Kagame passes out senior military officers

President Paul Kagame has handed over certificates of merit to senior military officers who have completed their military training at the Nyakinama Command and Staff College, Musanze District.

This was during the college’s first graduation ceremony held 10th June, 2013, for 45 RDF senior officers who completed a 46 weeks course. The officers were trained in military warfare, combat (land, air and marine) and peacekeeping, among others.

Addressing the gathering, Kagame reminded the graduates that they will need more than what was offered at the academy in order to serve with diligence. “It is up to you to make sure you live to the expectation [of] Rwandans,” he said.

He added: “This course and those who attended it should help the country to define that journey– there is nothing mythical about it.

He added that the College taughted them advanced military strategies to strength their capacity to defend the territorial integrity of #Rwanda.

“You have the leadership credentials to understand this nation’s larger vision of transforming our people.”

Kagame also recognized the best overall student, Major Claude Nkusi, and the best defense paper writer, David Kanamugire.

Referring to critics from the west, Kagame reminded Rwandans to stay the course and avoid being distracted. “Even those who temper with us even in small ways should be made to understand that.”

Kagame urged graduates to uphold values of patriotism, diligence, commitment, discipline, a sense of identity and purpose to the nation and the military service.

He said that such virtues, if respected, offer the true character of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF). “The government will support the forces so that they diligently serve the nation and its people,” he observed.

Before inviting the president to address the gathering, the Minister of Defence, Kabarebe James, observed that the next intake at the academy will comprise regional senior officers as per the defence cooperation of EAC regional states.

Brig. Gen.Mupenzi, the Commandant of the College, welcomed President Kagame and acknowledged his guidance to the college since he inaugurated it last year.

Addressing the same gathering, Lt. Col Gatate Karuranga, the Academy Coordinator, called this an opportunity for Rwandans to have their own package of military services that offers a unique learning experience for other countries especially in peacekeeping.

Earlier in the day, President Kagame inaugurated the National Police Academy also located in Musanze District, where he unveiled the National Police College Monument stone and launched a Police Senior Command and Staff Course.

At least 12 countries are participating in the program which is expected to accommodate international courses for the next intake.

“I hope you found your home here…wherever you come from. This is our continent and this is your country as well,” Kagame told foreign officers training at the academy. They were enlisted from Ghana, Zambia, Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania and Uganda.

The military college training programs are co-sponsored by the US and British Governments in collaboration with the National University of Rwanda (NUR).

The ceremony was attended regional and international military officials and high government officials.