The Kizito Mihigo Peace Foundation, also called KMP Foundation, is a Rwandan non-governmental organization created in 2010 by the Rwandan gospel musician

Kizito Mihigo Kizito Mihigo (25 July 1981 – 17 February 2020) was a Rwandan gospel singer, songwriter, organist, composer of sacred music, television presenter, genocide survivor, peace maker and peace and reconciliation activist. Kizito was an iconi ...

. The foundation's main objective is to promote peace and reconciliation after the

1994 genocide The Rwandan genocide occurred between 7 April and 15 July 1994 during the Rwandan Civil War. During this period of around 100 days, members of the Tutsi minority ethnic group, as well as some moderate Hutu and Twa, were killed by armed Hutu ...

Activities

In 2011, in partnership with the United States embassy in

Kigali Kigali () is the Capital (political), capital and largest city of Rwanda. It is near the nation's geographic centre in a region of rolling hills, with a series of valleys and ridges joined by steep slopes. As a primate city, Kigali has been Rwa ...

, World Vision International and the Rwandan government, KMP Foundation begin a tour of concerts in Rwandan schools and prisons. In schools, the goal is to promote the youth education on peace and reconciliation values, as well as the establishment of peace clubs. In prisons, the singer's aim is to generate debates with inmates about the crimes committed, before creating the dialog clubs called "conflict transformation clubs". From 2012, KMP Foundation organizes the interreligious dialogue. The debate between religious leaders is broadcast on the national television, every Tuesdays at 22 p.m., through the program "Umusanzu w'Umuhanzi" produced by the foundation. In 2012, KMP protests against discrimination of albinos in Africa.

Awards

In August 2011,on behalf of the KMP Foundation, Kizito Mihigo receives CYRWA award (Celebrating Young Rwandan Achievers) given by the Imbuto foundation, organization of the First Lady of Rwanda,

Jeannette Kagame Jeannette Nyiramongi Kagame (Jeannette Nyiramongi, born August 10, 1962) is the wife of Paul Kagame. She became the First Lady of Rwanda when her husband took office as President in 2000. The couple have four children - Ivan, Ange, Ian and Brian. ...

. In April 2013, the Rwanda Governance Board recognizes the Kizito Mihigo Peace foundation (KMP) among the top ten local NGOs that have promoted good governance in Rwanda. On this occasion, the Foundation received the "RGB award" of Rwf 8,000,000 (eight million Rwandan Francs).

Cessation of activities

KMP closed its doors in April 2014, when musician Kizito Mihigo was arrested by the

Rwanda National Police The Rwanda National Police is the national police service of Rwanda. History The service was created on 16 June 2000 by law No. 09 of 2000 and merged three earlier forces, the ''Gendarmerie Nationale'' of the Ministry of Defence, the ''Communal ...

for suspicion of crimes against the State Security. On 27 February 2015, the singer was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment after being convicted of conspiracy against the government of President Paul Kagame. The judge of the

High Court had been more clement than the prosecutor who had requested life imprisonment for the singer. On 10 September 2018, the singer abandoned his appeal complaint, which he had himself lodged in the Supreme Court. Four days later, on 14 September, with Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, Mihigo is released by presidential grace.

References

External links

KMP Foundation - Official Website
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116033158/http://www.kmp.rw/ , date=16 January 2013
Kizito Mihigo Website
Peace organisations based in Rwanda Organisations based in Kigali

Activities

Awards

Cessation of activities

See also

References

External links