List of Rwandans

Last updated November 07, 2025

This is a list of notable people from Rwanda , not including people of full or partial Rwandan descent but not in nationality (like Stromae).

Actors

Military

Théoneste Bagosora (b. 1941), military officer convicted in 2008 of genocide^[1]
Bernard Ntuyahaga
Kayumba Nyamwasa, former army chief of staff and head of Intelligence
James Kabarebe, current minister of defense
Patrick Nyamvumba, current RDF chief of staff
Augustin Bizimungu
Innocent Sagahutu

Political figures

Agathe Uwilingiyimana former Prime Minister of Rwanda
Jean-Paul Akayesu (b. 1953), politician convicted in 1998 of genocide^[2]
Jean Bosco Barayagwiza
Christophe Bazivamo, Minister of Land and Environment
Augustin Bizimana (b. 1954), politician, fugitive of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda ^[3]
Jean-Damascène Bizimana, former Rwandan ambassador to the UN
Augustin Bizimungu (b. 1952), politician on trial for genocide
Pasteur Bizimungu, former President of Rwanda
Anastase Gasana, diplomat
Juvénal Habyarimana, former President of Rwanda
Jean Marie Higiro, former Director of the Rwandan Information Office
Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda
Isabelle Kalihangabo (b. 1972), lawyer and politician
Jean Kambanda (b. 1955), former Prime Minister; pleaded guilty in 1998 to genocide^[4]
Judith Kanakuze (1959–2010), politician and women's rights activist
Janvier Kanyamashuli, ambassador to Burundi
Grégoire Kayibanda, former President of Rwanda
Kigeri V of Rwanda, former King
Bernard Makuza, Prime Minister of Rwanda
Dominique Mbonyumutwa, former provisional President of Rwanda
Charles Munyaneza (b. 1958), genocide suspect
Ignace Murwanashyaka (b. 1963), leader of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda
Mutara II Rwogera, former King
Mutara III of Rwanda, former King
Lando Ndasingwa, former leader of Parti libéral du Rwanda
Joseph Nsengimana, minister of education
André Ntagerura
Jean de Dieu Ntiruhungwa, former Minister of the Interior
Seth Sendashonga, former Minister of the Interior
André Kagwa Rwisereka (1949–2010), opposition politician murdered during the 2010 election
Théodore Sindikubwabo, former President of the National Development Council
Pascal Simbikangwa, former Chief of Intelligence, found guilty of complicity in genocide and complicity in crimes against humanity
Faustin Twagiramungu, former Prime Minister of Rwanda
Agathe Uwilingiyimana, former Prime Minister of Rwanda
Yuhi III of Rwanda, former King of Rwanda
Protais Zigiranyirazo
Juvénal Uwilingiyimana

Religious figures

Elizaphan Ntakirutimana (1924–2007), Seventh-day Adventist pastor
Athanase Seromba (b. 1963), priest
Laurien Ntezimana (b. 1955), theologian and peace activist
Thomas Nahimana (b.1971), President of the Rwandan Government in Exile

Sports people

Dieudonné Disi (b. 1980), long-distance and cross-country runner
Eric Eugène Murangwa (b. 1975), footballer
Adrien Niyonshuti (b. 1987), cyclist
Junior Ndagano (b. 1985), Rwandan-born Belgian footballer
Mathias Ntawulikura (b. 1964), long-distance runner

Miscellaneous

Simon Bikindi (b. 1954), singer-songwriter convicted in 2008 of inciting violence during the 1994 genocide^[5]
Agathe Habyarimana, widow of former President Juvénal Habyarimana
Immaculée Ilibagiza, Rwandan-American author, Genocide survivor
Charles Ingabire, journalist and government critic, murdered in 2011
Félicien Kabuga (b. 1935), businessman
Enos Kagaba, accused of genocide
Joseph Kavaruganda, former president of Rwanda's Constitutional Court
Musanase Laura (b. 1993), actress
Léon Mugesera, university lecturer accused of inciting genocide^[6]
Ferdinand Nahimana, historian
Samuel Ndashyikirwa, businessman
Hassan Ngeze (b. 1962), journalist
Étienne Nzabonimana (b. 1950), businessman
Sonia Rolland, former Miss France
Queen Rosalie Gicanda, wife of King Mutara III of Rwanda
Jean-Léonard Rugambage, reporter and government critic, murdered in 2010
Paul Rusesabagina (b. 1954), hotel manager known for saving refugees in the 1994 genocide
Benjamin Sehene (b. 1959), author

References

↑ Nyakairu, Frank (18 December 2008), "Rwanda's Bagosora Sentenced To Life For Genocide", Reuters , retrieved 20 June 2010
↑ "Tribunal convicts Rwandan genocide suspect", BBC News , BBC, 2 September 1998, retrieved 20 June 2010
↑ Nieuwoudt, Stephanie (21 April 2010), "UN Tribunal's Most Wanted Remains Elusive", Inter Press Service , archived from the original on 11 June 2011, retrieved 20 June 2010
↑ Bond, Catherine; Reuters (1 May 1998), "Former Rwanda leader pleads guilty to genocide", CNN , Turner Broadcasting System, archived from the original on 24 August 2002, retrieved 20 June 2010{{citation}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
↑ "Singer Urged Rwandans To Genocide", BBC News, BBC, 2 December 2008, retrieved 20 June 2010
↑ "France's Involvement During the Genocide", The New Times , AllAfrica.com, 8 August 2008, retrieved 21 June 2010

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] Nyakairu, Frank (18 December 2008), "Rwanda's Bagosora Sentenced To Life For Genocide", Reuters , retrieved 20 June 2010

[2] "Tribunal convicts Rwandan genocide suspect", BBC News , BBC, 2 September 1998, retrieved 20 June 2010

[3] Nieuwoudt, Stephanie (21 April 2010), "UN Tribunal's Most Wanted Remains Elusive", Inter Press Service , archived from the original on 11 June 2011, retrieved 20 June 2010

[4] Bond, Catherine; Reuters (1 May 1998), "Former Rwanda leader pleads guilty to genocide", CNN , Turner Broadcasting System, archived from the original on 24 August 2002, retrieved 20 June 2010{{citation}}: |last2= has generic name (help)

[5] "Singer Urged Rwandans To Genocide", BBC News, BBC, 2 December 2008, retrieved 20 June 2010

[6] "France's Involvement During the Genocide", The New Times , AllAfrica.com, 8 August 2008, retrieved 21 June 2010

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]