President Paul Kagame has promoted two senior officers to the rank of Brigadier General in a major wave of Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) promotions that elevates more than 20,000 soldiers across various ranks. The announcement was made on Friday, December 12, in a statement issued by the RDF.
The promotions come just over two months after the Commander‑in‑Chief promoted 630 officers from Second Lieutenant to Lieutenant in early October, underscoring ongoing efforts to strengthen leadership and operational capacity within the force.
The newly appointed one‑star generals are Brig Gen Innocent Munyengango, formerly a Colonel and Commander of the RDF Logistics Brigade, and Brig Gen François‑Régis Gatarayiha, previously Colonel and Head of the Defence Intelligence Department at RDF Headquarters.
According to the RDF, the latest promotions—effective immediately—affect 21,065 personnel across the military structure.
In the commissioned officers’ category, Kagame promoted:
- 43 officers from Lieutenant Colonel to Colonel
- 253 officers from Major to Lieutenant Colonel
- 79 officers from Captain to Major
- 299 officers from Lieutenant to Captain
The President also approved a large number of promotions among non‑commissioned officers and enlisted personnel, including:
- 11 officers from Staff Sergeant to Sergeant Major
- 2,296 officers from Sergeant to Staff Sergeant
- 10,260 officers from Corporal to Sergeant
- 7,822 officers from Private to Corporal
The RDF said the promotions reflect continued recognition of service, discipline, and professionalism within the force.
