Kagame urges Rwandan leaders to shun self‑interest, embrace citizen‑centred governance

Africa, Politics

AFRICA (NPA) — March 23, 2026 — Rwandan President Paul Kagame has called for an immediate end to the culture of leaders exploiting national resources for personal gain rather than serving the common good.

Speaking at the Rwanda Military Academy – Gako during the closing of a national meeting of Central and Local Government leaders, Kagame emphasised that leadership must be rooted in responsibility and service to citizens.

According to a statement from the Rwandan Presidency, participants at the meeting deliberated on strategies to strengthen citizen‑centred governance and improve service delivery across the country. Kagame warned leaders that the nation’s interests are inseparable from their own, stressing that selfish leadership undermines national progress.

He cautioned: “Leaders, if you do not follow up on the work, if you do not follow up on the people under your responsibility so that they can tell you what they think and you can guide them… then whatever level you serve at, what are you really doing?”

Kagame urged officials to move beyond titles and embrace selfless service, noting that being called “mayor” or “leader” should not be the end in itself. Instead, he said, leadership must be measured by the quality of service delivered to citizens.

The president’s remarks reinforced Rwanda’s ongoing push for accountability, transparency, and citizen‑focused governance, positioning effective service delivery as the fulcrum of leadership in the country.