Prime Minister Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva on Sunday presided over the graduation of 78 health professionals at the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) in Burera District, as the institution marked 10 years of training health leaders for Africa.
The ceremony at the Butaro Campus was attended by First Lady Jeannette Kagame, senior government officials, development partners, and international guests.
The graduates include 30 medical doctors from the MBBS–Master of Global Health Delivery (MBBS-MGHD) programme and 48 graduates from the Master of Science in Global Health Delivery (MGHD) programme.
Speaking at the ceremony on behalf of President Paul Kagame, the Prime Minister said the graduates are entering the workforce at a time of mounting pressure on health systems in Rwanda and globally, driven by emerging diseases, workforce shortages, and financing constraints.
“You are moving from preparation to responsibility. Health systems today require leaders who combine clinical skills with policy understanding, management, and implementation,” Nsengiyumva said.
He said UGHE has, in just a decade, established itself as a strategic institution in Rwanda’s human capital development agenda by training professionals capable of strengthening health systems and improving service delivery.
The Prime Minister also recognized First Lady Jeannette Kagame, whose long-standing leadership in health and education was described as instrumental in advancing human development in Rwanda. She received an honorary degree during the ceremony.
He paid tribute to the late Dr. Paul Farmer, co-founder of Partners In Health and a founding figure of UGHE, crediting him with laying the foundation for an institution built on equity, service, and practical solutions to health challenges.
The Prime Minister thanked development partners, including Partners In Health, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Mastercard Foundation, and the Cummings Foundation for their continued support in building UGHE into a regional hub for health leadership training.
UGHE’s Class of 2026 is drawn from seven African countries and one European country, reflecting the university’s continental mission to serve Africa through health systems strengthening.
“UGHE is an African institution with a continental purpose. Rwanda will always be your home,” Nsengiyumva told the graduates.
Established in 2016, UGHE was founded to address gaps in health leadership and service delivery by combining medical training with systems thinking and management.
The university’s 10-year milestone marks its growing role in shaping Africa’s next generation of health professionals.
