{"id":4051,"date":"2015-04-02T13:36:04","date_gmt":"2015-04-02T13:36:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paulkagame.com\/_test_&web\/?p=4051"},"modified":"2017-10-26T11:07:48","modified_gmt":"2017-10-26T11:07:48","slug":"presidential-press-conference-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paulkagame.rw\/2025\/?p=4051","title":{"rendered":"Presidential Press Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Urugwiro Village, April 2nd, 2015<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sylvanus Karemera \u2013 RBA:<\/strong> Excellency President, my question is related to the recent National Leadership Retreat. During the retreat, you highlighted issues related to the failures or slow progress in the implementation of big national project. I would like to know what special mechanisms you put in place to incite leaders to work with more speed as you urged them to during the last retreat. Thank you.<\/p>\n

President Kagame:<\/strong> Discussing about it so that people can check what has been done or what wasn\u2019t done the way it should is in itself a big step. It reminds people…they remind each other our targets and the way we have to achieve our targets and people analyze the failures and why they happened. This exercise helps people reshape things in their due form. The fact that they were discussed and debated up to that level does not mean that there were no ways or mechanisms that existed already for a better implementation. It simply means that people failed to fulfill their responsibilities. We were simply reminding them so that those responsibilities may be fulfilled. But there was nothing new that came out.<\/p>\n

Wilson Twagira – Imvaho Nshya:<\/strong> Rwanda is about to commemorate the Genocide against the Tutsi for the 21st<\/sup> time while there is a problem of genocide orphans who haven\u2019t recovered their properties. Your Excellency, what is missing, what is being done?<\/p>\n

President Kagame:<\/strong> I don\u2019t think that it is not the only issue; there are many issues that have not been solved for. Starting even from the first question I was asked. Some of the things are clear how they should be done. People simply do not do them that way. That is why we always monitor and evaluate why what has been planned hasn\u2019t been done yet. So that issue is among many other that haven\u2019t been solved, even though its more sensitive than most. But this doesn\u2019t mean that all orphans haven\u2019t recovered their properties or that nothing has been solved; some of them have been solved even though it\u2019s been slow. \u00a0I think we should use this as an opportunity to speed up the process.<\/p>\n

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Felly Kimenyi – New Times:<\/strong> Your Excellency 21 years after the genocide there is this issue of genocide denial that is continuously coming up. Sir, how better do you think this problem can be dealt with once and for all?<\/p>\n

President Kagame:<\/strong>: Maybe it will never be dealt once and for all; it will probably be there for a long time. It will always be there. The only way we can deal with the problem is in its wider context of rebuilding our country, of attending to the real issues of people affected by this tragedy of genocide and its history and all the effects that have been there. I think that if we concentrate on that, ourselves, within the means we have and others that can be brought from outside. I think we will be dealing with the issue rather than just dealing with the politics of it all the time. You will always have people who will be on the wrong side on this issue. They have been there, even before the Genocide happened, some people were on the wrong side. Even after, there will be people who associate with the wrong side.<\/p>\n

But we need to keep on the right side and keep doing what we can do to simply transform lives, improve lives and deal with the issues that have affected people so deeply. That is the only way I can deal with it.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rudatsimburwa – Contact FM:<\/strong> Mr. President, it seems that we have more than one corridor now, linking Rwanda to the Indian ocean and it looks like we have a renewed relationship with our neighbor, giving a new boost to the community. I would like to hear your take on this renewed relationship.<\/p>\n

Talking about a new season, we are in a season where everybody brings back the 2017 terms limit and eventual change of constitution. 20 years after 1994, Mr. President, don’t you feel that this season is an opportunity for Rwanda to reflect on that tool that we have as constitution that was designed in 2003 based on the 1994 Arusha agreement, based on the constitution that was already there of Habyarimana? Isn’t that maybe the opportunity to widen up the debate and not just about the article 101? Thank you.<\/p>\n

President Kagame:<\/strong> For the corridors, more than one is not enough, we need more corridors than even the two [we have]. If we had one going westward and connecting us to the Atlantic, I think I would be happy and another one going to the south and so on and so forth. So the more corridors we can have the better. By the fact that we were working on the northern corridor that is more important to us, even made more important by the fact there are partners who really want to make it happen. Starting with that was very important and there is progress already made as you know in different areas. And the central one is equally important. Now that the parties concerned beyond Rwanda also want, together with Rwanda, to have it operational, and there are plans for it, the mobilization for resources for that to happen, that’s a very welcome prospect. So we are happy that we can and we are ready to participate in any of these initiatives. And in any case, these are thing we should have been doing in the East African Community, so it\u2019s actually deepening integration for the East African community which is a very good thing, as well as benefiting partner countries in the East African Community. It’s a good idea.<\/p>\n

On the issue, you known, there are probably many people waiting to ask the same question: 2017. But actually what is the problem? What is exciting people about 2017? What is the issue?<\/p>\n

You are probably asking even the wrong person. So now since I am asked all the time, let me turn things around and ask you. What is the issue? 2017? I haven’t made any application for a job beyond 2017 which is a time I will be seen and assumed to be unemployed – I haven\u2019t been asking for a job. So what is the issue? Let somebody give me a good context in which to give you the answer – or the answer you want. What is this thing I am being crucified for every day?<\/p>\n

Eugene Anangwe – Contact FM: <\/strong>Based on some of the different people\u2019s \u2026..\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

President Kagame:<\/strong> I see you on twitter several times ! Go ahead!<\/p>\n

Eugene Anangwe – Contact FM: <\/strong>So the issue for some people we have talked to or those we have handled debates or discussions wit, is that they have a feeling that you have people in your kitchen cabinet who are\u2026.<\/p>\n

President Kagame<\/strong>: I have no kitchen cabinet. I have a cabinet<\/p>\n

Eugene Anangwe – Contact FM: <\/strong>Yes, in your cabinet, that are pushing for a change of the constitution to allow you to run in 2017. And so there has been a debate on whether this would be good for Rwanda or it would be not good for the country. Based on the track record that you have today, this is the issue Mr. President.<\/p>\n

President Kagame<\/strong>: Are you really saying, frankly, that this issue has started with the cabinet? The issue of 2017? I have heard [about it] for a very long time from outside of cabinet – from other people other than cabinet; actually, so many journalists here, not members of my cabinet. They have been the ones who have been asking this question. So it is still even unfair to be saying it\u2019s originating from members of the cabinet. I don\u2019t think so; I think that\u2019s not true.<\/p>\n

Now, but let me not waste much time on that. Let\u2019s do it like this. The way it has been put also masks or hides the fact that there are two groups, irrespective of the origin. But one thing I dismiss is that the idea originated from the cabinet. It is not true. But there are two groups of people; at least two schools of thought.<\/p>\n

One is a school of thought that says come 2017, there has been term limits in the constitution; come 2017 these term limits should not be removed. The constitution should be respected as it is and there is no reason whatsoever any change should happen. That\u2019s one group.<\/p>\n

The other group is saying, No. we think this constitution is made by people, it can be changed by people, we think something else should happen other than what it suggests and we continue with the person we have in place, for whatever reason they may give.<\/p>\n

These are the two schools of thought. Do you want to know where I belong? I belong to the first one; the former.<\/p>\n

The debates are about that. So what else is not clear is; in any environment, democratic environment especially; are debates an unhealthy thing? Are debates unhealthy? Because I have been educated politically in this process that actually debates are a healthy thing. So it seems people are at each other as if this should not happen. People shouldn’t talk about\u2026<\/p>\n

Now, for me, if you want to know my opinion or if you want to know my position, this is why I am saying. I am surprised and I am asking what the issue is? Because when I am being asked, it\u2019s about what I think, whether in a general context or personally.<\/p>\n

So, personally, I have not raised a complaint at all to anyone. This is what I have been saying. I have not told anybody how to think or what to think about 2017. I have not and I don\u2019t intend to. Now the issue may be: \u201cBut what about what you think generally?\u201d What I think generally and even personally have to be fused together at some point. Based on that, I say, and that\u2019s what I said; I stand with the first one.<\/p>\n

I am asking those who think things should continue, or the article should be changed and we continue, they have a right to think the way they want to think. They have a right as much as anyone else. But since it concerns me personally as well, I will have to be convinced. If they convince me I will listen. I will listen to what they are saying. There is a lot of convincing for me to change my opinion about where I stand; which is on the first one I told you.<\/p>\n

And for the other one, they will have to convince somebody else, not me, because I have no problem with not continuing. Those who think nothing should be changed don’t have to convince me. Because I am convinced that come 2017, what should happen should happen, the way they expect it. But they have somebody else to convince.<\/p>\n

I think you need to turn your argument to those who think that things should change, and convince them that things should not change. It\u2019s not me. It\u2019s what I am trying to say from the beginning that for those who say: \u201cCome 2017, this President should not continue\u201d should convince in this debate those who think the president should continue. This is why I am saying, you are probably asking the wrong person.<\/p>\n

Why don\u2019t people go out there and convince whether it is members of Cabinet [as] you said but how about if it is the people? I think you need to go and educate those people, [ask them]:\u201dYou people, why do you really want things, why do you want the article to change, why do you want this man to continue when they are alternatives?\u201d Show them alternatives and how they will work and how things will be good or better even for them. Yes. That\u2019s possible.<\/p>\n

Why don\u2019t people turn that [argument] to those and say; other ways you are telling me: \u201cOh don\u2019t change the constitution\u2026. Will you\u2026?\u201d No, it\u2019s not, am not an interested party here and as I said am not, I have not applied for a job after 2017 with anybody, am not worried about it; so as a journalist, analyst or whatever why don\u2019t you [investigate] in your own way instead of just coming to me with everything? You know, it\u2019s like: \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t go, you should go\u201d so\u2026 and I am saying \u201cwhat\u2019s all this? Who told them?\u201d It\u2019s if as am here in this office for my own interest, no I am not.<\/p>\n

So you turn to those who think I should go and let them debate with those who think I shouldn\u2019t go, let them tackle it out, and give some peace please. And when it comes to my time, those who want me to stay are the ones who actually have the task to convince me, not the other ones who what me to go. As for the ones who want me to go, they have no problem with me because they are telling me maybe what is on my mind.<\/p>\n

The only thing is that, those ones will need to convince the other ones that they should not let me go let me free and have my peace. And these ones who want me to stay really have to convince me that I have to stay or why I have to stay, otherwise am just being \u00a0tossed here and there for nothing. And I want to do my job between now and 2017, so bear with me and stop tossing me around for what will happen after 2017, let me have my peace and do my job and then we will see. What do you think?<\/p>\n

Eugen Anangwe \u2013 Contact FM:<\/strong> May be as a follow question are you saying that the other side that has to convince you to stay, if they have their reasons and ultimately convince you, you are trying to say that you are open to stay on into 2017, if they ultimately convince you?<\/p>\n

President Kagame<\/strong>: Why are you putting it to me? Still put it to them! Just ask them why are you putting this matter to him? Otherwise they want to bedeafand not hear what the debates are. Listening is being open, yes. By the way, what business are we really talking about? Are we discussing affairs of people, of the nation, you know is it a trivial discussion to the point that I have a choice to be open or not to be open? We are talking about affairs and lives of people of this Rwanda, am not talking about another country, it is Rwanda.<\/p>\n

What is this issue of term limits? Let me put on my real boots now as not so an ordinary person but as somebody who has fought for this country and for my people and for myself; not just a bicycle ride on the street not knowing which direction to go. What is the issue here? How has it become that the lives of Rwandans can be switched off or on by term limits; then you are trivializing people\u2019s rights, culture and wellbeing or national interests, you are even narrowing\u2026 I think people are narrowing [down] in this debate as if Rwanda, Rwandans and their lives, their future, their pride\u2026is just hinged on saying are you going or are you not going? No no no Please! When it comes to individuals and when it comes to countries I say: \u201cWait a minute please, why you don\u2019t mind your own affairs? Let Rwandans mind their own affairs?\u201d Rwandans are not like grass you decide to dry and burn and set fire on, no! We are proud people and we should be left to decide our business, debate and when it comes to whomever their want.<\/p>\n

I was saying, if tomorrow Rwandans came to me and said: \u201cPresident we are tired of you, now this 2015.\u201d If Rwandans really said they are tired of me I will listen to them, I won\u2019t say \u201cNo but I have to go to up to 2017.\u201d No, I will go, and the constitution tells me 2017 is when you should serve up to, but now, it doesn\u2019t have to be written anywhere, if really the consensus was: \u201cPresident I think you are a danger to us or you are doing nothing for us.\u201d That hour I will allow it to happen.<\/p>\n

So the issue is not term limit, somebody said this,\u2026 But if somebody who said that is the one who is saying no I want to change my mind and he tells me, am I open or will I listen? So what are you talking about? It turns the whole thing! Term limits, change, or not change and it\u2019s about me\u2026I am just happy with who I am first of all, and where I am and I know how I got there.<\/p>\n

Whatever is unfolding, I am open, I am listening. I am open to going; I am open to not going depending on who takes the day in the interest of this country. But I have that side, which I told you, that when it comes to my own self as a person I need to be convinced to the rationale of the argument and either side seems to have good arguments and I have rights to those arguments. So how do you resolve that other than to be open and listening to them? But this is not a trivial matter when it comes to Rwandan lives and our future and the global context we live in. It\u2019s not some journalists\u2019 opinion or some politicians that really should be listened to more than the people of Rwanda. I think we should not trivialize that.<\/p>\n

Albert Rudatsimburwa \u2013 Contact FM<\/strong>: Mr. President, when I introduced the question indeed I was thinking that maybe the two groups are keeping the debate too narrow. You, as an experienced politician, and from your days of your boots\u2026<\/p>\n

President Paul Kagame<\/strong>: I don\u2019t think I am a politician. Yes, I do a lot of politics but I don\u2019t think I am a politician<\/p>\n

Albert Rudatsimburwa\u2013 Contact FM<\/strong>: \u00a0Well, there was a time when I was just a musician myself! But I mean with your experience in politics and you are among the people who have designed this new Rwanda. Rwanda in 1994, 2013 and 2015 today with context, the East African Community, all of that\u2026 Do you still believe that with the tool you designed with your colleagues and with the approbation of the population of Rwanda, still reflects the rights for the next generation? The article 101 is part of that. The question around the constitution, maybe the term limits is just a symptom of an old constitution that was reflecting a political context after 1994. Maybe in 2015, since we are debating, reflecting, discussing, shouldn\u2019t we be discussing in a broader way? Is it about the term limits or the constitution needs a reshaping in general?<\/p>\n

His Excellency Paul Kagame<\/strong>: It\u2019s even broader than that. You see, that\u2019s why the debate is made to sound very simplistic. That\u2019s\u2019 why I think I shouldn\u2019t have been involved but there is no way I can have ran away from it, because whatever I say is used against me, or it is used in favour of one party against the other.<\/p>\n

Because like now somebody said \u201cAre you saying you are open?\u201d Now, the way it unfolds, the conclusion will be: \u201cAh, the deal is done, the President is actually thinking of staying.\u201d It will be used by either side any way they want. Some people will say, you see the other ones have won the debate because he is even ready to listen as if I am supposed to be deaf and not hear anything and that question is my whole being in the first place. And does the life of this nation, the life of these people, these Rwandans, really depend on that one article in the first place? How does the whole country, the whole nation gets narrowed to one piece of article and which article are you talking about by the way? How did it come about? Who put it there? Is it me? Did I write the constitution? Who did?<\/p>\n

Why don\u2019t you go ask them why do you want to change your opinion on this? Isn\u2019t it important that you maintain it? This is why I was saying, why don\u2019t these people turn around and go to convince these very people and say we are even thinking of changing this, what business do I have in it? Before I make my decision, something else must happen! It\u2019s not me, because I am not asking anybody to change the constitution. But everybody is finding it easy to attack me. No you attack these ones who are saying they want to change their constitution or maybe also be open and listen to them! Why don\u2019t you listen to them or argue with them and say: \u201cNo, you have no point in changing this.\u201d Now, the question should may be: if these people who are saying the constitution should be changed, if they decide now not to change it, President are you going to have problems with them? Maybe you should be asking me that. I think the whole debate, which is supposed to be healthy, is trivialized. Yes, it\u2019s made personal, it\u2019s just about me and the whole substance is lost in that.<\/p>\n

Rafiki Clement – Radio Salus<\/strong>: We read in different reports from the Office of the Auditor\u2019s General disclosing names of public institutions which incurred losses and had cases of \u00a0mismanagement cases like the former EWSA witch loss amounts to 28 billion Rwandan Francs, ONATRACOM over 3.8 billion Rwandan Francs, and recently the Ministry of Health as well was questioned. The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Office of the Auditor General said these reports only contain names of people involved in the mismanagement of small projects referred to as \u201cSmall Fish\u201d. In the last National Leadership Retreat, you said that this is due to the fact that some officials cover those involved in mismanagement, therefore covering those involved in the mismanagement of big projects or \u201cBig Fish\u201d. What are strategies in place to apprehend those covering others so that the so called \u201cBig Fish\u201d could also thereafter be brought to justice?<\/p>\n

President Kagame<\/strong>: You have named those strategies; they include revealing their names, conducting investigations to get the truth out. The second is that these issues are not in just one sector, all sectors are affected. The problem lies in knowing these issues and those involved.<\/p>\n

It has also been revealed that sometimes they go to courts and in the end they are acquitted. They end up being acquitted when they should be held accountable for their crimes. These issues can be found at all levels but the most important thing is to keep pushing so that people can understand their responsibilities, enhance their capacities so as to deliver accordingly. \u00a0Secondly, people have to be willing to put into light whichever misdeeds they discover. This will help us know where there is a problem, as well as punish and hold the offenders accountable.<\/p>\n

These are issues found in each and every layer of our leadership. \u00a0To address it, we need two things: first we need capacity, and secondly we need leadership. We want leaders to follow-up on such cases and hold accountable those who have cases to answer. But the fact that you are saying it like that \u2013 being aware of it and having heard about it \u2013 is already a tremendous step. When people have noticed it, the truth comes out and what follows is enforcing the measures in place.<\/p>\n

Jean-Lambert Gatare – Isango Star:<\/strong> Your Excellency, in our neighboring country \u2013 Burundi there are simmering conflicts such that some Burundians have started fleeing their country because of insecurity. What advice would you give to your counterpart President Nkurunziza? As part of the East African community, what can you do to help them? It is obvious that June elections are likely to raise some tensions. If Burundi suffers, Rwanda will not be spared.<\/p>\n

President Kagame: <\/strong>I don\u2019t think that Burundi or any other independent country needs to be given advice on what they should do. I believe that they have the capacity to solve their own problems. But if they want any kind of support, they can ask for it and we are happy to help them. Otherwise, I believe that the issues that Burundians still have the capacity to find solutions to their own problems. But still, as we are observing what\u2019s happening from a distance, we can still ask them: Is there anything we can do to help? There are some refugees from Burundi who have already entered our territory; the two countries have been talking it over to seek a solution. Answers are there, but problems persist then we will seek ways to help them.<\/p>\n

Leonard Tuyisenge – Izuba Rirashe:<\/strong> My question is about environment degradation and air pollution in Rwanda, particularly in Kigali city. \u00a0Let me use an example; if you observe our street lamps, they are turning black all the way up to the city centre. I just wanted to ask you: what measures have put in places to curb air pollution since it is obvious that in the future we might be breathing polluted air?<\/p>\n

President Kagame: <\/strong>It has not just started now. This is an issue we have been facing for some years now. It is imperative that our environment be protected. We have had discussions in the past; we have stopped importation of cars which emit air pollutants such as lead. We are also looking at ways to plant new trees and extend our forests. We have out in places institutions to technically control if the vehicles we drive don\u2019t emit air pollutants; they inspect even devices like filters supposed to filter out harmful products which pollute the air.<\/p>\n

But that is not enough. We are still looking at measures we can put in place to enhance the protection of our environment so that our people can breathe fresh and clean air. A lot has been done and we still want to do even more. We have halted the use of plastic bags; we no longer allow cars which emit pollutants on our roads; all that show that we have our environment in mind. We will continue to seek solutions to these issues.<\/p>\n

Clement Uwiringiyimana – Reuters & Flash FM: <\/strong>Thank you very much. I have a question about what has been in the Israeli Media. They\u2019ve been reporting that the Israeli government has dealt with Rwanda and Uganda to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda and Uganda \u2013 these are Eritreans and Sudanese. I wanted to know if this deal has ever been made because the Israeli media is saying their government is saying that two countries in Africa have accepted that deal.<\/p>\n

And if you allow, another question is to get a clear response about the Third term \u2013 what people call Third term \u2013 the constitutional change. The Minister of Justice, the Minister of Local Government \u2026<\/p>\n

President Kagame: <\/strong>I think calling is third term is wrong; you should call it something else<\/p>\n

Clement Uwiringiyimana – Reuters & Flash FM: \u2026<\/strong>and other government officials have said that, personally, they also support what people are saying. And this is a sign that they might even push what the people might think. Thank you.<\/p>\n

President Kagame: <\/strong>On that arrangement between Rwanda and Israel – I will say for Rwanda because I don\u2019t know for other countries – I know there has been this discussion, and it has been a debate in Israeli. It is these Africans who have migrated to Israeli, as they do to many other European countries, some of them are either there illegally, or others are with different status. I think the issue was: Israeli wanted to return them, take them back to the country they came from, and some of them are saying: \u201cNo; if you take us to the countries where we came from, there is a danger.\u201d Depending on how they left. So Israeli suggested taking them to other countries and we will tell you which countries and you will tell us which one you want to go to as an alternative other than your own country. And I think there is \u2013 as I learnt about it \u2013 there is some package they give them to leave. Yes, we have been approached. Some of our people have been handling it, especially the Immigration Department. I don\u2019t know the details this far, more or less that has happened.<\/p>\n

On the term limits and Ministers; well, Ministers have the right to say what they want to say as well. So what they say, and what people say, so on\u2026For me I am just waiting for any to convince me to their viewpoint when it comes to making my decision.<\/p>\n

Berna Namata <\/strong>– East African:<\/strong> Thank you Your Excellency. My first question is regarding Rwanda- Tanzania relations. We\u2019ve seen in last few weeks exchange of visits. One key question we\u2019re wondering: to what extent the two countries relations have improved, specifically the substantive issues around FDLR, support to the opposition\u2026 To what extent have they been resolved? \u00a0My second question is about the recent meeting in Addis where you were talking about \u2018Agenda 2063\u2019. Now for many people when they see Africa countries come together with things like that together, they think again about so many protocols that that we have that haven\u2019t been implemented. So you were in Addis, what is different about agenda 2063?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

President Kagame: <\/strong>Well,I didn\u2019t realise that things were so bad between us and Tanzania that when we talk to each other it becomes a headline. Yes, we are all in the East African Community, we work for the common objective of integration\u2026 Well people may have different views around different issues but at the end of the day the interests are the same; there are common objectives. So the visits happened as you said, and it\u2019s a good thing to discuss things of mutual interests, but this time around whether the visit of the President of Tanzania to Rwanda or my own visit to Dar Es Salaam – Tanzania, we didn\u2019t touch the issues to do with FDLR or some of these others issues that have characterised the media. We are more forward looking and addressing future good relations and working relations so that our people benefit. We do more business, we invest in infrastructure for our development and for the people to do the businesses as I was talking about; that where we really concentrated, the rest we left it in the background.<\/p>\n

Berna Namata <\/strong>– East African: <\/strong>My second question was about Agenda 2063.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

President Kagame:<\/strong> Agenda 2063 came in the context of COMESA. COMESA is about trade, investment of course leading to development and COMESA is part of the continent, last time we celebrated 50 years of Africa coming together, doing things together, then we said: \u201dIn the next 50 years, we could double or even triple or quadruple our efforts and move fast our development\u201d. So COMESA as a regional organisation part of a continent was looking at its business in the context of what Africa wants to be. That\u2019s what really provided the umbrella, it gave the guidelines as to how does COMESA improves, how it does business in this context of wanting to see Africa where we want in this next 50 years that is all.<\/p>\n

Eugene Anangwe:<\/strong> Thank you Mr President, I want to revisit the issue of integration where you said that there need to be more corridors. The worry here is that maybe with this deepening integration with a sort of threatened security of some of the members\u2019 states, it might be an elusive dream, or it might be threatened in many ways because this morning Kenya woke up on terror attack in Garissa, North Eastern. Last time we were sitting here during the Northern Corridor meeting with the President of Kenya and Uganda, we talked of an issue of sharing the intelligence when it comes to issues of security and of dealing with insecurity as a region. I would like to hear maybe from you, how do we move from here and assure the East Africans that we are one when it comes to fighting terror attack and not just each individual country seemingly dealing with insecurities on their own? Thank you.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

President Kagame:<\/strong> We can assure the East Africans that we are working together. And maybe let me put it this way: if we were not working together, additionally to partner countries efforts, maybe we would see more Garissas than this one. This one is bad enough, we don\u2019t need it, but without countries\u2019 efforts individually and then collectively, we probably would have more of those. But if the question was: is there room for improvement? I think absolutely. There is always room for improvement, there is always a room for us to work together closely and effectively and even prevent one from happening if possible. There is always that desire and need actually, we keep working together, we\u2019ve created a force for East African Region. We\u2019ve assembled; we\u2019ve equipped it, having as a planning element to it. Already that is good steps and then with intelligence, leaders working together, they share; maybe they do more of it and better and so on. So I think the idea of working together more closely is a pertinent one and every time we see such incidence, maybe today it was there, tomorrow it will be somewhere else, every time it happens we are reminded there a danger we need to confront of insecurity and the best way to do that is to work together.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stephanie Aglietti- AP\/RFI:<\/strong> Thank you Mr President. \u00a0I will talk about diplomacy too. Your relations, relationship between Rwanda and South Africa went tense last year, after the death of Patrick Karegeya. Both embassies expelled diplomats, and in consequence it seems complicated for Rwandans to get visa to go to South Africa. Are you worried about of the consequences of this clash on Rwandans companies and you see any improvement in the future in these relations?<\/p>\n

President Kagame:<\/strong> Yes, there is always a way to resolve any problem, so whatever problem there is between us and South Africa or any other country we always find ways of addressing them.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mbabazi Dorothy \u2013 <\/strong>Radio1\/TV1: <\/strong>Thank you Mr President. My question is about unresolved cases from Gacaca courts that the populations have and don\u2019t know where or to whom they should address it to. For example in Rusiga sector – Rulindo district in the Northern Province, every individual or every family have been obliged to pay 500.000 Rwandans Francs in order to collectively pay damages to those who\u2019s properties were destroyed during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi. This is when the ones who were actually accused cannot be found.<\/p>\n

This issue was raised with MINIJUST and they were advised to appeal but they don\u2019t know how to appeal when they were never accused or don\u2019t have the case files. The problem is that when we ask MIJUST for clarification, they don\u2019t give tangible explanation.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

President Kagame:<\/strong> Yes, I think the issue here is how to get to MINIJUST but the problem I see here is that MINIJUST doesn\u2019t give through explanations.<\/p>\n

Mbabazi Dorothy \u2013 <\/strong>Radio1\/TV1<\/strong>:<\/strong> I also have another problem regarding investors who sometimes mistreat Rwandans. I will give an example of one company that is constructing houses in Gacuriro where one Rwanda lost his life and it is said that one of his supervisors deliberately killed him using a machine. Days later, another person was badly beaten at the same site. When we try to approach the institutions that hire those companies, they don\u2019t give us enough explanation.<\/p>\n

Mr. President don\u2019t you think this might make us look like we are giving more value to the money brought in by investors than to the lives while of Rwandans?<\/p>\n

President Kagame:<\/strong> No no, that\u2019s not true! Please think positively before you jump to negative conclusions and if things don\u2019t work then you can find another way to deal with them. On the first question, this issue has to be addressed to MINIJUST as it was done. If the problem is that MINIJUST does not give sufficient explanation then we shall see how to handle this problem, but I don\u2019t see anywhere else that this issue would be addressed to. But if MINIJUST does not resolve it satisfactorily, we shall intervene.<\/p>\n

On the second question, I think those who were harassed and mistreated by the investors should have addressed their problem to the Police and courts of law not to the investors themselves. But the conduct of investors does not in any way relate to being obsessed with money. People sometimes do wrong and that\u2019s just the way it is.<\/p>\n

What would surprise me is if these people reported the problem to Police and Police told them they would not handle it because it involves an investor, then we would have to deal with the Police to see why. Otherwise, I would be surprised if either investors or any other people mistreat people and they are not brought to justice. But this is our problem not investors\u2019 because if one investor does something wrong then it does not stop the relevant authorities to take the required decision. But since these cases are clearly known then they should properly be handled.<\/p>\n

Shyaka Kanuma –<\/strong> Rwanda Focus Newspaper: <\/strong>Thank you Mr President. I will turn the question to the economy Mr. President. We have been experiencing good economic growth of 7%, but I think we could even be doing better if the red tape in certain government departments and agencies were reduced. Mr President, there\u2019s incidents where the government expenditure should have been more to stimulate the economy, but because of certain reluctance to act if I may say, sometimes it can take seven months, eight months for a decision to spend money even when the budget is there Mr President. To the extent that sometimes a whole economic year ends and budgets go back without being spent which translates into a direct loss to businesses and economy in general. I wonder whether there could be actually a special focus on this because it\u2019s really very bad when the economy is not being stimulated enough, we could even be talking about 10%, 12% growth and so on.<\/p>\n

President Kagame<\/strong>:<\/strong> It doesn\u2019t need to be a special focus; it just has to be focus. It needs to be done the way it should be done, why should anybody delay something that would have been achieved in a shorter time and have it in a much longer time? I am on the same side with you, I didn\u2019t understand that, may be what we need to do is not only focus, but also penalize the people who have the means and tools in their hands, but don\u2019t use them to deliver what they need to be delivering and these mechanism to deal with such issues are there; we just have to make sure they are working.<\/p>\n

Shyaka Kanuma –<\/strong> Rwanda Focus Newspaper: <\/strong>Some of these people might me using excuses, which in my opinion do not really count, they might say: \u201cOkay, in the last Umwiherero there was a concentration on misuse of \u201cthen they become very frightened.<\/p>\n

President Kagame:<\/strong>That is an offence they should be penalized for, that\u2019s why I am saying some of them need to be held accountable and don\u2019t accept such an excuse because it shouldn\u2019t count.<\/p>\n

Flora Kayitesi – RBA:<\/strong> Thank you Mr. President, allow me to take you back to the question of presidential term limits. Now if democracy is about the will of the people and the Rwandan people have poured out their hearts, some have even threatened to take their lives if you don\u2019t continue to serve. If people are already threatening to do this and some have threatened they will even migrate, don\u2019t you think this is convincing enough? Thank you.<\/p>\n

President Kagame:<\/strong> Well, we need to hear more! Not only from those but from others who say democracy is just about just term limits because basically that\u2019s where the argument is. Some people are saying that term limits are so central to democracy that nothing should be said or listened too about it that is in different direction. It has many angles for the argument either way, so let\u2019s have it play out and then see what Rwandans want and why. I think at the end of the day, this is a simpler problem to resolve, at least where I stand personally. I have been in worse situation than this one; so if I wasn\u2019t swallowed by the other one this one really is some kind of breakfast.<\/p>\n

Dan Ngabonziza – KT<\/strong> Press: <\/strong>Thank you Mr. President. Last year you presented some bankable projects when you travelled to UK, United States and some parts of Asia. What\u2019s the impact so far? Is it satisfying or disappointing? Thank you.<\/p>\n

President Kagame:<\/strong> I should be turning to you to tell me because these are things you should be seeing and knowing other than me going out asking people to come here to invest but I think if you ask different sectors of our economy, if you ask RDB they will show you numbers and names. In fact, recently there has been different groups from UK, of real investors, who came following the meeting we had together. Others, who have already opened companies here, have opened business, they have started investing, the processes are on-going following that conversation we had last October. That\u2019s one example and we see many more from Dubai, from Europe, Germany, from the Netherlands; the other day Belgian groups were here. They are not just visiting for fun, there are those who visit for fun and tourism so on, but there are those who come here for serious business as we realize the numbers speak for themselves.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cleophas Barore – RBA<\/strong>: Your Excellency, I have two questions.<\/p>\n

President Kagame<\/strong>: Can you ask only one to allow other people to ask questions too?<\/p>\n

Cleophas Barore<\/strong>: When we visit different parts of the country, we see plans of extending roads; we see poles marking the extension areas and that is very commendable. But your Excellency, citizens living at 11 meters from those roads are considered as owners of those lands and are even paying taxes for them. \u00a0Today, they however are not allowed to use them while they are still paying taxes. Your Excellency, when we talk to these people, they wonder whether they will continue to pay taxes for lands they are not using. How can their problem be solved?<\/p>\n

President Kagame<\/strong>: Are they paying taxes?<\/p>\n

Cleophas Barore<\/strong>: Yeah, because they are still considered as owners.<\/p>\n

President Kagame<\/strong>: But, you know, some plots too close to the roads should not even be considered as private properties. I don\u2019t know why they are not respecting that, but we can still check what laws say about that. The law is being breached on both sides, there are those living in restricted areas, that\u2019s a breach of law and the other side who make people pay taxes for things they shouldn\u2019t be paying for; that\u2019s also a breach of law. Our organs need to investigate on that and get the truth about it, we will make a follow up to understand the issue and resolve it.<\/p>\n

Berna namata \u2013 East African<\/strong>: Mr. President, I wanted to take further the discussion about 2017, and I am so sorry I have to do this, but I wanted to shift the discussion to the economy. For instance, what we have seen in the recent election in Nigeria, because of investors\u2019 concern around unpredictability and stability, we had them pull out resources from the economy , as a result the Naira has gone down, \u00a0so, looking at Rwanda…<\/p>\n

President Kagame<\/strong>: Now, actually what I was reading about Nigeria, the stocks are hitting the roof because of what happened these last couple of days\u2026With the victory of Buhari.<\/p>\n

Berna namata<\/strong>: For an economy like Rwanda, of course being a small economy we don\u2019t have that luxury. I am wondering, what assurance can you\u2026<\/p>\n

President Kagame<\/strong>: No, we even have that luxury it depends; it doesn\u2019t happen one way. See, you could have easily had the situation where the incumbent in Nigeria if he had been the one re-elected, actually it could have had the stocks going even higher and it was possible! But this time, it was the other way around for different factors. You see what I mean? For us, I think I get your point, it’s about markets whichever way you look at it, beyond markets, I think we are talking about people…This is why I was saying that, sometimes we shouldn\u2019t just trivialize the issue and limit it to some textbooks or some story by somebody who after all when they quote a situation, sometimes they quote them out of context or they don\u2019t tell the whole story, isn’t it?<\/p>\n

So it’s about people, in Rwanda precisely, that\u2019s why I was saying let the debate play out. The debate will most likely show us where that confidence stands and that will contribute to the decision people will make after that. Do you see what I mean? So the combination of factors, internal, external and the markets will play out to the point that, for example, what has happened, since you use the case of Nigeria that the stocks went through the roof when the results were announced. It\u2019s not something that happened just that time, the story was even before, do you see what I mean? The story must have been written well before, which means when things go this direction signals are very good, when things go in this direction, the signals pointed in opposite direction, this is the story that builds up to that point, right? So here in Rwanda, the debate playing out is an indicative of that as well; at some point people will start saying: \u201cYou know what, if we take this direction it means this for the country, when we take things in this direction, it means this for the country\u201d. This is the good thing about these debates. And of course the markets, even if they would be there seemingly silent, they also have a way to express themselves.<\/p>\n

But now let me really summarize for you the story of 2017 in brief and the peculiarities of Rwanda per se. In Rwanda, I think in my understanding, in politics, there are a couple of things, may be three, that are very important for the country, over which we may not even negotiate: one is the security of the country, we have had enough of lack of security. The people of Rwanda, I think for a long time, they\u2019ll need to have what they lacked for a long time and that\u2019s security. Security for the people, to feel secure and then be able to do what they do best and what is good for them. Number two is social and economic progress that must be made …The economy that changes people’s lives. Number three is their freedoms, their self-determination of the people of Rwanda. These three for me will have to be fulfilled by whoever comes after me at any one point or will have to be fulfilled by me when I am still in this office.<\/p>\n

Because I know the story of Rwanda very well, I know what Rwandans deserve, I know most of the things about Rwanda as you would know and I think these three things are very important. The rest, people are free to say whatever they want, they are free especially those outside of Rwanda. Three things that I am talking about, you can say anything, you can write anything, you can dictate anything theoretically but these three things must be fulfilled, and I think on that one it’s a life and death issue so if you get me, then you know where I stand.<\/p>\n

Bazirwimana – Family TV<\/strong>: \u00a0From the 20th<\/sup> Commemoration of the genocide against the Tutsi, the commemoration at the national level will be held each five years. Don\u2019t you think that during those four years of waiting the national level commemoration, the event could be devalued by citizens, that genocide deniers and revisionists could use the opportunity to…<\/p>\n

President Kagame<\/strong>: You did not capture it well: Kwibuka is at the national level [every year], there is no other level which is not national? It\u2019s done at the national level but in a different way, how can it be at another level yet we remain with April 7th<\/sup> as a public holiday that appears on our calendar? It can’t happen if not at the national level, so it\u2019s at the national level but in a different way and it has a great value because it\u2019s done in all parts of the country which is very valuable. To me, i think this is more important and should be <\/a>valued; it\u2019s just a different kind of arrangement.<\/p>\n

Bazirwimana – Family TV<\/strong>: \u00a0I have a second question. Zambia is one of the countries that received many Rwandan refugees and its evident that the 2 countries Zambia and Rwanda \u00a0have shown the will to repatriate those Rwandans but refugees seems to be reluctant about it, is there anything Rwanda is doing to convince them to return home?<\/p>\n

President Kagame:<\/strong> What Rwanda is doing is to continue taking to the host countries and the Rwandans themselves. Sometimes it takes time, explanations, giving examples\u2026 So this required time and following up with both side people and the host countries.<\/p>\n

Philbert Hangengimana – igihe.com<\/strong>: \u00a0The end of last year was characterised by resignation of mayors and some of them are currently facing justice, it seems this did not surprise people because these mayors have no term limit to the extent that a good performer can stay for ever.<\/p>\n

President Kagame<\/strong>: \u00a0Do think mayors have no term limit? Anyway let\u2019s proceed with the question.<\/p>\n

Philbert Hangengimana – igihe.com<\/strong>: \u00a0I think mayors should have a limited number of terms because this can help them to leave before they engage into the many problems created by overstaying.<\/p>\n

President Kagame:<\/strong> In fact they should not wait, that\u2019s why they have resigned. I mean, the mayors that resigned did not wait for the end of their term; they were pursued before even completing their term and some are facing justice. So term limits does not solve anything here because for those who were stopped, we did not wait until they completed their terms, they were stopped because we noticed some problems.<\/p>\n

So when a problem arises, the person responsible is held accountable without waiting until their term ends so the term issue does not add anything. Let\u2019s assume the mayor has that term limits and he\/she has a problem in the first, second or even the third term; they have to be held accountable at any time despite of any term limit. So to reduce the number of terms, unless you want to say those with problems should serve two terms but that is judging even before they become mayors. So the issue of term limit is not the issue so you want to say beyond 2 terms they become greedy and create problems but there are two things here:<\/p>\n

1- Most of the mayors that were forced to resign are not the ones who have been there the longest and this explain it all<\/p>\n

2- Even those who develop an appetite to create problems face justice and will be removed. So from this, I don’t see really how term limits can help. What is important is that whoever commits any offense should be held accountable at any time whether in their first, second or third term.<\/p>\n

Anyway this is the same context with the other terms limit; I am being penalized for a fault that I haven\u2019t even committed, you should wait until I commit that fault instead of penalising me now! You keep asking me about term limit before I finish what you even gave me, and now I have to pay?<\/p>\n

Solange Umurerwa \u2013 KFM:<\/strong> Thank you Mr President. There is a businessman called Rwigara Assinapol who died in the last few weeks. His family wrote to you requesting for an investigation of his death, do you have an answer for them?<\/p>\n

President Kagame<\/strong>: Yes we answered them, they came here and met the Minister in the President\u2019s Office, but they first met RFI and BBC! In fact, sometimes things are difficult in Rwanda I don’t know why they had to first go to the likes of BBC. In fact, RFI could have reported about them even before they went for it because they follow issues in Rwanda very closely and brand them the way they wish despite of the reality on the ground, but this is the world we live in. But they met the Minister.<\/p>\n

Stephanie Aglietti – AFP & RFI:<\/strong> Thank you very much. I just wanted to have a precision on the issue of Israel Immigrants \u2026<\/p>\n

President Kagame:<\/strong> There is no more precision than what I gave you<\/p>\n

Stephanie Aglietti – AFP & RFI:<\/strong> Is there any agreement between Rwanda and Israel?<\/p>\n

President Kagame:<\/strong> I am saying there is no more precision than what I gave you. Take what I gave you, leave what i didn\u2019t give you; I think is the best way. Were you following what I was explaining about that?<\/p>\n

Stephanie Aglietti – AFP & RFI:<\/strong> Yes but I do not want to write any mistakes, it was not clear to me!<\/p>\n

President Kagame:<\/strong> You write that it was not clear; you won\u2019t have made a mistake if you say what I said was not clear.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Urugwiro Village, April 2nd, 2015 Sylvanus Karemera \u2013 RBA: Excellency President, my question is related to the recent National Leadership Retreat. During the retreat, you highlighted issues related to the failures or slow progress in the implementation of big national project. I would like to know what special mechanisms you put in place to incite leaders to work with more speed as you urged them to during the last retreat. Thank you. President Kagame: Discussing about it so that people…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":8173,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4051","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","post-has-thumbnail"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paulkagame.rw\/2025\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4051","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paulkagame.rw\/2025\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paulkagame.rw\/2025\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paulkagame.rw\/2025\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paulkagame.rw\/2025\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4051"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/paulkagame.rw\/2025\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4051\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8174,"href":"https:\/\/paulkagame.rw\/2025\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4051\/revisions\/8174"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paulkagame.rw\/2025\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8173"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paulkagame.rw\/2025\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4051"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paulkagame.rw\/2025\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4051"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paulkagame.rw\/2025\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4051"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}