Anick Uwamahoro, a 45yearold deaf mother of three children in Ndera Sector, was communicating fluently with other deaf people during a recent event promoting sign language.
Most of the hearing people, including some journalists, were not able to communicate with her due to a lack of sign language skills.
Uwamahoro, whose children have no hearing impairment, explained through a sign language interpreter that sign language has become the family’s anchor.
From the time her children were toddlers, she introduced them to basic signs.
Over time, the children picked up the rhythm of her communication.
For her, this is more than a tool; it is her way of being fully present in her children’s lives.
She told me that sign language has given her “the power to mother without barriers.”
For her children, it has taught empathy, patience, and the beauty of a language spoken with the hands, the face, and the heart.
Amid the swirl of activity around them, Uwamahoro and her children remain connected through the quiet clarity of sign language.
“My husband and I are both deaf, and only our children can hear. Fortunately, they have mastered sign language and can communicate with us easily,” she said.
However, she said daily life remains filled with barriers.
“When I go for services, I rely on interpreters or friends. Once I applied for a job, but the interview process became too difficult, so I decided to become an entrepreneur. I wish the government could teach sign language to everyone — it would make life so much easier.”
Uwamahoro is a member of a cooperative of 21 deaf women in Kabeza, Kigali.
The cooperative engages in various handcrafts, including weaving, tailoring, hairdressing, and drawing, among others.
“The cooperative members include married women. Sign language is important in our daily business and in our families,” she noted.
She called for wider sign language education to ease communication and improve access to services.
“I wish the government would teach sign language to everyone — it would make life so much easier.”
“No sign language, no human rights. Sign language eases communication between the deaf community and hearing people. We want sign language to be recognized as a human right and as an official language to advance communication and inclusion,” said Eric Niyoyita, Chairperson of the Rwanda National Union of the Deaf (RNUD).
The Rwanda National Union of the Deaf (RNUD) has urged the government to officially recognize sign language as a national language and integrate it into schools across the country.
“Sign language is the foundation of inclusion and equality for the deaf community,” he noted.
He commended the development of a Rwandan Sign Language Dictionary, which began in 2016.
“The dictionary now contains over 2,000 words. We are advocating for it to be approved by Parliament and introduced in schools. Rwanda has around 70,000 deaf people, and we need sign language recognised in our national constitution as an official language,” he said.
Despite the progress, Niyoyita mentioned ongoing challenges.
“Many deaf people still struggle to access services in local government offices and other areas. We need to train local authorities in sign language to ensure no one is left behind,” he added.
Beth Mukarwego Nasiforo, Chairperson of the National Union of Disability Organizations in Rwanda (NUDOR),
said: “We will continue to advocate so that persons with hearing impairments can fully participate in community and national life.”
Olivia Mbabazi, a Member of Parliament and Representative of Persons with Disabilities, affirmed lawmakers’ commitment to advancing the cause.
“We support the saying: No sign language, no human rights,” she said.
“We are working to ensure sign language is taught in schools and recognized as an official language in Rwanda.”
Sylvie Nvirabugenimana, an employee of the National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), also revealed that a proposal is being prepared for submission to Parliament.
“The dictionary is a great step, but it’s not enough,” she said.
“We need sign language to be officially recognized and taught in schools soon. We are hopeful Parliament will support this initiative.”
By Michel Nkurunziza
