Military academy to become Staff College

Musanze-The RDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen Ceaser Kayizari, has revealed that the Rwanda Military Academy, Nyakinama, in Musanze District, would graduate into a Senior Command and Staff College by 2012. Lt. Gen Kayizari said this when he presided over a pass out parade of over 30 senior officers drawn from Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) and National Police , who completed a six-month Intermediate Command and Staff Course. The course focuses on the RDF’s task of professional development, compliance with the theory of tactical level command and management in peace and conflict periods, and in peace support operations. “As the RDF continues to play a significant role in the area of conflict management on the continent and beyond, we also visualise RMA-Nyakinama becoming a regional peace training centre,” Kayizari said Kayizari, challenged the military and police officers to exercise high level of professional conduct while executing their national duties and in peace support operations overseas. ‘’I hope this course has added value to you in terms of knowledge, skills and will enhance your performance back in you organisations,’’ Gen. Kayizari said “Training reflects RDF operational doctrine and embodies the philosophy and values of the force, Intermediate Command and Staff Course, contributes towards professionalisation of the RDF and the attainment of its constitutional mandate’’ The highest level and second course of its kind conducted at the academy had, a female military officer; Maj. Chantal Uwijeneza, who emerged the best performer. Maj. Uwijeneza and two other overall best performers were awarded. In his remarks, the Commandant of the academy, Maj. Gen Karenzi Karake, urged the graduands to appreciate that the military profession, does only require lots of study, practice and experience of a military organisation but mainly good character. “We discussed leadership, command, and management of forces, I hope the lessons helped underscore the importance of bringing together knowledge, duty and honour, and the graduands will be good ambassadors of this academy,’’ Karake said.