Famous Rwandans
Public life and institutions
- Paul Kagame: President of Rwanda, sworn in for a new five-year term on 11 August 2024.
- Louise Mushikiwabo: Secretary General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, elected in Yerevan in October 2018, in office since January 2019 and re-elected in Djerba in 2022. She was previously Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
- Donald Kaberuka: economist and former Minister of Finance, the seventh President of the African Development Bank from 2005 to 2015.
- Dr Agnes Kalibata: former Minister of Agriculture, President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) from 2014 to 2025 and the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the 2021 Food Systems Summit.
Source: Embassy of Rwanda in Ghana: President Kagame sworn in for a five-year term; Organisation internationale de la Francophonie: Louise Mushikiwabo; African Development Bank: Past presidents, Donald Kaberuka; AGRA: Dr Agnes Kalibata; EAT Forum: Dr Agnes Kalibata1,2,3,4,5
Literature
- Scholastique Mukasonga: writer living in France, winner of the Prix Renaudot on 7 November 2012 for Notre-Dame du Nil, a novel set in a girls’ school in the 1970s.
- Gaël Faye: Franco-Rwandan writer and musician, winner of the Prix Renaudot in 2024 for Jacaranda. His first novel, Petit pays, won the Prix Goncourt des lycéens.
Source: RFI: Scholastique Mukasonga wins the 2012 Prix Renaudot; RFI: The 2024 Prix Renaudot awarded to Gaël Faye for Jacaranda6,7
Sport
Adrien Niyonshuti became the first Rwandan cyclist at the Olympic Games, in mountain biking at London 2012, where he carried the national flag at the opening ceremony. Cycling is now one of Rwanda’s best-known sports, and Kigali hosted the UCI Road World Championships in 2025, the first held in Africa.8,10
National heroes
Rwanda honours its heroes on 1 February, a public holiday. They are grouped in three orders.9
| Order | Heroes |
|---|---|
| Imanzi, the highest | Major General Fred Rwigema and the Unknown Soldier |
| Imena | King Mutara III Rudahigwa, Michel Rwagasana, adviser to the King, and Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana |
| Ingenzi | A third order; no list has been published |
Source: Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning: National Heroes Day9
Frequently Asked Questions
Which international bodies have Rwandans led?
The Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, the African Development Bank and AGRA.
Which Rwandan writers have won the Prix Renaudot?
Scholastique Mukasonga in 2012 and Gaël Faye in 2024.
When is National Heroes Day?
1 February, a public holiday. The heroes are grouped in three orders.
Famous Rwandans
Public Life
Paul Kagame
President of Rwanda since 2000
1957 Year of birth
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Louise Mushikiwabo
Secretary General of La Francophonie since 2019
1961 Year of birth
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Édouard Ngirente
Economist, Prime Minister from 2017 to 2025
1973 Year of birth
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Kigeli V Ndahindurwa
The last King of Rwanda, 1959 to 1961
1936 Year of birth
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Economy, Health and Institutions
Donald Kaberuka
Finance minister, then AfDB President, 2005 to 2015
1951 Year of birth
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Agnes Kalibata
Agriculture minister, then President of AGRA
2008–2014 Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources
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Agnes Binagwaho
Paediatrician, Minister of Health 2011 to 2016
2011–2016 Minister of Health
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Clare Akamanzi
Former RDB chief, CEO of NBA Africa since 2024
2017–2023 Chief executive of the Rwanda Development Board
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Literature and Music
Scholastique Mukasonga
Writer, winner of the 2012 Prix Renaudot
1956 Year of birth
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Gaël Faye
Writer and musician, 2024 Prix Renaudot
1982 Year of birth
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Yolande Mukagasana
Writer and witness, author of La mort ne veut pas de moi
1954 Year of birth
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Cécile Kayirebwa
Singer and composer of Rwandan traditional music
1946 Year of birth
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Bruce Melodie
Pop singer, recorded with Shaggy in 2023
1992 Year of birth
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Sport
Adrien Niyonshuti
First Rwandan professional and Olympic cyclist
1987 Year of birth
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Salima Mukansanga
First woman to referee at the Africa Cup of Nations
1988 Year of birth
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Sources
- Embassy of Rwanda in Ghana: President Kagame sworn in for a five-year term
- Organisation internationale de la Francophonie: Louise Mushikiwabo
- African Development Bank: Past presidents, Donald Kaberuka
- AGRA: Dr Agnes Kalibata
- EAT Forum: Dr Agnes Kalibata
- RFI: Scholastique Mukasonga wins the 2012 Prix Renaudot
- RFI: The 2024 Prix Renaudot awarded to Gaël Faye for Jacaranda
- Cyclingnews: Niyonshuti to carry Rwandan flag at the Olympic Games
- Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning: National Heroes Day
- UCI: 2025 UCI Annual Report, the first Road World Championships held in Africa
Facts checked 9 November 2026. Prepared by InvestRwanda.com for general information.
