President Paul Kagame has urged the 12th cohort of graduates from Gako Military Academy to put service to Rwandans at the center of their military careers.
Addressing the 1,029 new officers at their commissioning ceremony, Kagame said their discipline, behavior, and choices will define the future of the country.
“Serving Rwandans is your primary duty. When you work for Rwandans, you serve yourselves as well. Your performance, behavior, and choices should reflect this, even when no one is watching,” he told the graduates.
The Head of State also cautioned against destructive habits such as alcohol abuse, drug use, and misconduct that could undermine their service.
“We would not want your achievements to be wasted due to poor conduct,” he warned.
Of the graduates, 557 completed one-year courses, 248 finished short-term programs, 182 concluded four-year courses, and 42 trained abroad. Women accounted for 117, while men totaled 912.
This 12th graduating class reinforces the academy’s tradition of producing highly skilled officers expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity and discipline as they join the RDF.
Pichou Byiringiro / The Kaminuza Star