First Lady Jeannette Kagame Awarded Honorary Doctorate

Kagame received the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, from the international health sciences university based in Butaro, in northern Rwanda. She said accepting the degree reflected a shared commitment to health as a fundamental human right.

“I am deeply honored and truly delighted to receive the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree,” Kagame said. “I accept it with a clear understanding of the responsibility that comes with it — the belief that health is a fundamental right, a human right, and that equity must remain at the center of how we teach, how we serve and how we lead.”

She described protecting and saving lives as the highest expression of compassion, particularly at a time when violence and conflict are rising globally.

“There is no greater act of love than protecting and saving life,” Kagame said. “In a world where cruelty and conflict are increasing, saving lives is like standing on the front line in the fight for what is good.”

The Doctor of Humane Letters is an honorary degree awarded for exceptional service to humanity, typically recognizing ethical leadership, social transformation and contributions that extend beyond academic achievement. It is among the highest honors a university can confer.

UGHE officials said the award underscores Kagame’s long-standing advocacy for health equity and inclusive development, as well as her support for community-centered solutions to health challenges.

The ceremony brought together students, faculty, health professionals and leaders, highlighting the university’s mission to integrate education with real-world impact. UGHE focuses on training global health leaders while addressing health disparities, particularly in underserved communities.

University representatives said Kagame’s work reflects the values the institution seeks to instill in its graduates — leadership rooted in service, equity and practical action to improve lives.