Personal profile

His Excellency Paul Kagame was sworn in as President of the Republic of Rwanda for a seven-term mandate on 12 September 2003 after being elected in the first ever democratically contested multiparty elections held in August 2003.

Paul Kagame was born in October 1957 in Ruhango, Southern Province, to Deogratius and Asteria Rutagambwa.

In 1960, he fled persecution and ethnic pogroms that were to characterise Rwanda in subsequent decades, and became a refugee in Uganda.

Paul Kagame was among the first 27 men who, together with Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, launched a five-year liberation war in Uganda in 1980.

He served as a senior officer in the Ugandan army between 1986 and 1990 during which time he attended a staff and command course at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, USA.

In October 1990, Paul Kagame returned to Rwanda after thirty years in exile to lead the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) in the struggle for the liberation of Rwanda.

On 19 July 1994, he was appointed Vice-President and Minister for Defence in the Government of National Unity.

In 1998, he was elected Chairman of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a partner in the Government of National Unity.

On 17 April 2000, Paul Kagame was unanimously elected President of the Republic of Rwanda by the Transitional National Assembly. He took the Oath of Office on 22 April 2000.

President Kagame was awarded the 2003 Global Leadership Award by the Young Presidents Organisation (YPO), in recognition of his role in uniting and reconciling Rwandans and in promoting peaceful solutions to the conflicts in the region.

In July 2003, President Kagame was elected 1st Vice President of the African Union during the African Union Heads of State and Government Summit held in Maputo, Mozambique.

In April 2005, President Kagame was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor Laws by the University of the Pacific in the USA.

In September 2005, President Kagame was awarded the Andrew Young Medal for Capitalism and Social Progress by Georgia State University in the USA; and in the same month received the African National Achievement Award by the Africa America Institute in the USA.

In April 2006, President Kagame was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Oklahoma Christian University in the USA.

President Kagame was presented the ICT Africa Award in 2006 and in 2007 - an award which recognizes organizations and individuals that have demonstrated excellence in promoting the use of ICTs for the overall development of the African continent.

President Kagame was the recipient of the 2007 African Gender Award presented by Femmes Africa Solidarité in recognition of outstanding achievement in furthering gender mainstreaming in the economic and political spheres, as well as addressing social and cultural barriers that impede the involvement and advancement of women in national affairs.

In August 2007, President Kagame received “The Abolitionist of the Year 2007” Award after Rwanda abolished the death penalty. The award was presented by Hands Off Cain to recognize the person, who, above all others, has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment in the struggle for a moratorium on executions and the abolition of the death penalty.

President Kagame has been married to Jeannette Nyiramongi since 1989. They have four children.

President Kagame is a keen tennis player and football fan.

Office of the President

The President’s office is the institution charged with assisting the executive arm of government- The President- to fulfill his responsibility as the nation’s supreme leader.

The President’s Office is headed by a Minister of State and a Director of Cabinet.

The President works with a team of advisors in the areas that include: Foreign Affairs, Economy, Defense, Security, Communication & Public Relations, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Special Envoys to Great Lakes Region, Good Governance and Special Advisors.

Below is the complete list of ministers, director generals, directors, advisors and staff in the President’s Office.

Name : Mme. Soline Nyirahabimana
Designation: Minister

Name : Prof. Romain Murenzi
Designation: Minister in charge of Science, Technology and Research

Name: Maj. Gen. Frank Mugambage
Designation: Director of Cabinet

Advisors:

Name: Prof. Nshuti Manasseh
Designation: Senior Economic Advisor

Name: Amb. Mutaboba Joseph
Designation: Special Envoy Great Lakes Region

Name: Ambassador Amri Sued
Designation: Foreign Affairs

Name: Mr. Remy Mugunga
Designation: Economy

Name:
Designation: Security and Defense

Name: Dr. Alfred Ndahiro
Designation: Communication & Public Relations

Name: Dr. Pius Ndayambaje
Designation: ICT

Private Secretaries:

Name: Vacant
Designation: Principal Private Secretary

Name: Mrs. Davinah Milenge
Designation: Deputy Principal Private Secretary

Name: Ms. Michelle Ntukanyagwe
Designation: Deputy Principal Private Secretary

Director-Generals:

Name: Mr. Faustin Musare
Designation: Governance

Name: Mr. Faustin.K. Mupende
Designation: Finance and Administration

Name: Dr. David Himbara
Designation: Strategy & Policy Unit

Name: Mrs. Rose Kabuye
Designation: State Protocol

Name: Mr. David Kanamugire
Designation: ICT

Name: Mr. Alex Mupende
Department: Translator

Name: Ms. Yolande Makolo
Designation: Press Secretary

Directors :

Name : Mrs. Grace Bamurebe
Department: Executive Secretary

Name : Mrs. Perpetue Sangwa
Department: Executive Secretary

Name: Mr. Pancras Butamire
Department: Speeches

Name: Ms. Esther Mukandoli
Department: Human Resources

Name:
Department: Budget and Finance

Name: Mr. Jean-Baptiste Kamali
Department: General Secretariat

Name: Mr. Francois Semakuba Department: NGOs and Civil Society

Name: Mrs. Ancila Akayezu
Department: Social Affairs

Name: Dr. Pascal Kanyamagana
Department: HIV/AIDS

Name: Mr. John Nkuranga
Department: Protocol

Name: Mr. Emmanuel Mugabe
Department: Software Systems

Name: Mr. John Nyamvumba
Department: Network Systems

Name: Mr. Innocent Nkurikiyinka
Department: Procurement

Name: Mr. Enock Kiyemba Luyenzi
Department: Logistics

Name: Mr. Patrick Rwabidadi
Department: Personal Assistant to the Minister

Name: Mr. Patrick Sebudandi
Department: Personal Assistant to the Director of Cabinet

Name: Ms. Betty Kabera
Department: Ceremonies

Click here to view the president’s speeches.