A total of 1,280 pilgrims from the seven Deaneries of Kabale Diocese and other faith communities made a pilgrimage from August 6 – 8, 2025 for a three-day prayer event in Kibeho, Rwanda, Africa’s only Vatican-approved apparition site. Kibeho, a place once marked by tragedy, is now known for restoring hope.
The pilgrims coming from all corners of Kabale Diocese went seeking divine intervention for various needs: employment, healing for the sick and disabled, stability in marriage and family, conception for couples struggling with infertility, success in political ambitions, favorable outcomes in court cases, and spiritual renewal. Others went simply to thank God for answered prayers.
Kibeho, a small town in Rwanda’s southern Nyaruguru District in Gikongoro Diocese was once infamous for the 1994 massacre, where thousands were killed, many burned inside churches. Today, it stands as a beacon of faith, spiritual renewal, and miracles.
The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three girls who were students at Kibeho High School. These girls were Alphonsine Mumureke (16 years old, received the first vision on November 28, 1981), Nathalie Mukamazimpaka (17 years old) and Marie Claire Mukangango (18 years old) between 1981 and 1989. Nathalie Mukamazimpaka, one of the visionaries who stays at Kibeho told our reporter on August 8 that the Virgin Mary appeared to her on January 12, 1982, when she was a student at Kibeho High School. Mary, who revealed herself as “Nyina wa Jambo” (Mother of the Word), delivered a message of redemptive suffering and called for prayer to save the world from falling into sin. Mary urged repentance and intense prayer coupled with reconciliation, but the message was initially met with skepticism, even from church leaders. Before her final apparition, she instructed the three visionaries to share her message and build a memorial church with seven sides (pigeon style).
Some notable pilgrims included Fr. Fidel Ndagijimana (Pastoral Coordinator Kabale Diocese), Fr. Balthazar Ndyomugabe (Spiritual Director of the Legion of Mary – Kabale Diocese), Mr. Salvino Mubangizi (Director of Social Communications for Kabale Diocese), Sr. Judith Atukwatse (Coordinator of Family Ministries in Kabale Diocese), Fr. Jeremiah Tumwijukye (Parish priest Rwengiri Parish in Rukunigiri Disitrict), Fr. Martin Turamyomwe (assistant priest, Nyamwegabira Parish in Kanungu). Others included Mr. Abel Bizimana (Kisoro District LCV chairperson) Hon. Philip Ntacyotugira, (former MP for Bufumbira North, who led the Kisoro pilgrims), Mr. Zepher Mugisha (Assistant RDC for Kanungu), Mrs Beyendera Vastine (DEO for Rukiga District), Mr. James Turyamubona (Rukungiri District Speaker), Mr. Alex Byakatonda (Communications officer for Kabale District), Ms. Imelda Mukeshimana (Communications officer for Kisoro District) among others.
Testimonies of healing
Kibeho is today a place where many believe prayers are answered. Many pilgrims shared testimonies of the Virgin Mary’s intercession:
- Lillian Niwamanya Habasa from Rukungiri said that after 14 years of childlessness and her husband planning to marry another woman, she visited Kibeho for the first time. The following year, she conceived and gave birth to a boy, Emmanuel.
- Anet Natukunda from Ntungamo testified that her daughter was healed of severe ulcers during a 2017 pilgrimage.
- Julian Niwampeire said her disturbing dreams stopped stopped and her infertility ended after she prayed at Kibeho, later giving birth to another child.
- Agaba Simon secured a permanent, well-paying job after praying at the shrine and now sponsors others to visit the same place.
The Pilgrimage to Kibeho was part of the Kabale Diocesan activities for the 2025 Jubilee Year, which was declared by Pope Francis under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope”. According to Rev. Fr. Fidel Ndagijimana, the Kabale Diocesan Pastoral Coordinator, the Diocese has held Pilgrimages on Deanery level (Makiro, Nyakibale, Mutolere, Rubanda, Kitanga, Bukinda, Rushoroza), National level (Namugongo/Munyonyo), Continental level (Kibeho) and plans to conclude the year with a trip to Rome from October 3-11, 2025. The Jubilee Year activities in Kabale Diocese would be crowned with a mega function led by Bishop Callist Rubaramira on November 30, 2025 at Rushoroza Cathedral.
Rev. Fr. Balthazar Ndyomugabe, the Spiritual Director of the Legionaries of Mary thanked the pilgrims for turning up in big numbers for the very first Diocesan-organized pilgrimage to Kibeho and urged pilgrims to always centre their journey on prayer, reconciliation, and forgiveness.
From its first small chapel in 1992 to the sanctuary inaugurated in 2003 and a larger church opened in 2021, Kibeho has become a global pilgrimage site, visited by leaders including the President of Poland Andrzej Duda and First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda.
Today, Kibeho stands as a sacred space where prophecy, tragedy, and hope meet, calling all who visit to repentance, prayer, and peace. Pilgrims leave believing in the Virgin Mary’s miraculous intercession, many reportedly carrying home stories of spiritual and physical healing.