10/25/2025
In 1999, Paul Kagame served as the Vice President and Minister of Defense of Rwanda, a period marked by the country’s remarkable post-genocide against Tutsi recovery and consolidation of peace. That same year, Kagame attended a significant event in neighboring Uganda, the wedding of Charlotte Kutesa and Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the first son of President Yoweri Museveni.
The event symbolized more than a family celebration; it reflected a deep historical and personal connection between the Rwandan and Ugandan leadership, a bond rooted in shared struggles, mentorship, and revolutionary brotherhood.
To understand the depth of that connection, one must look back to 1990, when Paul Kagame left Uganda to assume leadership of the Rwandan Patriotic Front ( ). At that time, Muhoozi Kainerugaba was only 16 years old, growing up in the powerful yet disciplined household of a revolutionary president. Kagame had served closely under Museveni during Uganda’s liberation struggle of the 1980s, earning a reputation for discipline, intelligence, and military strategy.
For young , Kagame was more than an officer or family friend; he became a symbol of courage, loyalty, and leadership.
Over the years, Muhoozi Kainerugaba has repeatedly expressed his admiration for Paul Kagame. In various interviews and social media posts, he has referred to him as “my mentor, my uncle, and my hero.” Their relationship is both political and personal, reflecting a generational bridge between ’s revolutionary roots and Rwanda’s post-liberation transformation.
Today, the images and footage from that 1999 wedding serve as historical reminders of the enduring connection between the family and the Rwandan leadership. They capture a moment in time when two nations, bound by intertwined destinies, celebrated not just a union of two individuals but also the shared ideals of resilience, unity, and African self-determination.
