President Paul Kagame says he wanted all his sons to join the Military, but Ivan chose business instead

President Paul Kagame revealed that he had wished for all his three sons to join the military, but his eldest son, Ivan Cyomoro Kagame, refused, expressing his desire to pursue business and investment instead.

He made the remarks while addressing leaders and members of the Unity Club Intwararumuri on November 8, 2025.

Brian Kagame, the youngest son of President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame, joined the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) on October 3, 2025, after completing his military training at the Sandhurst Military Academy in the United Kingdom.

Brian joined the army where his elder brother, Capt. Ian Kagame, already serves in the elite unit responsible for protecting senior government officials.

President Kagame said that he had initially wanted all his three sons to become soldiers, but the eldest one declined.

“When they grew up, I told them about it and they agreed, but one of them disagreed later,” he said. “He told me, ‘That’s not the path I want to take.’ I told him, ‘Fine, do what you want. If you don’t want to join the army, do what you wish to do.’ I asked him what he wanted to do, and he said, ‘I want to make money. Once I finish school, I’ll go into business.”

Kagame continued, “He even joked, saying, ‘You and my younger brothers will be busy elsewhere, so I’ll be the one to support you financially. Let me focus on business while you follow your own paths.’”

The President also shared that he had initially advised 2LT Brian Kagame and Capt. Ian Kagame to complete their master’s degrees before joining the army, but they insisted on joining immediately.

“I told them to first finish their studies and get their master’s degrees, but they refused,” he said. “They told me that the army also offers opportunities for learning. I understood them because I followed the same path myself, even though it was not an easy one.”

He emphasized that each of his children has the right to choose their own career, just like any other Rwandan child.

“Every Rwandan child, including mine, should be free to become whatever they wish to be or do what they want to do,” Kagame stated.

Responding to Claims About Preparing His Daughter for Presidency

President Kagame also addressed ongoing social media claims suggesting that he is grooming his daughter, Ange Kagame, to become the country’s next president.

“Recently, I saw people on social media saying that I’m preparing my daughter to lead the country. But who prepared me to be president?” he asked. “My father didn’t prepare me. I always tell people that they should move past such baseless claims.”

He stressed that his family and children are ordinary Rwandans who deserve to live normal lives. He said that. “To me, my family and my children are Rwandans like any others. They will live just as every other Rwandan does.”

President Kagame added that it is impossible for him to appoint anyone to the presidency, emphasizing that even his daughter might not be interested in politics.

“I can’t make someone a president—that’s impossible. Besides, she might not even want that position. Such talk is nothing more than idle political gossip,” he remarked.