President Paul Kagame who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Rwanda Defence Force on December 19 promoted RDF personnel including four senior officers promoted from the rank of Brigadier General to Major General. But history was made, with seven women being promoted to the rank of full Colonel, for the very first time. ALSO READ: A teenage girl's journey to liberating her country: The story of Lt Col Bagwaneza The first Rwandan women to ever make it to this rank are Colonels Betty Dukuze who serves at the RDF General Headquarters, Belina Kayirangwa who is at RDF Headquarters (J3), Seraphine Nyirasafari at the Ministry of Defence, Marie Claire Muragijimana, who serves at the Engineer Brigade, Lydia D. Bagwaneza, of the Republican Guard, Lausanne N. Ingabire who is based at the RDF Command and Staff College in Musanze District and Stella Uwineza, who serves in the Airforce. ALSO READ: Kagame promotes Innocent Kabandana to Lieutenant-General The officers promoted from the rank of Colonel to Brigadier General were 17. The 17 new Brigadier Generals are Bertin Mukasa Cyubahiro, Jean Paul Bitega, Nelson Rwigema, Albert Rugambwa, Deo Rusanganwa, Jean Paul Karangwa, Cooper Mike Mujuni, David B Ngarambe, Franco Rutagengwa, Theodomire Bahizi, Celestin Kanyamahanga, Adolphe Simbizi, Jean Paul Nyirubutama, Jules Rwirangira, Faustin Tinka, Jean Chrysostome Ngendahimana, and Frédéric Itangayenda. In general, 83 Lieutenant Colonels of Rwanda Defence Force were promoted to Colonel. Those promoted from the rank of Major to Lieutenant Colonel were 98, while 295 Captains were promoted to the rank of Major. Four Lieutenants were promoted to the rank of Captain while 226 Non-Commissioned Officers were promoted to Second Lieutenant.
