President Kagame presides over graduation of 108 senior officers in Nyakinama (Photos)

President Paul Kagame, Commander-in-Chief of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), has presided over the graduation of 108 senior officers from 20 countries at the Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College in Nyakinama, Musanze District.

The ceremony marked the completion of a 46-week Senior Command and Staff Course designed to equip military leaders with advanced skills in security management, strategic planning, command, and leadership.

President Kagame was accompanied by Defence Minister Juvenal Marizamunda, RDF Chief of Defence Staff General Mubarakh Muganga, and other senior government and military officials.

Addressing the graduates, President Kagame said the officers arrived as experienced professionals and were leaving with broader knowledge, sharper strategic awareness, and greater responsibility.

“You arrived here as experienced professionals and are now leaving with broader knowledge, sharper strategic awareness, and greater responsibility,” he said.

The President also paid tribute to the families whose sacrifices support military service, urging graduates to honour that commitment through professionalism, discipline, and integrity.

He emphasized that courage remains essential for military leadership, particularly when making decisions under pressure and uncertainty.

The graduating class consisted of officers from Rwanda and 19 partner nations across Africa and Asia. Among them were 55 officers who earned a Master of Arts in Security Studies, reflecting the institution’s growing academic profile.

Brigadier General Andrew Nyamvumba, Commandant of the RDF Command and Staff College, said the programme aims to prepare officers for increasingly complex security challenges facing the region and the wider world.

President Kagame commended RDF leadership for continuing to invest in the college’s infrastructure, technology, and academic capabilities, saying the institution has become a model centre for professional military education.

Three officers received special awards for outstanding performance.

The top graduates included officers from Ghana, Kenya, and Rwanda, with Lieutenant Colonel Walter Kageruka of the Rwanda Defence Force emerging as the overall best student.

Before the award ceremony, graduates and members of the RDF Military Band staged a ceremonial parade, demonstrating military drill and discipline acquired during the course.

Located in Nyakinama, Musanze District, the RDF Command and Staff College is Rwanda’s premier institution for advanced military education.

The college provides professional military training for officers from Rwanda and partner countries, focusing on operational planning, leadership, national security, peace support operations, and strategic studies.

Over the years, the institution has evolved into a regional centre for defence cooperation, attracting officers from across Africa and beyond.

Its programmes combine military instruction with academic research, including postgraduate studies conducted in partnership with the University of Rwanda.

The latest graduation follows the Senior Command and Staff Course Intake 13, which graduated 108 officers in 2025.

According to college records, more than 563 officers had completed the Senior Command and Staff Course before the latest intake, including 420 Rwandan officers and 143 officers from allied armed forces.

The college continues to expand its role in strengthening military professionalism and regional security cooperation across Africa.

The historical figures on previous senior-course graduates are based on publicly reported RDF Command and Staff College data.

Photos (RBA & Igihe)