President Paul Kagame has urged Rwandans to abandon dependency on others for survival and instead fully embrace self-reliance as both a national vision and a personal responsibility.
He made the call on Thursday, February 5, 2026, while officially opening the 20th National Umushyikirano Council at the Kigali Convention Center.
Marking two decades of the high-level national dialogue platform, President Kagame said Umushyikirano has been instrumental in shaping key decisions that have propelled Rwanda’s social and economic transformation.
“This forum has met many times, and each time it produces discussions and decisions that move us forward, opening the way for further action so that the country continues to develop as it should,” he said.
The President explained that Umushyikirano was established to reinforce Rwanda’s long-standing commitment to self-reliance, warning against a mindset of living on assistance or goodwill from others.
“Self-reliance is the goal, the strategy and the responsibility that each one of us must carry,” Kagame stressed.
He noted that, given Rwanda’s size and historical context, the country cannot afford complacency, adding that progress must be continuous and deliberate.
“We must always aim to take a bigger step than the previous one. Sustaining that momentum is the only way citizens and the country can truly exist and prosper,” he said.
President Kagame challenged Rwandans to value their work, pursue ambitious initiatives and accept the sacrifices required for meaningful development.
“If people want dignity and to reach where they deserve to be, that demands a great deal from them. Sometimes it even requires losing sleep—staying awake to think deeply about what will move you forward on the development path,” he said.
He further dismissed the notion that some nations are naturally destined to succeed while others are not, noting that many countries that once shared Rwanda’s starting point have since achieved significant progress.
“People are the same everywhere. No country was created differently from another. We should never accept the belief that success belongs to some and not to others,” Kagame said.
The President concluded by calling on leaders at all levels to take full responsibility for their mandates and ensure that citizens receive the services and leadership they are entitled to.
