Kigali, September 26, 2026 — The third edition of the Rwanda Inter-Mining Companies Football Competition officially kicked off on Saturday, September 26, bringing together employees from mining and quarrying companies across Rwanda in a tournament designed to promote responsible mining, workers’ welfare, environmental protection and social inclusion.
Organized by the Rwanda Extractive Workers Union (REWU) in partnership with the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB), Private Sector Federation (PSF), Rwanda Mining Association (RMA), FECOMIRWA, KUMBUKA Africa, and participating mining and quarrying companies, the competition provides a platform for workers and stakeholders to connect through sport while advancing important messages for Rwanda’s extractive sector.
The tournament is part of broader efforts to encourage compliance with mining laws and regulations, discourage illegal mining activities and strengthen awareness of responsible and environmentally sustainable mining practices.
More than a football competition
While football remains at the heart of the tournament, the initiative serves as a wider engagement platform bringing together workers, employers, government institutions, mining companies and other stakeholders.
Throughout the competition, participants and communities will be engaged on key issues including workplace safety, workers’ rights, environmental protection, responsible mining, gender inclusion and social protection.
The initiative also seeks to encourage greater participation of young people and women in the mining sector by raising awareness of the opportunities available within the industry and promoting a more inclusive extractive sector.
Speaking about the significance of the competition, REWU Secretary General Eng. André Mutsindashyaka said the initiative reflects the Union’s commitment to improving the welfare of workers and strengthening solidarity across Rwanda’s extractive industry.
“This competition is more than football. It is about bringing workers together, strengthening solidarity and creating a platform where we can promote the values that are important to the future of Rwanda’s mining sector.”
Putting workers and families at the centre
The tournament also highlights the importance of supporting the families and communities of mining workers, with particular attention to Early Childhood Development (ECD).
REWU is using the platform to encourage mining companies to consider ECD services among their priorities, particularly in communities where mining workers and their families live.
“The well-being of a mining worker cannot be separated from the well-being of their family. This competition gives us an opportunity to remind mining companies that supporting workers also means paying attention to the needs of their children. We encourage companies to consider the establishment and support of ECD among key priorities within their workplaces and communities,” Eng. Mutsindashyaka said.
The message reflects a broader approach to workers’ welfare that recognizes the importance of safe workplaces, social protection and family well-being in building a sustainable mining industry.
Promoting social protection and responsible citizenship
The official opening ceremony, held on 26th September 2026 in Rukumberi Sector, Ngoma District, Eastern Province, brought together leaders from local government and the mining sector, who used the occasion to reinforce messages on responsible mining, community engagement, community policing and opportunities within Rwanda’s mining industry.
Social protection and financial planning are also key themes of the tournament’s awareness campaign.
Mining workers are being encouraged to register and contribute to Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) schemes as part of efforts to prepare for retirement and strengthen protection against work-related accidents and other occupational risks.
Participants are also being encouraged to embrace saving through initiatives such as EJO HEZA, reinforcing the importance of financial resilience and long-term social protection for workers and their families.
The campaign further addresses child labour and sexual abuse, with participants and spectators encouraged to speak out and report cases of abuse or exploitation through the appropriate channels.
11 companies compete for the 2026 title
The 2026 edition brings together employees from 11 mining and quarrying companies:
- BIG MINING
- LUNA SMELTER
- NEXT MINING
- POWER M
- POWER X
- TWABUGEZI
- GAMICO
- RWINKWAVU
- RETC
- RUTONGO MINES
- TRINITY NYAKABINGO
Beyond the competition on the pitch, the participating teams are contributing to a wider campaign promoting professionalism, responsible mining, workers’ rights, environmental stewardship and inclusive economic development.
The tournament will continue through the coming months, with the final scheduled to take place during Rwanda Mining Week in December 2026, when the finalists will compete for the third edition’s championship title.
Through the Rwanda Inter-Mining Companies Football Competition, REWU and its partners are using the power of sport to strengthen dialogue, solidarity and awareness while contributing to a safer, more responsible and inclusive mining sector in Rwanda.
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