Umuryango Nyarwanda w’Abagore Bafite Ubumuga

Umuryango Nyarwanda w’Abagore Bafite Ubumuga (UNABU), translated into English as the Rwandan Organization of Women with Disabilities, is a non-governmental organization based in Rwanda that works for and is led by women with disabilities. The organization was established in 2004 by 14 women with various disabilities, according to its official website, and is registered with the Rwanda Governance Board under registration number 06/RGB/NGO/2017. UNABU describes itself as the sole organization of women with various disabilities in Rwanda, envisioning a society where women with all types of disabilities enjoy equal and equitable opportunities and actively participate in the country's development. UNABU's mission is to promote gender equality and remove the various barriers that prevent women with any type of disability from participating in the country's development programmes. Its work is aligned with human rights, gender-based violence prevention and response, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), access to justice, and economic empowerment. The organization empowers women with disabilities to become agents of change, to demand their rights, and to affirm their dignity as human beings through advocacy and community activism. The organization operates across Rwanda, implementing projects in districts such as Gakenke, Bugesera, and Nyagatare. Its activities include training health workers on disability inclusion, conducting perception surveys on the employment of women with disabilities, addressing stigma and discrimination through family-centered approaches, and convening national dialogues on employment for persons with disabilities. UNABU is a member of the National Union of Disability Organizations in Rwanda (NUDOR), the national umbrella body for disability organizations in the country. Its executive director is Guidance Mushimiyimana, a co-founder of the organization. UNABU's values include participation, non-discrimination, transparency, good governance, rights-based approaches, excellence, and sustainability. The organization's vision is that women with disabilities enjoy equal and equitable opportunities and actively participate in the country's development. Through its advocacy and empowerment work, UNABU seeks to build stronger community activism and ensure that women with disabilities in Rwanda can live with dignity and fully exercise their rights.

Umuryango Nyarwanda w’Abagore Bafite Ubumuga (UNABU) was established in 2004 by 14 women with various disabilities, according to its official website. The German Wikipedia article states that the organization was founded in 2002, also by 14 women with different disabilities. This discrepancy in founding year is noted; the official website's 2004 date is given precedence here, while the Wikipedia date is recorded as an alternative account. The organization was created by women with disabilities for women with disabilities, aiming to address the specific challenges they face in Rwandan society. UNABU is registered with the Rwanda Governance Board under registration number 06/RGB/NGO/2017. It is a member of the National Union of Disability Organizations in Rwanda (NUDOR), the national umbrella organization for disability associations in the country. The organization operates across Rwanda, with projects and activities in various districts including Gakenke, Bugesera, and Nyagatare. Guidance Mushimiyimana, a co-founder of UNABU, serves as the organization's Executive Director. Under her leadership, UNABU has focused on advocacy aligned with human rights, gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), access to justice, and economic empowerment. In July 2019, UNABU partnered with VSO to develop an intervention called "Living with Dignity," implemented in Rwempasha, Nyagatare. This family-centered approach addresses stigma and discrimination faced by women with disabilities. UNABU has also conducted perception surveys on the employment of women with disabilities, such as in Bugesera District, and has organized national dialogues on employment for persons with disabilities. In May 2025, UNABU conducted a Disability Inclusion Workshop in Bugesera to build partnerships. UNABU's work is grounded in the belief that women with disabilities are women first. The organization envisions a society where women with all types of disabilities enjoy equal and equitable opportunities and actively participate in the country's development. Its mission is to promote gender equality and remove barriers preventing women with any type of disability from participating in Rwanda's development programmes. The organization's values include participation, non-discrimination, transparency, good governance, rights-based approaches, excellence, and sustainability.

• 2025

  From May 21st to 23rd, 2025, UNABU conducts a Disability Inclusion Workshop in Bugesera to build partnerships.

• 2019

  In July 2019, VSO and UNABU develop the 'Living with Dignity' intervention, implemented in Rwempasha, Nyagatare.

• 2017

  UNABU is registered with the Rwanda Governance Board under registration number 06/RGB/NGO/2017.

• 2004

  UNABU is established by 14 women with various disabilities, according to its official website.

• 2002

  Alternative founding year given by German Wikipedia, also by 14 women with different disabilities.

UNABU positions itself as the sole organization in Rwanda led by and for women with disabilities, advocating for gender equality, disability inclusion, and the rights of women and girls with disabilities.

• Employable Project

• Living with Dignity

• National Dialogue on Employment for Persons with Disabilities

• Disability Inclusion Training for Health Workers

• Perception survey on employment of women with disabilities

1. 1Unabu | We are a diverse group of women; we believe women with disabilities are women firstunaburwanda.org
2. 2About us | Unabuunaburwanda.org
3. 3Wikidata entry for UNABUwikidata.org
4. 4Umuryango Nyarwanda w’Abagore Bafite Ubumuga – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org