2020-10-13 Tue

Prince Louis Rwagasore was a national leader of Burundi and a hero fighting for the independence of the nation from Belgian colonial rule. He was assassinated on 13th October 1961 and the anniversary of his death is known as Prince Rwagasore Day in Burundi.

Prince Rwagasore was the son of King Mwambutsa IV and Thérèse Kayonga. He studied briefly in Belgium in 1958 and in the same year established a nationalist political movement the Union for National Progress (UPRONA) in Burundi and fully devoted himself to the movement towards independence.

On September 8, 1961, Rwagasore won a victory in the election for the Legislative Assembly of Burundi and the next day he was declared Prime Minister. One of his aims was the preparation of the country for independence. Prince Rwagasore was assassinated on 13th October 1961, two weeks after he had assumed office.

Prince Louis Rwagasore appears on a 100 Francs Banknote of Burundi which was issued in the year 2010. The banknote depicts the Bust of the Prince on the obverse and a home under construction in the reverse.

Image Courtesy: mynumi.net