On 20 July 2026, American billionaire and philanthropist Bill Gates visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial to pay respects to the more than one million victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
During his visit, Bill Gates toured the memorial exhibits and reflected on the history, impact, and lasting consequences of the Genocide, as well as Rwanda’s remarkable journey of recovery and rebuilding.
At the conclusion of his visit, Bill Gates inscribed a message in the Memorial’s guest book expressing compassion and reflecting on the power of resilience and memory.
“It is very impressive how Rwanda has recovered from the tragedy of the Genocide and is building a strong country. This memorial is very important to keep the memories of the victims,” American Business and philanthropist Bill Gates wrote in the guestbook following his visit.
Bill Gates, who chairs the Gates Foundation, is currently in Rwanda to explore the country’s progress in health, agriculture, and digital public infrastructure. His visit highlights Rwanda’s 25-year health transformation and underscores the ongoing partnership between the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and local institutions.
During his trip, he has visited health initiatives in Rwamagana—including vaccine manufacturing facilities and primary healthcare clinics—to observe how innovations are implemented at the village level.
The visit directly follows the $50 million Horizon 1000 initiative launched by the Gates Foundation and OpenAI, which is piloting AI-powered healthcare solutions in Rwanda to assist with diagnoses and bridge gaps in sub-Saharan Africa’s healthcare workforce. (End)