Rwanda is mourning the loss of one of its most courageous sons, Lt. Gen. Innocent Kabandana, whose passing on September 7 left a silence that words can hardly fill. At just 59, he left behind a family, comrades, and a nation that had come to know him not only as a soldier but as a man of rare courage, humility, and patriotism.
His burial at Kanombe Military Cemetery on September 12 drew family, friends, military colleagues, and national leaders, all united in grief but also in gratitude for the life he lived and the sacrifices he made.
At the requiem mass held at Regina Pacis Catholic Parish, mourners gathered with heavy hearts. Among them was First Lady Jeannette Kagame, whose presence spoke of the country’s collective mourning.
Kabandana’s uncle, Antoine Bizumuremyi, expressed the family’s gratitude: “We thank the President of the Republic for all the care and support provided during Gen Kabandana’s journey. We appreciate the parental heart you showed us.”
His widow, Sabine, offered a moving tribute to her husband’s spirit, remembering him as “a hero, a person of integrity, patient, strong, full of love, and forgiving.” Her words captured a man whose courage was not confined to battlefields but was lived out in his home and relationships, even through two years of illness.
A soldier forged in the crucible of liberation
Kabandana’s story is inseparable from the struggle that birthed modern Rwanda. As a young man, he joined the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA) during the 1990–1994 liberation war.
These were not days of abundant resources or advanced weaponry. The RPA fought with mismatched uniforms, scarce rifles, and meagre rations, but carried something greater than firepower, the will to restore Rwanda. It was in this crucible of sacrifice that Kabandana’s courage shone.
Gen. (Rtd) Fred Ibingira, his long-time comrade, recalled those harrowing years with raw emotion. “Death is stupid. It robs you at any time, despite surviving many attacks,” he said at the vigil.
He spoke of Kabandana as a man who had stared death in the face countless times, surviving ambushes and gunfire, yet never wavering in his resolve.
“If there is a person who survived many attacks… a person who was shot at several times during the liberation struggle, it is late Gen. Kabandana,” Ibingira remembered.
For 35 years, they shared battlefields, near-death escapes, and victories forged through sacrifice. They were more than colleagues; they were brothers in arms.
Kabandana’s service did not end with liberation. His distinguished career spanned critical roles at home and abroad including joint task force commander in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province, Defence Attaché in Washington, Deputy Force Commander with the UN in South Sudan, Chief Instructor at Gako Military Academy, and Commander of the RDF Special Forces.
In September 2022, President Kagame promoted him to Lieutenant General in recognition of his enduring dedication and leadership.
A legacy that outlives death
At the burial, Gen. Mubarakh Muganga, Chief of Defence Staff, spoke on behalf of President Kagame and the Rwanda Defence Force. He described the loss as painful not only for the family but for the entire nation.
“We reflect on the time we shared with him, his steadfast dedication, notable achievements, and lasting contributions to Rwanda’s liberation struggle and the nation’s security. He will forever be remembered both in our hearts and in the nation’s history,” he said.
Indeed, Kabandana’s life reminds us that nations rise not by chance but through sacrifice. Every Rwandan child who goes to school in peace, every family that sleeps safely at night, and every citizen who dreams of a brighter tomorrow owes a debt to men like him.
His courage laid the foundation for Rwanda’s transformation from a nation torn apart by violence into one of stability and resilience.
His widow Sabine asked Rwandans to continue honoring the country’s leadership, which had stood by her family in their most difficult times. Gen. Ibingira, meanwhile, left a plea to Kabandana’s children.
“Uphold Gen. Kabandana’s bravery and legacy. Please don’t disappoint him. Continue to make him proud.” Those words were not merely advice; they were a reminder that courage is a torch passed from one generation to the next.
Lt. Gen. Kabandana’s march on this earth has ended, but his spirit has joined the eternal ranks of Rwanda’s heroes. Death, as Ibingira said, may be stupid, it steals voices we still need and hands still ready to serve, but it cannot silence bravery. It cannot erase sacrifice. It cannot undo legacy.
Rwanda bows its head in sorrow, but also lifts its heart in gratitude. Gratitude for a life of service, for sacrifices that restored a nation, and for the enduring bravery of Innocent Kabandana.
His name will remain etched in the soil of Rwanda and in the hearts of its people. His duty is complete, his battles are fought, but his courage marches on.
