On Sunday, February 19, 2023, parliamentarians, senior government officials, family members, and friends paid their last respects to the late Hon. Fidel Rwigamba.

During the lying-in-state at Parliament, His Excellence Paul Kagame conveyed the condolence message which was read by the Minister in the Office of the President, Judith Uwizeye.

Minister Uwizeye stated that the President of the Republic and his family were saddened by the death of Hon. Rwigamba, and extended condolences to his children, the entire family, and the Parliament during this difficult time.

"The President of the Republic and his family commiserate with the children and the entire family of Hon. Rwigamba. May God grant Honorable Deputy Rwigamba eternal rest".

The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Rt. Hon. Donatille Mukabalisa said that the late Hon. Rwigamba was a hardworking, intelligent man who would perform all his duties with calmness and excellency.

Speaker Mukabalisa added that he will be remembered for many things, including the principle of punctuality, as well as the spirit of consultation and offering reasonable advice to all without exception.

"May you rest in peace, Hon. Rwigamba. May the good you did for your country and family, especially while you were alive, follow you, and may God, your creator, who I am confident has received your soul, grant you eternal rest." Speaker Mukabalisa concluded his remarks.

Hon. Bideri John Bond, who knew Hon. Rwigamba since the 1980s said that Hon. Rwigamba was a man of integrity and he had a talent for boosting morale. He always strive for perfection in everything he does. "anything short of excellence was unacceptable to Hon. Rwigamba," added Hon. Bideri.

Rt. Hon. Chief Fortune Charumbira, President of the Pan-African Parliament, of which the late Hon. Rwigamba was a member and sent a condolence message delivered by Hon. Bideri. It stated that Hon. Rwigamba was a servant leader who was held in high regard by all PAP Members. 

“As a leader of the Rwandan PAP delegation, and Deputy Chairperson of Eastern Region Caucus, the late Hon. Rwigamba played an instrumental role in unifying both Rwandese delegation and Eastern Caucus,” read the message from President Charumbira.

“Between April 2020 to May 2021, I appointed Hon. Rwigamba as a special advisor to the acting president, and I could not have asked for a better advisor. In his gentle calm and unassuming manner, Hon. Rwigamba exhumed wisdom beyond his age…May his dear departed soul, rest in eternal peace.”