The project is being implemented by Rwanda’s Academy of Language and Culture in partnership with Global Digital Heritage Inc., an international organization specializing in the digital documentation and preservation of historical and cultural sites using modern technology.
As part of the initiative, 17 participants, including staff from museums across Rwanda, have completed specialized training on the use of 3D scanning technology.
Speaking to journalists on August 4, 2026, following a workshop on the role of emerging technologies in preserving Rwanda’s cultural heritage, the trainees said they plan to pass on the skills they acquired by training colleagues in their respective institutions.
Ngara Jean Bosco, an employee of the Academy of Language and Culture working at the National Art Gallery in Kanombe, Kigali, said the training would significantly improve the way museums preserve cultural artifacts.
“The training has equipped us with practical skills that will help us carry out our work more effectively. We were trained in Huye, and now we will be able to digitally preserve the artifacts in our museum, ensuring that even if the originals are damaged or lost, accurate digital records will remain,” he said.
Mutoni Peace, who works at a cultural tourism center in Musanze, said the technology would make Rwanda’s history more accessible, particularly to young people.
She explained that trainees learned how to use specialized 3D scanners to capture every angle of an artifact, producing a highly accurate digital replica that preserves its exact shape, size, and appearance.
According to her, the technology will also enable people to explore museum collections remotely through the internet without physically visiting the museums.
She added that digital preservation offers an extra layer of protection against disasters such as fires or other unforeseen incidents that could destroy irreplaceable cultural objects.
Dr. Herbert Maschner, Executive Director of Global Digital Heritage, said the organization is committed to helping countries build local expertise in using digital technologies to preserve their own cultural heritage.
He noted that similar initiatives are already being implemented in several other countries and praised Rwanda for embracing modern methods of heritage conservation.
Professor Robert Masozera, Chairperson of Rwanda’s Academy of Language and Culture, said the project will not only strengthen the preservation of the country’s historical collections but also increase international awareness of Rwanda’s rich cultural heritage.
He explained that storing heritage collections in digital form allows them to be preserved for much longer periods while making them easily accessible to researchers, students, and the public around the world. The initiative is also expected to support education, research, tourism, and international collaboration in the field of cultural preservation.
Courtesy of ImvahoNshya
