Senior officers graduate at RDF Command and Staff College

{46 senior officers from Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and Allied Defence Forces in the region graduated from the one year Command and staff Course In take Four (04/2016) at RDF Command and Staff College in Musanze District, Northern Rwanda.}

The graduation ceremony held on 3rd June 2016 was presided over by Honourable Minister of Defence, Gen James Kabarebe, on behalf of H.E the President of the Republic of Rwanda and Commander-in-Chief of Rwanda Defence Force, HE Paul Kagame.

Other present dignitaries included Hon Minister of Education, Dr Musafiri Papias Malimba, Hon Minister of Internal Security, Sheikh Mussa Harerimana, Hon Minister of East African Community, Valentine Rugwabiza, the visiting Chief of General Staff of the Czech Republic Armed Forces, General Josef Becvar and the RDF Chief of Defense Staff, Gen Patrick Nyamvumba, among others.

The graduation ceremony started with a minute of silence in remembrance of two Malawian officers’ wives who died in a road accident on 1 June 2016, while travelling from Kigali to Musanze to join their husbands, also graduands.

“We are indeed deeply saddened by the loss that the officers have encountered.On behalf of the Government of Rwanda, I wish to send our heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathy to the Government of Malawi, the Malawi Defence Forces and the families of the deceased. May their souls rest in perfect peace”, Minister Kabarebe said at the beginning of his key note speech.

He further told the officers that their graduation constituted a milestone in their professional development. “Your studies here provided you an opportunity not only to recharge intellectually and see things more clearly, but also to reassess yourselves and your respective militaries and appreciate the role you have to play to make our region and Africa a proud and dignified place”, Minister Kabarebe highlighted.

Gen Kabarebe advised the graduating officers to build on the knowledge, friendships and networks acquired throughout the one year course to cement further personal and institutional relationships, which has proven to be an invaluable pillar for both national and regional security.

Minister Kabarebe also conveyed H.E the President’s gratitude to the RDF leadership for the work they are doing in relation to building a strong and professional force.

The Commandant of the RDF Command and Staff College, Maj Gen JB Kazura explained that two separate courses were concurrently conducted, one dealing with purely military aspects and the other with security studies. “Today we believe the graduating officers possess focused and multifaceted skills as well as enhanced intellectual and professional capacity to deal with future defence and security challenges”, he said.

The Commandant recognized the invaluable support of the University of Rwanda that provide able lecturers and supervise the College on Master’s program security studies.

46 officers in total ware awarded the PSC certificate, 32 from Rwanda Defence Force and from 14 Allied Armed Forces, each represented by 2 officers. Partner cEountries represented were Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia.

Maj J P Mutarambirwa from RDF was awarded as the best overall student.

Second best overall and best Allied student was Maj Elias Byamukama from Uganda. Maj Paul Aruasa from Kenya was the 3rd best overall student while Maj Richard Davis Sinos Chidzungu from Malawi received the best Commandant Research paper award.