A total of 1,331 health students graduated from the University of Rwanda (UR) on Friday, October 23, including Rwanda’s first two kidney transplant surgeons.

The graduatuon comes as the country continues to expand its health workforce and specialised medical services under the 4×4 Health Workforce Development Reform.

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Dr Emmanuel Muhawenimana and Dr Alexandre Nyirimodoka, the country’s first specialists in kidney transplant surgery, have performed 114 kidney transplants at King Faisal Hospital since 2023, under the mentorship of Prof Jeffrey David Punch of the University of Michigan, according to the Ministry of Health.

The ministry described their graduation as a milestone in efforts to build local capacity for specialised medical care.

The two were among 4,953 students who graduated from UR during a ceremony held at its Rukara campus in Kayonza District.

The health graduates included 497 nurses and midwives, 120 doctors, and 78 specialists and subspecialists in fields such as neurosurgery, orthopaedic surgery, anatomical pathology and medical oncology.

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In a message posted on X following the graduation, Health Minister Dr Sabin Nsanzimana highlighted the achievement of the two kidney transplant surgeons and the number of health professionals graduating.

The ministry linked the graduation to progress under the 4×4 reform, a government initiative launched in July 2023 to quadruple the number of trained health professionals within four years while maintaining training quality and expanding access to specialised care.

Progress under 4×4 reform

In a statement issued earlier this year, the Ministry of Health said the reform had increased enrolment in health training programmes and expanded opportunities for specialist and subspecialist training.

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According to the ministry, average annual enrolment between 2023 and 2025 was 3.3 times higher than historical levels. More than 16,360 new students had enrolled across health programmes by December 2025.

The ministry also reported that residency programmes had increased from 17 to 24, while fellowship programmes had expanded from eight to 25 subspecialties. The expanded programmes cover areas including transplant surgery, oncology and cardiology.

The reform is built around four areas: increasing the number and quality of health students in priority programmes; strengthening the capacity of teaching staff; expanding training facilities and clinical teaching platforms; and improving coordination, monitoring and implementation.

The ministry projected that, from 2028, the average annual number of residency graduates would be 6.7 times higher than before the reform.

It also projected that local fellowship programmes would produce more than 50 subspecialists in 2027, four times the baseline number. The February statement identified Rwanda’s first locally trained kidney transplant surgeons among the expected outcomes.

The reform seeks to address the shortage of health professionals while improving the availability of specialised services and reducing the need for patients to seek some forms of treatment abroad.

Nsengimana urges graduates to create opportunities

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Minister of Education Joseph Nsengimana urged graduates to apply their knowledge to practical challenges rather than focus solely on finding employment.

"Do not just wait for opportunities. Use your knowledge and creativity to create them,” Nsengimana said.

He said Rwanda needed skilled professionals to strengthen its education and health systems, modernise agriculture, expand industry and accelerate digital transformation.

"Your degree is an important achievement, but its true value will be demonstrated by what you do with the knowledge and skill you have acquired,” he said.

Nsengimana also challenged graduates to consider how their skills could benefit communities and contribute to the country’s development.

He said the University of Rwanda should continue upholding academic standards, producing relevant research and developing solutions to national challenges.

UR Chancellor Patricia L. Campbell congratulated the graduates and acknowledged the contribution of their families, lecturers, friends and mentors to their achievements.

"You have completed your studies, and you, your family, friends, lecturers, and mentors are proud of your achievements,” she said in remarks shared during the graduation.

Campbell encouraged graduates to continue learning and use their knowledge to improve the lives of their families, communities and country.