President Paul Kagame has said Rwanda’s development trajectory would not have been possible if those who liberated the country and stopped the Genocide against the Tutsi had acted out of self-interest.
He made the remarks on June 17 during a ceremony where he received the oaths of newly appointed officials across various government and security institutions.
Kagame urged the leaders to draw lessons from the country’s liberation history, saying the sacrifices made at the time should guide public service today.
“This country, where it has reached, those who fought to save and liberate it—do people really think they were acting in self-interest or personal gain? If they had only thought about themselves, there would be no country at all,” he said.
He noted that the liberation struggle was not driven by material gain, but by a willingness to risk life for the survival of the nation.
The President said that while public service today requires commitment and dedication, it does not demand the level of sacrifice seen during the liberation struggle.
“You go to war not knowing if you will return alive. Here, you know you will return home safely. That history should guide how we work every day,” he said.
Kagame emphasized that most governance challenges can be solved through collaboration, dialogue, and joint problem-solving, including mobilizing resources where needed.
He stressed that public service is a shared responsibility, warning that poor performance has consequences for both citizens and national development.
The President also noted that government restructuring will continue based on performance and other considerations, adding that leaders may be given time to improve, but action is taken when shortcomings persist.
