Living person. According to our records, Paul Kagame is alive, so this timeline is open-ended. Recent events may be missing or awaiting verification, and details can change significantly.
See everyone currently living

Paul Kagame

23 October 1957 – present

Paul Kagame is a Rwandan politician and former military officer who has served as President of Rwanda since 2000. He grew up as a refugee in Uganda, joined Yoweri Museveni's National Resistance Army and later commanded the Rwandan Patriotic Front, whose advance ended the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. He was vice-president and defence minister from 1994 before assuming the presidency.

Comparing
Compare

Lived at the same time

Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Paul Kagame.

Life events

Born in Tambwe, Ruanda-Urundi
23 October 1957

He was born on 23 October 1957 in southern Rwanda, then under Belgian administration.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Family fled to Uganda as refugees
c. 1960

During the violence of the Rwandan Revolution his family crossed into Uganda, where he grew up in the Toro region.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Relocation ✓
Joined Yoweri Museveni's National Resistance Army
c. 1980

He was among the early members of the guerrilla force that fought the Ugandan Bush War.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Became head of military intelligence in Uganda
1986

After the NRA took Kampala in 1986 he held a senior intelligence post in the new Ugandan army.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Attended staff training at Fort Leavenworth
1990

He was on a course at the United States Army Command and General Staff College when the RPF invaded Rwanda in October 1990.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Education ✓
Took command of the Rwandan Patriotic Front
October 1990

He returned from the United States to lead the RPF after the death of Fred Rwigyema in the opening days of the invasion.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
RPF forces captured Kigali
4 July 1994

The RPF advance in July 1994 ended the genocide against the Tutsi and the civil war.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Other ✓
Became vice-president and minister of defence
19 July 1994 – 22 April 2000

He held both posts in the post-genocide government of national unity from July 1994.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Became President of Rwanda
22 April 2000

He was sworn in on 22 April 2000 following the resignation of Pasteur Bizimungu, and won the presidential elections of 2003, 2010, 2017 and 2024.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Constitutional referendum on presidential terms
18 December 2015

A December 2015 referendum amended term limits, allowing him to stand for office again.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Other ✓