Passion or Profession: revolutionary

Period: 1957–1990

Rwigema's early life was colored by civil war that forced his family to flee to Uganda. From the time he was a teenager, he was involved in armed struggles to support freedom movements throughout Africa. After some success in Uganda, he returned to Rwanda in 1990 with an armed force of about 5,000. Although he died soon after, he has been honored for his role in the liberation of Rwanda.