President Paul Kagame has urged leaders at all levels to regularly assess their performance and confront shortcomings in delivering on their responsibilities, warning that failure to do so carries consequences for both individuals and the country.
Kagame made the remarks during the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) Political Bureau meeting held in Rusororo, where he called on leaders to be honest about the progress made toward national goals and the role they play in achieving them.
He said leaders should measure their actions against the expectations of citizens and seek solutions whenever they identify gaps in service delivery or performance.
“Everyone should ask themselves where we have reached in relation to the responsibilities we have taken on, and find answers based on what Rwandans say, their situation and the expectations they have from what we promised to deliver,” Kagame said.
The president said responsibility begins with individuals and extends through all levels of leadership, with each person’s contribution needed to achieve the country’s objectives.
He said the RPF’s history, values and identity provide guidance on the responsibilities of its members and their role in building the Rwanda they aspire to see.
Kagame said leaders must constantly reflect on Rwanda’s journey, assess current achievements and identify what remains to be done to reach national ambitions.
He cautioned against claiming success without evidence, saying progress must be reflected in the daily lives of citizens.
“Whatever you say about yourself and whatever achievements you highlight, there is a measure by which Rwandans will judge whether those achievements are reaching them and whether they can see them,” he said.
Kagame said development outcomes cannot be created through statements alone, citing education and healthcare as examples of areas where results must be visible.
“If children are not attending school, you cannot claim to have achieved the goal of putting children in school. If people do not have good health or protection, you cannot claim they have achieved it,” he said.
He compared leadership accountability to diagnosing an illness, saying challenges cannot be resolved unless they are first acknowledged.
Kagame said some problems require individuals to take responsibility and find solutions themselves, while others require seeking support from people or institutions with the necessary expertise.
“If you are not fulfilling your responsibilities to the country as required, the consequences exist and they affect you as well,” he said.
The president called on leaders to embrace self-assessment and collaboration as tools for addressing challenges and improving performance.
