Simon Danczuk, former Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom, was officially engaged this weekend to Claudine Uwamahoro, a beauty therapist from Kigali.
Simon proposed to Claudine on Friday (28th October) in Kigali and they celebrated their forthcoming marriage that evening at the award-winning Meza Malonga Restaurant.
The couple first met at Casa Keza Bar and Restaurant in March this year when Simon, who lives in London, was in the city for business. The couple kept in touch and met again when Simon attended the CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) Business Forum in May. Their long-distance relationship blossomed and they now have four or five video calls every day.
Simon arrived in Kigali on Wednesday with an engagement ring and popped the question to Claudine two days later.
Claudine said: “I was surprised by Simon’s proposal of marriage but delighted to accept. We have developed a really strong friendship over the last seven months and I am pleased that we are taking our relationship to the next level.”
Simon said: “Claudine is a beautiful person and I am so excited that she was prepared to get engaged. She is the most positive person I have ever met, has a heart of gold, and is such great company. I cannot wait for us to get married.”
The couple have spent the weekend meeting Claudine’s family who live Kanombe. They chose Meza Malonga Restaurant to celebrate because of its excellent cuisine and great reputation.
Simon is the former Member of Parliament for Rochdale, in the UK, from 2010 to 2017, an author, and now business consultant. Claudine studied Land Survey at Ines-Ruhengeri and has since developed a career as a beauty therapist in her home city of Kigali. They expect to marry in July 2023.
Notes to the editor
The photo accompanying this release show Claudine and Simon in their friend’s garden in Kigali this weekend.
The photograph is by Leslie at Akanyoni.
