For years, 17-year-old Baraka Obedi’s life was shadowed by uncertainty. He is the son of Joseph Mugabo, a 63-year-old man serving a 19-year prison sentence in Musanze, and the late Ikizanye Shanje, who died in DRC when Baraka was only two.
After his father’s imprisonment, his aunt, Anne Marie Kabumba, stepped in to raise him alongside her six children in Nyagatare district, treating him as one of her own despite being a widow herself.
But when Baraka reached the age to acquire his National ID card, a critical document that opens the door to education, healthcare, employment, and citizenship rights, his life came to a standstill.
Village and cell leaders issued him preliminary documents, but the sector office rejected them, citing missing details of his late mother.
Even after Kabumba traveled to Musanze to secure the missing information from Mugabo himself, every attempt was met with rejection.
The process dragged on through more than fifteen exhausting attempts, from sector to district offices, until Kabumba finally gave up in frustration. It seemed like the young man’s future was hanging by a thread until fate intervened in the most unexpected way, during a hospital visit.
One of Kabumba’s children was asked to provide family details during registration, and Innocent Izabayo, RSSB medical facilitator of Cyabayaga Health Centre in Nyagatare noticed Baraka’s unusual case.
Upon hearing the unfortunate story of a child legally recognized in the household, yet without a national ID, Izabayo immediately sought redress through the Golden Service Initiative (GSI), a fast-growing citizen platform championing quality service delivery in Rwanda. The rest is history.
The connection set off a chain of events that turned years of frustration into hope. Kabumba’s neighbor, Emmanuel Niyibizi, recorded her testimony and shared it with GSI, who in turn presented it directly to Josephine Mukesha, the Director General of the National Identification Agency (NIDA)
Within minutes, Mukesha personally followed up, requesting to speak with Kabumba directly to resolve the matter. For the first time in years, Baraka’s dream of holding a National ID was no longer out of reach.
As we speak, Mukesha has already spoken with Baraka Obedi’s aunt. She asked her to send the documents that were rejected by local authorities then wait for feedback anytime.
“This is how Rwanda works. Institutions serve the people, and citizens stand up for one another. What you fail to obtain at the sector, you may find resolved at the headquarters. What matters is persistence and collaboration,” said GSI Founder Ignatius Kabagambe.
For GSI, Baraka’s story is not an isolated case but a reflection of their broader mission, to ensure that no Rwandan is denied their rights because of bureaucracy or neglect.
Founded on October 12, 2024, and registered as a Common Benefit Company (CBC) under the Rwanda Development Board, GSI draws its inspiration from President Kagame’s call for excellent service delivery and zero tolerance for inefficiency.
With over 5,500 members, six active WhatsApp groups, and a growing digital presence online, the initiative has become a bridge between citizens and public institutions.
Its strength lies in its collaborative spirit where members share real stories, good or bad, not to shame but to understand and correct.
“We avoid exaggeration or blame games. Our focus is on finding solutions and making sure no case is ignored. Together, we are building a Rwanda known for quality service,” Kabagambe said.
The organization’s influence is already visible. From helping citizens navigate public services to linking communities with decision-makers, GSI has positioned itself as a guardian of fairness.
Its advocacy is also timely, as Rwanda prepares to roll out Digital IDs, which promise to revolutionize service access. Instead of waiting a month for certain services, citizens will be able to access them in just three hours.
For Baraka Obedi, the journey is not just about an ID card. It is a story of resilience, of a guardian’s unwavering love, and of a community’s determination to ensure that no child is left behind.
It is also a reminder that Rwanda’s progress is not only measured in infrastructure and technology, but in the dignity of its people and the systems that safeguard their rights.
But more so, nothing compares to the greater satisfaction with certainty of walking the right path in contributing to a culture where every Rwandan receives the service they deserve.
