He made the remarks on December 11, 2025, during the swearing-in ceremony of new officials, including Dr. Usta Kayitesi, appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Dr. Solange Uwituze, appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources; and Dr. Charles Muligande, appointed Senator.
Also sworn in were two newly appointed judges of the Court of Appeal, Dr. Didace Nshimiyimana and Dr. Jules Marius Ntete.
President Kagame noted that although similar reminders are often given during swearing-in ceremonies, repeating them is necessary because the responsibilities entrusted to senior leaders must be taken seriously.
'The responsibilities we hold demand different kinds of effortâ€"and a great deal of it. Those who fall short may have their reasons, depending on the circumstances and resources of their countries; some even grow complacent.
'But for our country, considering where we come from, where we are headed, and the unique challenges we face, we must work in extraordinary ways. We must use every ability we possessâ€"our knowledge, our intelligenceâ€"and above all, align with the determination to deliver,' he noted.
He added that challenges are numerous: 'Some problems are solved, others emerge; some persist. Given our past, our present, and our ambitions for the future, these challenges demand even greater effort, wisdom, and discipline.'
The judges sworn in today were appointed during the Cabinet meeting held on November 28, 2028, while the Ministers of State and Senator Dr. Muligande were appointed on December 1.
Profiles of newly appointed leaders
Dr. Solange Uwituze
Recently appointed Minister of State in MINAGRI, Dr. Uwituze replaced Dr. Ndabamenye. She had been serving as Acting Director General of the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), a role she also assumed after replacing Dr.
Ndabamenye when he joined the government. Before that, she was Deputy Director General of RAB.
Dr. Uwituze serves as Board Chair of Gabiro AgriHub Business Ltd, and Deputy Board Chair of Gako Meat Company Ltd.
She is also a board member of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and a founding fellow of the Rwanda Academy of Sciences (RAS).
Dr. Usta Kayitesi
Appointed Minister of State in MINAFFET, Dr. Kayitesi previously served as a Senator and chaired the Committee on Political Affairs and Governance. She replaces Gen (Rtd) James Kabarebe, who was named Senior Security Advisor in the Office of the President.
Dr. Kayitesi previously served as CEO of the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) from July 2019 to August 2024, taking over after serving as its Deputy CEO. She holds a PhD in Law and formerly lectured at the former National University of Rwanda. She also served as Principal of the University of Rwanda's College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS).
She was among the seven commissioners who worked on the 2015 Constitutional review, serving as the Commission's Vice Chair.
Dr. Charles Muligande
The newly appointed Senator replaces Dr. Usta Kayitesi following her new appointment. Dr. Muligande is a seasoned public servant with a long career in Rwanda's political and diplomatic spheres.
He holds a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Notre Dame de la Paix in Namur, Belgium. From 1994â€"1995, he served as Advisor to the President on Foreign Affairs. Between 1995 and 1997, he was Minister of Transport and Communications before becoming Vice Chancellor of the University of Rwanda.
He later served as Secretary General of the RPF-Inkotanyi and as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation from 2002 to 2008.
He briefly served as Minister in charge of Cabinet Affairs (2008â€"2009) and then as Minister of Education (2009â€"2011) before being appointed Rwanda's ambassador to several countries between 2011 and 2015, including Japan, Australia, and the Philippines.
In June 2016, he became Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Rwanda in charge of Institutional Advancement, a role he held until his retirement.
IGIHE
