Benon Mugaruwa

Whilst attending the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights in Congo-Brazzaville, Neil Clarke, MRG’s Programmes Officer, spoke to Benon Mugaruwa (pictured), President of the African Indigenous and Minorities Peoples Organisation (AIMPO), an organisation working with Batwa in Rwanda. 

Benon Mugaruwa was raised in Uganda but is a Batwa from Rwanda. Batwa are an historically marginalised ethnic group who routinely face discrimination and exclusion. In Rwanda there are around 30,000 Batwa, but according to Benon they have no political representation and are excluded from key services such as health and education. Many have been the victims of land seizures, leaving them without the means to support themselves.

“Although I am originally from Rwanda, I was raised as a refugee in Uganda and was brought up facing prejudice. However I always believed that people were all the same inside.”

“I became a pastor in Uganda, graduating in 1989. I lead a big congregation and saw this as my way of fighting marginalisation. But I realised that I would have to start working outside of the church as well and start working with activists, so I returned to Rwanda.”

“Now I lead a smaller congregation, but my colleagues inside the church know that my work with AIMPO is part of my commitment to human rights.”

“When we first formed AIMPO we started work in the north of Rwanda in the Mosanzi District. There were 134 families there, we sought to develop agriculture, provide school fees… land was very important for us, we identified former Batwa land, bought it and restored it to the communities.”

“I dream of an integrated and decent society. To achieve that I think in 20 years time I would like to see at least 5 Batwa parliamentarians and maybe a minister.”

“I don’t face discrimination at the moment because of my activism, however this might not always be the case. Nobody grants human rights, you have to fight for them. If you are fighting, it means you may not yet be safe, but you have to sow the seeds.”

“One of our biggest challenges is to educate ethnic communities about their rights and how to demand them. The authorities then need to be open enough to listen.”

“One of AIMPO’s greatest achievements is to have managed to purchase Batwa land, which has been put into collective ownership for the community. Some Batwa communities are also taking part in the local judicial system. Generally Batwa are starting to defend their own rights and learning how to defend them, but access to education and health services are still big challenges.

“I dream of an integrated and decent society. To achieve that I think in 20 years time I would like to see at least 5 Batwa parliamentarians and maybe a minister.”