Speaking with clarity and introspection, Kagame emphasised the importance of understanding Rwanda on its own termsâ€"shaped by its history, defined by its resilience, and guided by a deeply internalised sense of responsibility.
'Like any other country or society, Rwandans have their ways, they have their problems, they have their restraints,' Kagame said.
'So we approach the management of our affairs and society and deal with our problems based on that understanding of who we are, who we want to be, where we are coming from, where we want to go.'
Kagame urged the students to look beyond surface narratives and adopt a more nuanced lens when evaluating nations like Rwanda.
He stressed the value of introspection and open communication within Rwandan society as key tools for progress.
'It's important to read and understand carefully what all that entails. And more importantly, to try and communicate it among ourselves and do the kind of soul-searching we need to find solutions to the many problems we have or have had," he asserted.
In a statement that anchored the tone of the discussion, Kagame declared, 'We don't pretend about anything.' Acknowledging the significant strides Rwanda has made since the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi, he also admitted that challenges remain.
'We know that a lot of progress has been made, but we have not succeeded in everything. We are not even bound to succeed in everything. But we try to register progress in the things that matter most to us.'
The Head of State, who led the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA)â€"comprising Rwandan refugees from neighbouring countriesâ€"to stop the Genocide against the Tutsi, described Rwanda's journey as one forged not in privilege, but in perseverance.
'We are not spoiled. We don't have much to spoil us. We have just had the lessons of our past that are tragic. Therefore, you either pick up your pieces and move forward or you perish,' Kagame told the students. 'We operate within these kinds of limitations.'
The meeting served as both a lesson in leadership and a window into Rwanda's ongoing efforts to build a self-reliant, inclusive society that acknowledges its scars but remains focused on a future defined by integrity, purpose, and homegrown solutions.
President Kagame is credited with steering the country toward prosperity following the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi, which left more than a million people dead.
Today, Rwanda is regarded as a model of good governance, with notable progress in areas such as infrastructure development and the improvement of public services, including healthcare and education.
A recent survey conducted by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) revealed that national poverty has declined by 12.4 percentage points over the past seven years.
According to the survey, the national poverty rate dropped from 39.8% in 2017 to 27.4% in 2024, with approximately 1.5 million Rwandans lifted out of poverty during that period.
Moreover, the country has made concerted efforts to combat corruption and enhance the efficiency of its public sector, placing a strong emphasis on accountability and performance.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
