President Paul Kagame recently opened up about his sons' career choices during a meeting with leaders and members of the Unity Club Intwararumuri on Saturday, November 8, 2025. He revealed that two of his sons have joined the military, despite his initial hope that all three would follow this honorable path.
He shared: “Two of my children have now joined the military. I had hoped all three would join, but one refused, saying he didn’t want to. I approached them and said, 'This is important—let me explain why. When you were young, I told you stories about our shared experiences and history. What do you see as your role in contributing to this legacy?'”
President Kagame explained that while two of his sons accepted, his eldest declined. He continued: “The two boys agreed to join, but one told me, ‘Dad, this isn’t what I want to do.’ I said to him, ‘Alright, follow what you want to do. If this isn’t your choice, pursue your own path.’ When I asked what that was, he said, ‘I want to make money. After I finish school, I want to go into business.’”
Speaking with affection and humor, the President recounted his son's response: “He even teased me, saying: ‘You and my younger brothers—because by then you’ll all be doing your own thing—don’t worry because I’ll take care of you. I want to focus on financially supporting the family as you pursue your own endeavors.’”
Kagame also revealed that he had initially asked his two sons who joined the military—Second Lt Brian Kagame and Capt Ian Kagame—to complete their postgraduate studies first. However, the two were determined to serve their nation through the armed forces.
He said: “I advised them to get their Master’s degrees before joining the army. But they responded, ‘Let us join now. We've learned that in the military, learning continues, and following this path means embracing the associated challenges. We are ready for that.’”
The youngest of President Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame's children, Brian Kagame, recently joined the Rwanda Defence Force. This milestone came after he successfully completed his training at the prestigious Sandhurst Military Academy in the United Kingdom. He is now serving alongside Capt Ian Kagame, who is part of the elite Presidential Guard within the Rwandan military.
President Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame were joined by leaders and members of the Unity Club Intwararumuri during the event.