Rwanda PM Urges Indangamirwa Graduates to Seize Opportunities, Resist Distractions
Some of Indangamirwa Graduates
Rwanda’s Prime Minister, Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva, has urged young people graduating from the 16th edition of Itorero Indangamirwa to make the most of the opportunities available to them while remaining disciplined enough to resist distractions and temptations that could derail their future.
Dr. Nsengiyumva delivered the message on Monday, August 10, 2026, during the closing ceremony of the 16th edition of Itorero Indangamirwa held at the Rwanda Defence Force Combat Training Centre in Gabiro, Gatsibo District.
Addressing the 769 young people who completed the civic education programme, the Prime Minister said their generation has inherited a Rwanda with a strong foundation and significant opportunities, giving them a different responsibility from that faced by the generation that liberated the country.
“What your country expects from you is different from what was expected of the youth who liberated the country,” Dr. Nsengiyumva said.
He explained that the generation that liberated Rwanda in 1994 found a country devastated by the Genocide against the Tutsi and faced the enormous task of rebuilding the nation, restoring unity among Rwandans and laying the foundations for the development Rwanda is experiencing today.
“You grew up in a Rwanda that has rebuilt itself, a Rwanda with many opportunities and a promising future,” he told the graduates.
The Prime Minister said the responsibility of today’s youth is therefore to protect what has been achieved and build on it so that Rwanda can reach a level far beyond where it is today.
“Your responsibility is to protect what has been achieved and build on it, taking the country far beyond where you found it, so that you leave a better legacy for those who will come after you,” he said.
Opportunities come with distractions
Dr. Nsengiyumva cautioned the graduates that although today’s world offers unprecedented opportunities for young people, it also presents numerous distractions and temptations.
He challenged them to make responsible choices and remain committed to their values, particularly when doing what is right becomes difficult.
“There are many opportunities that young people like you have the capacity to turn into tangible benefits. But there are also many distractions and temptations,” he said.
He added: “Often, you will find that doing the right thing is difficult. That is precisely where your values and your sense of patriotism will be demonstrated.”
The Prime Minister urged the graduates to maintain integrity, discipline and self-respect in their personal lives, professional careers and wider communities.
He also encouraged them to use the knowledge and values acquired during Itorero to make sound decisions and contribute meaningfully to Rwanda’s development.
‘You already have what you need to excel’
Dr. Nsengiyumva told the young people that they should not underestimate the foundation they already possess.
“You have everything you need to become outstanding in your lives and in your country,” he said.
He encouraged them to leave the programme with confidence in themselves and in the responsibility the country has entrusted to them.
The Prime Minister also echoed a message delivered to the young people by President Paul Kagame during his recent visit to the trainees, urging them to have purpose, discipline and integrity and to use what they have learned to contribute to the construction of a stronger Rwanda.
769 young people complete the 16th edition
The 16th edition of Itorero Indangamirwa brought together 769 young people, including 315 females and 454 males.
The participants underwent training at the Gabiro military training facility, where they studied a range of subjects and practical activities, including the proper use of the Kinyarwanda language, Rwandan cultural values and taboos, as well as basic military training such as shooting.
The participants came from diverse backgrounds, including Rwandans living or studying abroad, students from international secondary schools and universities, as well as young people who performed exceptionally well during the 13th edition of Inkomezabigwi community service programme.
They join 5,216 young people who had already completed more than 15 previous editions of Itorero Indangamirwa.
For the Prime Minister, the completion of the training should mark not an end, but the beginning of a greater responsibility.
The graduates are expected to carry the values of Itorero into their workplaces, communities and personal lives, turning the opportunities available to them into concrete contributions to Rwanda’s future.
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