attention to the potential value of professional knowledge and business experience alongside funding.
The High Commission described ES Partners as an organisation supporting the growth of African small businesses. Kabango’s contribution placed enterprise development within the convention’s larger examination of how Rwandans abroad can participate in economic opportunities at home.
Turning Potential into Participation
Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Canada, Prosper Higiro, encouraged attendees to move from recognising the diaspora’s potential to putting it into practice. The High Commission’s summary of his welcome emphasised that engagement with Rwanda can complement the lives and responsibilities community members have built in Canada.
“The best bridge works both ways,” the High Commission wrote in its account of the session.
According to another High Commission post, 85 per cent of respondents to a 2021–2022 survey of Rwandans in Canada expressed a desire to contribute to development in Rwanda. The figure refers to those who participated in the survey; the post did not provide its sample size or methodology.
The High Commission’s account of Higiro’s remarks identified a practical priority: making it easier to connect that willingness with opportunities for meaningful participation.
Heritage, Skills and the Next Generation
A panel titled “Our Heritage, Our Bridge,” moderated by Ines Umutoni Kayigamba, explored how Rwandans living in Canada can contribute to Rwanda while sustaining their cultural connections. The High Commission named Dr. Peace Mukazi Ndekezi and Drayton Mulindabigwi among the participants.
Discussions addressed skills and employment, informed investment decisions, the transmission of cultural values to children born in Canada and the importance of young people becoming involved early. According to the High Commission, each panellist concluded by identifying an action participants could take during the year.
These themes brought the convention’s development agenda into everyday community life. Professional participation, family responsibilities and cultural continuity were considered together, with particular attention to the next generation.
In a separate message celebrating young attendees, the High Commission wrote, “Ejo hazaza ni mwe!”—meaning “You are the future.”
Community Connections and Cultural Celebration
The gathering also provided an opportunity for reunions. The High Commission described participants travelling for hours by road, arriving by air and reconnecting with people they had not seen for years. Photographs accompanying its coverage showed warm greetings and conversations among attendees.
Music formed another part of the programme, with performances by Christopher and Nel Ngabo. The High Commission’s account of Nel Ngabo’s appearance described an enthusiastic audience singing along, illustrating how familiar music can sustain a sense of connection across borders.
Alongside the main programme, the High Commission scheduled on-site biometric appointments for e-passport applications and renewals, and national ID services for diaspora applicants without an NPR number. Advance registration was required.
The convention brought community relationships and practical engagement into the same setting. Its banking partnership, enterprise discussions and emphasis on youth participation offered specific avenues through which Rwandans in Canada could deepen their connections with Rwanda.
