Gatsibo District, Rwanda — August 10, 2026 — Rwanda’s 16th cohort of the Itorero Indangamirwa national civic education program concluded a 40-day training program on Monday at the Rwanda Defence Force Combat Training Centre (CTC) in Gabiro, Gatsibo District, with Prime Minister Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva calling on young Rwandans to uphold discipline, make responsible choices, and contribute to the country’s continued development.
The program, which began on July 1, brought together 769 young Rwandans between the ages of 18 and 23, including 315 young women and 454 young men. Participants came from diverse backgrounds, including Rwandans living or studying abroad, students from international secondary schools in Rwanda, university and higher education students, and outstanding participants from the 13th cohort of the Inkomezabigwi national service program, known as Rugerero.
Addressing participants during the closing ceremony, Prime Minister Nsengiyumva said the opportunities available to Rwanda’s younger generation also come with responsibilities and difficult choices. He encouraged graduates to demonstrate the values acquired through Itorero when confronting challenges, distractions, and competing pressures in their personal and professional lives.
“There are many opportunities for young people like you to take advantage of, but I also want to remind you that there will be many distractions and temptations,” Nsengiyumva said. “You will often find that doing what is right may seem difficult, but that is precisely where your values and the character you have developed through Itorero will be demonstrated.”
The Prime Minister reflected on the different circumstances facing Rwanda’s current generation compared with young people who participated in the country’s liberation and subsequent reconstruction. He said today’s youth have inherited a nation with stronger institutions, greater opportunities, and a foundation upon which they can continue building.
“What your country asks of you today is different from what was required of the young people who liberated the country,” Nsengiyumva said. “They found Rwanda devastated by the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, but their courage was demonstrated by rebuilding the country, restoring unity among Rwandans, and laying the foundation for the development Rwanda enjoys today.”
He told the graduates that preserving those achievements alone would not be sufficient, emphasizing that their generation has a responsibility to advance the country beyond its current level of development.
“You have grown up at a time when Rwanda has rebuilt itself, with many opportunities and a promising future,” he said. “Your responsibility, therefore, is to safeguard what has been achieved, build upon it, and take the country far beyond where it is today.”
During the six-week program, participants received civic, cultural, leadership, and practical training intended to strengthen national identity, discipline, patriotism, critical thinking, responsibility, and service. The curriculum emphasized Ubutore, a Rwandan concept associated with integrity, excellence, responsibility, and commitment to serving the wider community.
Training also covered Rwandan cultural values and traditions, proficiency in the Kinyarwanda language, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, civic responsibility, national development priorities, and Rwanda’s history. Participants studied the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and the country’s liberation and reconstruction journey, including through a visit to the Kiziguro Genocide Memorial in Gatsibo District.
Alongside civic education, participants underwent elements of basic military instruction, including marksmanship and other introductory military skills. The program was designed to encourage participants to become solution-oriented citizens capable of responding constructively to challenges while contributing to Rwanda’s development at home and abroad.
The cohort also engaged with senior government and military officials during the training period. Among the engagements was an address involving the Defence Spokesperson and Director General of International Military Cooperation, providing participants with perspectives on national security, civic responsibility, and Rwanda’s broader development priorities.
A significant moment in the program came on July 28, when participants met President Paul Kagame. During the engagement, Kagame encouraged the young people to develop a problem-solving mindset and take responsibility for contributing to the country’s progress. His message emphasized the role of younger generations in protecting national achievements while identifying practical solutions to challenges facing Rwanda and its people.
The program placed particular emphasis on preparing participants to serve as responsible representatives of Rwanda wherever they live, study, or work. For those based outside the country, the training emphasized maintaining connections with Rwanda, understanding its history and cultural values, and finding constructive ways to contribute their knowledge and experience to national development.
As the graduates return to universities, communities, workplaces, and countries of residence, they are expected to apply the leadership, discipline, cultural awareness, and civic responsibility developed during their time at Gabiro.
The graduation of Cohort 16 adds 769 participants to the more than 5,216 young people who completed the previous 15 cohorts of Itorero Indangamirwa. The growing number of graduates reflects Rwanda’s continuing investment in civic education as part of efforts to prepare younger generations for leadership, community service, national unity, and long-term development.
For the latest graduates, Prime Minister Nsengiyumva’s closing message centered on the choices they will make after leaving Gabiro: opportunities may be plentiful, but their commitment to Ubutore will ultimately be demonstrated by their willingness to choose what is right, particularly when doing so is difficult.
