Rwanda National Union of the Deaf

The Rwanda National Union of the Deaf (RNUD) is a disability association for deaf people in Rwanda. It was founded in 1989 and registered as a national-level non-governmental organization on 26 July 2013. The organization is a founding member of the National Union of Disability Organizations in Rwanda (NUDOR), an umbrella body established on 17 September 2010. RNUD is also a member of the Umbrella of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities in the fight against HIV/AIDS and for Health Promotion (UPHLS) and of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD). RNUD reports more than 4,500 members and seven local branches. It is active in 23 of Rwanda's 30 districts. Its headquarters is located in the Kagarama sector of Kicukiro District in the capital, Kigali. As of 2024, the chairperson of RNUD is Augustin Munyagenyo. The organization advocates for the rights of deaf people in Rwanda, a population it estimates at around 70,000. Among its goals is the official legal recognition of Rwandan Sign Language as the fifth language of Rwanda, alongside Kinyarwanda, Swahili, French and English. It promotes the spread of Rwandan Sign Language through awareness-raising and teaching. In 2009, with support from Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), RNUD published a first dictionary (Rwandan Sign Language Dictionary, RSLD) in English and Kinyarwanda containing 891 signs. In November 2014, in cooperation with the National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), work began on a new, expanded dictionary. On the International Day of Sign Languages in 2023, the first 100 copies of the second edition were distributed to various educational institutions in Rwanda. The new dictionary is also in English and Kinyarwanda and contains about 2,000 signs. For deaf-blind people, a project of RNUD, the Rwanda National Association of Deaf Women (RNADW) and the Rwandan Union of the Blind (RUB) launched the Rwandan Organization of Persons with Deaf-Blindness (ROPDB) in 2011; the national organization was founded and registered in 2018 and 2022 respectively.

The Rwanda National Union of the Deaf (RNUD) was founded in 1989 and registered as a national-level non-governmental organization on 26 July 2013. It is a founding member of the National Union of Disability Organizations in Rwanda (NUDOR), an umbrella organization established on 17 September 2010. RNUD is also a member of the Umbrella of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities in the fight against HIV/AIDS and for Health Promotion (UPHLS) and of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD). In 2009, with support from Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), RNUD published a first dictionary, the Rwandan Sign Language Dictionary (RSLD), in English and Kinyarwanda, containing 891 signs. In November 2014, in cooperation with the National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), work began on a new, expanded dictionary for Rwandan Sign Language. On the International Day of Sign Languages in 2023, the first 100 copies of the second edition were distributed to various educational institutions in Rwanda. The new dictionary is also in English and Kinyarwanda and contains about 2,000 signs. For deaf-blind people, a project of RNUD, the Rwanda National Association of Deaf Women (RNADW) and the Rwandan Union of the Blind (RUB) launched the Rwandan Organization of Persons with Deaf-Blindness (ROPDB) in 2011; the national organization was founded and registered in 2018 and 2022 respectively. RNUD reports more than 4,500 members and seven local branches. It is active in 23 of Rwanda's 30 districts. Its headquarters is located in the Kagarama sector of Kicukiro District in the capital, Kigali. As of 2024, the chairperson of RNUD is Augustin Munyagenyo.

• 2023

  First 100 copies of the second edition of the Rwandan Sign Language Dictionary distributed on the International Day of Sign Languages.

• 2022

  ROPDB national organization registered.

• 2018

  ROPDB national organization founded.

• 2014

  Work began in November on a new, expanded Rwandan Sign Language dictionary with NCPD.

• 2013

  RNUD registered as a national-level non-governmental organization on 26 July.

• 2011

  Rwandan Organization of Persons with Deaf-Blindness (ROPDB) launched as a project of RNUD, RNADW and RUB.

• 2010

  NUDOR umbrella organization established on 17 September; RNUD is a founding member.

• 2009

  First Rwandan Sign Language Dictionary published with support from VSO, containing 891 signs.

• 1989

  RNUD founded.

National disability association advocating for the rights of deaf people in Rwanda and promoting Rwandan Sign Language.

• 2009

  Rwandan Sign Language Dictionary (RSLD), first edition

  Published with support from VSO; in English and Kinyarwanda; contains 891 signs.

• 2023

  Rwandan Sign Language Dictionary, second edition

  Developed with NCPD; in English and Kinyarwanda; contains about 2,000 signs; first 100 copies distributed in 2023.

1. 1Rwanda National Union of the Deafde.wikipedia.org
2. 2Wikidata Q129675553wikidata.org