Students who emerged among the best performers in the 2025/26 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) and Ordinary Level national examinations have attributed their success to hard work, discipline and support from their parents and schools. Bruno Ricky Rwego Mutijima, a former student of Ecole Internationale La Racine in Bugesera, emerged as the top performer in the PLE, scoring 99.6 per cent. The youngster said he believed in himself and spent considerable time revising every day, driven by a desire to become the best in the country. He also made an effort to learn areas he did not understand, with mathematics and science among his strongest subjects. He has consistently ranked among the best students since Primary One. “My parents supported me with school fees, meals and other needs. I wanted to raise the flag of the school,” he said. Mutijima, the youngest of four children, wants to become an astronaut, a dream he hopes to pursue by studying science and technology. He said he is fascinated by space exploration and wants to use his knowledge to contribute to scientific discoveries that can benefit people. Elon Musk is among his inspirations. His father, Bernard Abu Mutijima, said he was happy to see his son excel from the time he started school. “We gave him all the time he needed. Since he was young, he wanted to be a scientist. This is a great dream, and we will support him to fulfil it by being present throughout his life, ensuring he has food, time to play, moral support, celebrating his wins and standing with him in good and bad times,” he said. Hard work and discipline Pacifique Ntwali Ngabo, 13, a former student of Wisdom Centre in Bugesera, was among seven candidates who tied for second place in the PLE, each scoring 99.4 per cent. Ngabo said dedicating more time to revision helped him excel. He followed a timetable that required him to study from 6pm to 7pm, focusing on a specific subject each day. The schedule also gave him time to rest and participate in other activities. ALSO READ: Record number of primary, O-Level candidates pass national exams “My best subject is mathematics because it challenges me to think and helps me gain more knowledge. I knew I wanted to excel, so I spent more time revising and also discussed with others in study groups,” Ngabo said. He wants to become a pilot and hopes to work with RwandAir after being inspired by people who fly aeroplanes. He said achieving his dream will require him to concentrate on science subjects and put in the necessary effort. In his free time, Ngabo reads and enjoys doing mathematics exercises. He also plays football, mostly during weekends and holidays, and looks up to Bukayo Saka, the English professional footballer who plays for Arsenal and the England national team. His mother, Alphonsine Ben'imana, thanked the government for ensuring access to education and praised the leadership and teachers at Wisdom Centre for their efforts. “I thank God who exceeds everything, the leadership that has made sure education reaches everyone, and the leadership of Wisdom Centre. They put in effort and time to educate them. Our child always wanted to be among the best, and the school has really equipped him with understanding. I had taken him to a different school, but he wasn’t really at his best until I brought him here,” she said. Collins Lubega, head teacher of Wisdom Centre, attributed the school’s performance to the commitment of its administration, teachers and parents. “I would like to thank the administration, the owners of the school that have always been near us, and the teachers who are always there with us, working hand in hand to see that we can make it. This has been our first time on the podium,” Lubega said. He said the school had monitored the students’ progress from their early years of primary school, including during the Covid-19 period. “These were the children who were in P1 during Covid-19, and we have been with them all the way through. We trained them, gave them practice papers and worked with an organisation that sets exams in the country, ASRO Rwanda Link, which has always provided us with papers, marked them and brought the results back to us. “This helped us keep track of where the children stood academically. The teachers have also put in a lot of effort. Kudos to them,” Lubega said. O-Level top performers At O-Level, Olla Musonga Isimbi of FAWE Girls School in Gasabo tied for the top position with Leontine Uwamariya of ISF Nyamasheke, with both scoring 98.7 per cent. Isimbi said her performance was the result of hard work and support from her parents, who she said provided everything she needed throughout her studies. “My parents were my support. They believe in me. I have achieved this milestone because they have been with me, offering advice and other support. I am sure that the sky is no longer the limit. I want to go far. I want to be a pharmaceutical scientist,” she said. Her mother, Betty Furaha, said she was delighted by her daughter’s performance, saying Isimbi had demonstrated what she was capable of achieving. She said she had provided her daughter with what she needed, prayed for her and supported her throughout her education. “I will push her to fulfil her dreams,” Furaha said. The best performers The 2025/26 national examinations for primary and ordinary-level students were released on Thursday, August 20, by the Ministry of Education. In the PLE, Mutijima of Ecole Internationale La Racine in Bugesera emerged as the top performer with 99.6 per cent. Seven candidates followed with 99.4 per cent each. They include Ngabo of Wisdom Centre in Bugesera; Annie Ineza Singizwa Nusengimana of Ecole Internationale La Racine in Bugesera; Aimee Albine Byoseniyo of Kigali Harvest School in Gasabo; Irunva Bigwi Hugo of APACOPE in Nyarugenge; Ella Jesca Ingabire of Saint Andre in Muhanga; Ivan Shingiro Muhimba, also of Saint Andre; and Ivan Cyusa Mucisha of Ecole Les Rossignols in Kamonyi. At O-Level, Uwamariya of ISF Nyamasheke and Isimbi of FAWE Girls School in Gasabo shared the top position with 98.7 per cent. Joel Ganza of Saint Ignatius High School in Gasabo came next with 98.6 per cent, followed by Milton Uwitonze Kefa of College Saint Andre in Nyarugenge, who scored 98.4 per cent. Richard Kwizera Mukwiye and Divine Uwase, both from Ecole des Sciences Byimana in Ruhango, scored 98.3 per cent each.
