Jeannette Kagame
Tribute
Jeannette Kagame nurtures Rwanda's vulnerable populations through the Imbuto Foundation with the same attentiveness she's brought to raising her four children, proving that a mother's capacity to care multiplies rather than divides when extended beyond family. We honour the milestones celebrated in both national programs and family photo albums, the empowerment strategies implemented in communities and at her dining table, and the legacy of compassion that has been planted in both her foundation's work and her children's hearts.
Profile
Jeannette Kagame is the First Lady of Rwanda, serving in this role since 2000 following her husband, President Paul Kagame’s, ascension to the presidency. She is the founder and president of the Imbuto Foundation , established in 2007, which focuses on various initiatives, including extending basic healthcare, supporting families affected by HIV, promoting adolescent sexual health, preventing malaria, encouraging academic success among young girls, providing scholarships to underprivileged youth, promoting reading, and fostering entrepreneurship and leadership among the youth. In 1996, she founded the Green Hills Academy in Kigali, an institution that serves students from kindergarten through secondary school. Throughout her tenure as First Lady, she has been deeply involved in initiatives aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable populations in Rwanda, particularly widows, orphans, and impoverished families. Her efforts have earned her international recognition, including an honorary doctorate in law from Oklahoma Christian University in 2010 for her global contributions to combating HIV/AIDS and poverty. As a mother of four—three sons and one daughter—she balances her family responsibilities with her extensive philanthropic work.