Eighteen Rwandans have graduated from Akagera Aviation School, adding to the country’s growing pool of skilled pilots at a time when Rwanda is positioning itself as a regional aviation hub.
The graduates received their pilot certification on Thursday, December 18, 2025, during a ceremony held in Kigali and attended by senior government officials and aviation industry leaders, including the Minister of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA), Amb. Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye.
The group includes 14 trainees who completed their studies in Rwanda and four who undertook part of their training abroad. All are licensed to operate both helicopters and fixed-wing passenger aircraft.
Training was conducted at Kigali International Airport, where Akagera Aviation School is based, alongside advanced practical instruction abroad to equip the pilots with hands-on experience that meets international aviation standards.
Akagera Aviation School currently graduates up to 20 pilots annually, but management says plans are underway to expand intake in response to increasing demand for pilots across Rwanda’s aviation sector.
Speaking at the graduation, Acting Managing Director Joseph Ndayishimiye said the school’s graduates are quickly absorbed into the job market due to the relevance of their training.
“Our programmes are designed around industry needs, which is why most of our graduates secure employment immediately with local and regional aviation companies,” he said.
Amb. Uwihanganye said the availability of pilot training within Rwanda marks a major shift for the sector and supports the country’s long-term aviation ambitions.
“There was a time when aspiring Rwandan pilots had to look abroad for training,” he said. “Today, training at home is producing the skilled workforce we need for RwandAir and for other airlines that will emerge as Rwanda strengthens its position as an aviation hub.”
Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Airports Company (RAC), Eva Nishimwe, welcomed the growing participation of women among the graduates, describing it as a positive step toward gender balance in a traditionally male-dominated field.
Akagera Aviation has operated in Rwanda since 2004, initially providing tourism flight services before establishing Akagera Aviation School in 2013. The school now offers training in helicopter, fixed-wing and drone operations.
To date, the institution has trained 106 pilots, including 59 helicopter pilots and 47 fixed-wing pilots, as well as more than 200 certified drone operators, contributing significantly to the development of Rwanda’s aviation industry.
