President Paul Kagame has appointed Brig Gen Jean-Paul Nyirubutama as Deputy Senior Defence and Security Advisor in the Office of the President, and James Wizeye as Deputy Secretary General of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS).
The appointments were announced in a statement issued on January 29, 2026, by the Office of the Prime Minister.
Brig Gen Nyirubutama, who has been serving as Deputy Secretary General of NISS since September 2021, will now serve as deputy to Gen (Rtd) James Kabarebe, the Senior Defence and Security Advisor in the Office of the President. Kabarebe was appointed to the role on December 1, 2025.
James Wizeye replaces Nyirubutama as Deputy Secretary General of NISS. Prior to his appointment, Wizeye served as First Secretary at Rwanda’s High Commission to the United Kingdom. He will serve under Aimable Havugiyaremye, who was appointed Secretary General of NISS in June 2024.
The changes come amid a series of recent defence-related appointments. On January 24, Brig Gen Godfrey Gasana was named Presidential Pilot and Advisor to the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff on Air Force matters. Col Dan Gatsinzi was also appointed Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, replacing Gasana.
The appointments are part of ongoing efforts to strengthen leadership within the country’s defence and security institutions.
BYIRINGIRO Arsene / The Kaminuza Star