UMURENGE KAGAME CUP: NYARUGENGE AND GASABO DOMINATE THE BOARD GAME COMPETITION

The game of Igisoro, a traditional board game, attracted a large crowd today in Kicukiro.

This event was part of the Umurenge Kagame Cup, where four top players were being selected to represent the City of Kigali in the national finals against winners from the Southern, Northern, Eastern, and Western provinces.

The competition, held on Wednesday, was officially opened by Kicukiro District’s Director of Public Services, Mr. Murenzi Donatien (DM). He reminded the participants that Igisoro is an authentic Rwandan game, historically played in the country. He also highlighted that it is a strategic game that enhances thinking skills while preserving Rwandan culture. He concluded by thanking President Paul Kagame for supporting the tournament and for his leadership, which enables Rwandans to engage in such cultural activities.

Results of the competition

Nyarugenge District emerged as the best, producing three of the top four male players:

1. Niyonagize Alfred – 1st place
2. Uwizeyimana Yusuf – 2nd place
3. Sengabi AbdulKarim – 3rd place
4. Ngabonziza (Gasabo District) – 4th place

In the women’s category, Gasabo District dominated with three out of the top four:

1. Muragijimana Josiane – 1st place
2. Sangwa Brigitte – 2nd place
3. Uwikunda Eduine – 3rd place
4. Mukarukundo Violette – 4th place

Reactions from the Winners

After his victory, Alfred told Maasports that he was very happy with his win, stating that he came into the competition confident of securing first place because he trains regularly with a team. He added that Igisoro is a great game that helps players relax, and dismissed the perception that it is only played in bars, emphasizing that it is a Rwandan cultural heritage game. He also promised to intensify his training to win at the national level.

Meanwhile, Muragijimana Josiane, the women’s champion, expressed her excitement, explaining that she had been preparing for weeks with the goal of finishing in the top three. When asked why she plays Igisoro, a game not traditionally associated with women in Rwanda, she said:
“I started playing at 17 after watching people play on the streets, and I fell in love with it.”
She also encouraged people to change their mindset, asserting that Igisoro is a game for everyone and that women can compete and even defeat men.

Upcoming Matches

The Umurenge Kagame Cup city finals will conclude on March 26, featuring men’s and women’s football matches:

• 1:00 PM: Kacyiru vs Bumbogo
• 3:00 PM: Kigali vs Jabana

All matches will be played at Kigali Pele Stadium.

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UMURENGE KAGAME CUP : NYARUGENGE NA GASOBO  BAHIZE ABANDI  MU MUKINO YO KUBUGUZA

Igisoro, umukino wo kubuguza, wari umukino wahuje imbaga uyu munsi ku Kicukiro.

Ni imikino y’Umurenge Kagame Cup aho bakinaga hashakishwa bane ba mbere  bazahagararira Umujyi wa Kigali,  n’abatsinze mu ntara y’Amajyepfo, Amajyaruguru ,Uburasirazuba n’Uburengerazuba.

Imikino yo kuir uyu wa Gatatu, yatangijwe  n’Umuyobozi w’imirimo rusange mu Karere ka Kicukiro Bwana Murenzi Donatie  (DM). Yibukije abitabiriye ko igisoro ari umukino w’umwimerere wavumbuwe n’Abanyarwanda. Yongeyeho ko ari umukino wa gihanga usaba gutekereza, ndetse unasigasira umuco nyarwanda. Yasoje ashimira Perezida wa Repubulika Paul Kagame, nk’umuteranga w’aya marushanwa, ku miyoborere myiza unatuma abaturarwanda bakina imikino nk’iyi.

Akarere ka Nyarugenge niko kahize utundi turere, dore ko batatu ba mbere batsinze ari ho batuye.

• Niyonagize Alfred  niwe wabaye uwa mbere,
• Uwizeyimana Yusuf aba uwa kabiri,
• Sengabi AbdulKharim aba uwa gatatu yabaye,
• Ngabonziza (Gasabo) aba uwa Kane.

Mu bagore Gasabo niko karere kahize utundi kuko gafitemo abakinnyi batatu muri bane bakurikirana mu buryo bukurikira:

• Uwa mbere ari Muragijimana Josiane
• Uwa Kabiri Sangwa Brigitte,
• Uwa Gatatu Uwikunda Eduine
• Uwa uwa kane Mukarukundo Violette

Nyuma yo kwegukana umwanya wa mbere Alfred yabwiye Maasports ko yishimiye itsinzi kandi ko yaje afite ikizere cyo kuba uwa mbere kuko basanzwe bafite ikipe bakinamo. 

Yongeyeho ko igisoro ari umukino mwiza unafasha abawukina kuruhuka, ko atari umukino wo mu kabari nkuko bamwe bibifata, ahubwo ni umukino gakondo w’Abanyarwanda. Yasoje ashimira abategura Umurenge Kagame Cup kuba barazanyemo uyu mukino, ko  agiye gukaza imivuno ngo azegukane iri rushanwa ku rwego rw’igihugu.

Muragijimana Josiane we yadutangarije ko kuba abaye uwa mbere mu bari n’abategarugori, abyakiriye neza kuko yari amaze iminsi yitoza, afite intego zo kuza muri batatu ba mbere. 

Twamubajije impamvu akina igisoro kandi mu Rwanda bitari umuco mu bari n’abategarugori. Yagize ati: “Njyewe natangiye kugikina mfite imyaka 17 aho yabibonaga ku muhanda bituma abikunda.” Yasoje avuga ko abantu bahindura imyumvire kuko igisoro ari icya bose ndetse ko hari n’abagore batsinda abagabo.

Imikino y’Umurenge Kagame Cup ku rwego rw’umujyi iteganyijwe kuzasonzwa ku wa 26 Werurwe ahazakinywa Imikino y’umupira w’amaguru mu bagabo n’abagore.

• 13:00 Kacyiru na Bumbogo
• 15:00  Kigali na Jabana
• Imikino yose izabera kuri Kigali Pele.