Elite Military Academy Releases First Officers With University Degrees

In September 2015, the Rwanda Military Academy, Gako, in Bugesera district, eastern Province, launched a four-year degree program. This Saturday November 16 2019, was graduation.

There were 50 cadets for the pioneer Bachelor’s of Social and Military Science. Not all of them completed today.

RDF commander-in-chief President Paul Kagame commissioned 37 of them at a ceremony in Gako. The rest dropped out due to varied reasons, according to the Academy’s Commandant.

The new officers were part of 320 casets released with rank of 2nd Lieutenant.

Kagame told the new additions to the rank-and-file of the army that the situation they will find out there is “not always rosy”.

“We wish for a peaceful country. But that comes with a price. It has be fought for,” said Kagame

His speech, from a prepared text, was calm, different from the one on Thursday in which he issued stern warning to anyone planning to destabilize his government. Kagame hinted at new security operations to weed out rebel collaborators.

Speaking today to the cadet officers, Kagame told them to be model citizens when they return to communities for a short break. He said they have to be vigilant at all times, ready to be called anytime the need arises.

He said: “There are many ways [to have peaceful country] in which you have been trained, which I hope you will fulfill; to respect each other, to co-exist with our neighboring countries and internationally. To trade amongst ourselves, with our neighbouring countries, mutual respect.”

He continued: “Actually, you are aware of what you are supposed to do. However, everything is not always rosy. There are instances when people are antagonistic, provocative, which am sure you are prepared to confront, no matter the form in which these challenges emergRDF

Kagame said the military is a noble profession and expressed gratitude to the new commissioned officers for choosing the RDF. He said if he himself was to choose again which profession to pursue, he would fo for the military.

The Rwanda Military Academy is implementing the degree program in partnership with the University of Rwanda. Classes are conducted at Gako.

Among the 320 commissioned today also includes more than 2 dozens who graduated from University of Rwanda with engineering degrees. These will go on to join the RDF Engineering Brigade.

There were also four who studied at foreign institutions, which were not revealed at the ceremony.

The vast majority of the cadets, more than 250 of them, only underwent the standard training for one year.