The'myth of king Ruganzu

Ruganzu Ndoli.

Today, in every part of Rwanda, you will find marks on rocks and places waterfalls, hills and caves named after an ancient King called Ruganzu.

The story says that in 1510, a year after the coronation of King Henry VIII in England and at the prime time of the surging of the Ottoman Empire over the Middle East and North Africa, a king ascended the throne in Rwanda and ruled in the land of his fathers until he was arrowed in the eye and died in 1543.

While still a teenager living with his aunt Nyabunyana on the other side of Akagera River in Karagwe k’Abahinda in the present day Kagera District in Tanzania’s Kagera Region, Prince Ndoli, son of King Ndahiro II Cyamatare, crossed River Akagera into Rwanda where he was being awaited by both friends and foes of his deceased father alike.

He escaped the first attempt to kill him by herdsmen who lay in wait for him at the banks of River Akagera. He was crowned at Gatsibo in the East and assumed the named Ruganzu II Ndoli.

He did away with chiefdoms and kinglets both strong and weak, including the men who had killed his father.

He re-united the kingdom under one kingship and his expansionist policy expanded the Kingdom beyond the current borders.

Although he is one of the most famous ancient Kings of Rwanda, he is also called "Ruganzu the Fool” because he is believed to have done great things but never revealed the secret of his power to anyone to pass it to the following generations.

But the mere mentioning of Ruganzu, leads to the mentioning of his "miracles” and the mentioning of miracles, raises doubts of his deeds and unfortunately to some people, his existence.