Rwanda celebrates 17th International White cane day: ‘we see beyond the eyes

Every year, October 15 is celebrated as the International White Cane Awareness Day. In Rwanda, this day will be celebrated for the 17th time on November 7, 2025, in Huye District, Southern Province, Tumba Sector, under the theme “We See Beyond the Eyes.”

The Executive Director of the Rwanda Union of the Blind (RUB), Mugisha Jacques, explained that “the white cane is a body part for a blind person. Even though it is made of metal, to us, it serves as our eye because it helps us to see and navigate the world.”

He added that those who mishandle or disrespect the white cane are seen as people who poke them in the eye. “In Rwandan culture, it is taboo to point a finger into someone’s eye, so disrespecting the white cane is just as offensive,” he emphasized.

Speaking about this year’s theme, “We See Beyond the Eyes,” Mugisha said:
“Many people think that we are incapable simply because we lack sight. But living without vision requires us to use the power of our minds and hearts. This doesn’t mean we don’t face challenges — we do — but our resilience proves that we truly see beyond the physical eyes.”

The Rwanda Union of the Blind (RUB) notes that celebrating this day has helped raise awareness and advocacy, enabling many blind people to access white canes that they previously lacked.

So far, 1,485 white canes have been distributed, but the Union says there is still a long way to go, as many blind people remain without them.

A database known as the Disability Information Management System, developed by the National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government, revealed that the provisional number of people with visual impairments in Rwanda is about 107,000.

Since its establishment in 1995, RUB has expanded to 64 branches across the country and now has more than 1,900 members.

The Union further explains that the world commemorates White Cane Day not only to highlight the cane as a tool of mobility and independence for the blind but also as a symbol of patience, determination, dignity, and the right to live without discrimination.