“Umuganda is a perfect example of how communities come together to achieve a greater purpose,” said Giants of Africa Co-Founder Masai Ujiri. “The Giants of Africa Festival is built around a similar goal by uniting communities to ignite leaders and enact change across the continent. We are always honoured to take part in this incredible tradition for the people of Rwanda.”

Umuganda is a Rwandan national holiday observed on the last Saturday of every month, where locals set aside their personal business for the morning and contribute their efforts towards public projects in their communities.

Held at Nyarurama Cell in the Kicukiro District of Kigali, participants were tasked with digging trenches and draining canals by a main road. They were later joined by approximately 3,000 local community members who supported the work.

Making special guest appearances to support the work included Co-Anchor of ABC’s Good Morning America Robin Roberts, Ghanaian actor and comedian Michael Blackson and two-time WNBA All-Star and ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike.

The morning ended with special remarks from community leaders including Elodie Shami (Imbuto Foundation Director General), Samuel Dusengiyumva (Mayor of Kigali), Masai Ujiri (Co-Founder of Giants of Africa) and the Honourable Nelly Mukazayire (the Rwandan Minister of Sports).

About the Imbuto Foundation

In 2001, Protection and Care of Families against HIV/AIDS (PACFA) was established as a project under the Office of the First Lady, to mobilize resources desperately needed in the fight against HIV/AIDS. This initiative primarily focused on providing a holistic approach for dignified lives of families, including women deliberately infected with HIV/AIDS during the Genocide against the Tutsi. 

Over the years, PACFA grew to embrace more programmes and in 2007, it changed its name to Imbuto Foundation to reflect its evolution and new fields of activity, through programmes in health, education, youth and economic empowerment. Literally translated Imbuto means “seed”. A seed well planted, watered, nurtured and given all the necessary support successfully grows into a healthy plant; one that reaches high and stands tall. This vision shapes the Imbuto Foundation’s current initiatives and future projects.

About the Ministry of Youth and Arts

The Ministry of Youth And Arts is a Central Government institution mandated to create an enabling environment for the socio-economic empowerment of the youth, promotion and development of arts.

About Masai Ujiri and Giants of Africa

Masai Ujiri, an award-winning and barrier-breaking NBA executive, is the founder of Giants of Africa. Started in 2003, Giants of Africa draws upon Ujiri’s unique basketball journey to achieve its goal of uplifting African youth with programs focused on empowerment and leadership.

As the first African general manager in North American professional sports who was named NBA Executive of the Year in 2013, Ujiri’s ascent to the top of the basketball world began in his native Nigeria and took him around the world as a player, scout and executive, culminating in 2019 when he served as the architect of a Toronto Raptors team that became the first franchise outside the United States to be crowned NBA champions. Ultimately, he believes his work with Giants of Africa will prove to be the most meaningful and rewarding of his life.