Our Goal
Deliver high-quality, specialty healthcare capability to Rwanda through training, equipment and volunteers.
Vision
Rwanda Legacy of Hope (Umurage W’Ibyiringiro) (RLOH) is a non-governmental organisation founded and Legal Representative in 2011 by Rwandan Reverend Osee Ntavuka, who resides in the UK, together with other Rwandans based in Rwanda and supported by friends of Rwanda. The organisation is dedicated to improving health, education, and social inclusion in Rwanda.
Our Team
Rwanda Legacy of Hope has mobilized 198 volunteer specialist surgeons and medical professionals, serving in 14 hospitals across Rwanda.
These teams include:
- Surgeons
- Consultant specialist surgeons
- Consultant anaesthetists
- Skilled theatre nurses
They come from 12 countries across Europe, the USA, and Canada.
Mission
Provide general and specialist surgical services
Offer training for postgraduate surgical residents, general practitioners, nurses, and specialists under the 4 x 4 Vision in University and Level Two Teaching Hospitals
Facilitate collaboration between the University of Rwanda’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences and medical and dental schools in Europe for both undergraduate and postgraduate training
Partnerships
Ministry of Health
The success of the RLOH missions would not have been possible without the substantial support of the Ministry of Health. This partnership has been formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) since 2014.
IRCAD AFRICA
On 28 October 2025, the Rwanda Legacy of Hope medical specialist team, led by Reverend Osee Ntavuka, Founder and Legal Representative, visited IRCAD Africa.
Through this partnership, IRCAD Africa will:
- Collaborate with Rwanda Legacy of Hope to identify and invite qualified international surgical experts to participate in IRCAD Africa’s training courses and workshops.
- Coordinate the planning of training sessions in alignment with IRCAD Africa’s annual academic calendar, enabling Rwanda Legacy of Hope to plan and mobilize experts effectively.
- Promote mutual exchange and collaboration to ensure that all joint activities contribute to advancing surgical education and improving patient care standards in Rwanda and beyond.
- Organize conferences and seminars, with Rwanda Legacy of Hope responsible for inviting medical professors and expert speakers from universities in Europe, the USA, and Canada.
Achievements
375 Doctors trained
14 Hospitals supported
8,500 patients treated
From 2012, Rwanda Legacy of Hope has provided specialist consultant surgeons as volunteers twice a year. These specialists include experts in laparoscopic gynaecology, laryngology (ENT), neurosurgery, anaesthesiology, spine surgery, plastic surgery, orthopaedics, breast cancer, allergy and immunology, and hernia repair. The teams work in 14 hospitals across Rwanda. Comprising 198 volunteer specialist consultant surgeons and skilled theatre nurses from 12 countries in Europe and the USA, the teams perform various surgical operations and engage in capacity-building by training local doctors, specialists, and residents twice a year, after training, they provide CPD certificates.
Online Training of Surgical Residents during the Covid-19 Pandemic Lockdown
RLOH is committed to expanding training opportunities through distance learning and co-mentorship with Rwandan faculty members to develop clinical, leadership, research, and teaching skills.
In April 2021, due to COVID-19 restrictions, RLOH successfully delivered virtual hernia surgery training for 10 postgraduate residents. The faculty of the Hernia Course Webinar comprised 13 consultant surgeons from the UK, Germany, Rwanda, and the USA.
14 Hospitals
supported with donated equipment
Donations of Medical Equipment and Medicine
The Rwanda Legacy of Hope medical volunteer team has provided medical equipment and medicine to 14 hospitals. The equipment ranges from routine surgical instruments to theatre tables and air conditioners fitted in operating theatres. In 2016, Rwanda Legacy of Hope equipped two theatres in Rwamagana as a training centre with significant investment.
Capacity Building
CAPACITY-BUILDING TRAINING (4 x 4 VISION)
Rwanda Legacy of Hope has been registered as an accredited CPD provider with the Rwanda Medical and Dental Council since 2014.
Since then, RLOH has trained 375 general practitioners, local doctors, undergraduate residents, consultant anaesthesiologists, and specialist theatre nurses in both theoretical and practical skills, while also helping reduce patient waiting lists in 14 hospitals.
Each participant receives a CPD certificate upon completion.
RLOH teams visit Rwanda twice a year (February–March and September–October) to deliver training and clinical services.
Orthopaedic and Plastic Surgery
Neurosurgery and Spinal
Lapalascopy Gynaecology
ENT
Hernia Repair
Physiotherapy
Medical Equipment
£2,650,000
During each mission, Rwanda Legacy of Hope volunteers provide medical equipment donations to 14 hospitals.
Impact Through The Years
2012
Hernia Operations Begin
Since 2012, Rwanda Legacy of Hope has been conducting a volunteering medical mission in Rwanda, bringing specialist surgeons from Europe to train local doctors, general practitioners, and residents in performing hernia repairs using mesh for the first time in the country. From 2012 to 2024, Rwanda Legacy of Hope has trained 330 individuals in hernia repair local doctors, general practitioners, and residents using mesh across 14 hospitals and operated 6000 patients. After completing the training, each local doctor received a CPD certificate.
See More
2014
Gynacology Training
2016
Neurosurgery Introduced
Rwanda Legacy of Hope’s Theatre Nursing Team has successfully trained 16 theatre nurses at CHUK. This training program focused on enhancing practical skills, improving patient safety, and strengthening teamwork in the operating theatre. The course included modules on aseptic techniques, perioperative care, surgical instrumentation, and effective communication within the surgical team. By equipping these nurses with advanced knowledge and hands-on experience, the initiative aims to improve the overall quality of surgical care at CHUK and support the development of highly competent theatre nursing professionals in Rwanda.
Our Missions
In 2012, the Founder of Rwanda Legacy of Hope invited one volunteer surgeon and one theatre nurse from the UK to support Nyamata Hospital. Since then, Rwanda Legacy of Hope has mobilized 198 volunteer specialist surgeons and medical professionals, serving in 14 hospitals across Rwanda.
See how we’re delivering that
- RWANDA LEGACY OF HOPE MISSION 2012
- RWANDA LEGACY OF HOPE MEDICAL REPORT 2013
- HERNIA OPERATION AT GAHINI HOSPITAL 2014
- KIRINDA HOSPITAL 2014
- MISSION 2014 NYAMATA HOSPITAL
- MISSION 2014 PLASTIC SURGERY AT REMERA RUKOMA HOSPITAL
- MEDICAL EQUIPMENT DONATED TO 4 HOSPITALS 2014
- Rwanda Legacy of Hope Mission Feb 2016 – Medical Equipments
- Rwanda Legacy of Hope Mission Feb 2016 – Medical Training
- Rwanda Legacy of Hope Mission 2017
- Rwanda Legacy of Hope Mission 2018
- Rwanda Legacy of Hope Mission 2019
- Hernia Operations
- Medical Training 2025
Health Insurance
Since 2012, RLOH has provided annual health insurance for 300–500 vulnerable individuals in Nyarugenge District (Kigali City) and Kamonyi District.