First Lady Jeannette Kagame has urged young leaders to take an active role in building stable families rooted in love, responsibility, faith and strong values, saying the strength of Rwanda begins in the home.
She made the remarks on September 6, 2026, while addressing the Young Leaders Prayer Breakfast, a gathering focused on the importance of family and the role of young leaders in building stronger homes and communities.
Jeannette Kagame said building a strong family starts with love and trust, noting that people do not enter marriage expecting it to fail or eventually end in separation.
She also called for greater compassion toward people whose marriages have broken down, saying they should not be excluded or denied their rights but should instead be welcomed without judgment.
The First Lady said Rwanda has placed significant trust in young people by giving them responsibilities in different sectors, including government and the private sector.
She said that trust is often based on education, knowledge, experience, skills and the ability to deliver, but argued that these qualities alone are not enough to prepare someone for leadership or family life.
“Could it be that we have paid attention to intelligence and ability, but have not given enough time to developing our character, emotions and relationships, which are also necessary for someone to become a good leader, whether at home or at work?” she asked.
She said professional excellence may help someone succeed at work, but does not automatically equip them to build a healthy marriage, raise children or preserve family unity during difficult times.
“Education helps you at work but it’s not all that is required to build a strong family. There are other values that are needed. You should approach family life with the same seriousness with which you approach careers and the country’s development ambitions,” she said.
Jeannette Kagame reminded young leaders that the trust placed in their generation comes with greater responsibility, urging them to develop sound judgment, clear values and healthy relationships while navigating changes brought by technology, economic pressures and other social challenges.
She described the family as the foundation of the country and urged young leaders to begin strengthening that foundation in their own homes.
“If a strong family is the foundation on which a country is built, the responsibility of this generation is to strengthen that foundation, starting in our homes, so that what we pass on to our children does not become wounds they continue trying to heal, but rather a strong foundation on which they can build. Rwanda starts at home,” she said.
Changing attitudes towards marriage
The First Lady also raised concerns about changing attitudes towards marriage among young people.
She said some young people are increasingly postponing marriage while waiting to complete their studies, secure stable employment or pay off debts before settling down.
She also pointed to relationship patterns in which young people move through different stages of getting to know each other, talking, dating and living together without making a clear commitment.
She said the issue is not simply about having children or holding a wedding ceremony, but about accepting the responsibilities that come with building and maintaining a family.
Jeannette Kagame urged young people not to focus only on the wedding day, but also to prepare for the realities that follow, including patience, sacrifice, commitment and responsibility.
She also cautioned couples against behaviours that can gradually damage relationships, including hurtful words, constant criticism and reacting in anger before thinking.
She said challenges affecting families, including behavioural, economic and cultural pressures, will not resolve themselves.
Instead, she urged young people to build the families of tomorrow through wisdom, strong values, faith and a willingness to take responsibility.
