The President first welcomed executives from Rio Tinto, led by Mark Davies, Chief Technical Officer and member of the Group Executive Committee. The discussions centered on a major joint project between the Government of Rwanda and Rio Tinto Minerals Development Limited, a subsidiary of the Rio Tinto Group, aimed at boosting the country’s mineral exploration capacity using cutting-edge technology.

In January 2024, the two parties signed an agreement to collaborate on the exploration and sustainable mining of lithium in Rwanda’s Western Province. This partnership also covers other critical minerals such as tin, tungsten, and tantalum resources vital to the global energy transition and digital economy.

The project employs advanced mineral-mapping technologies that enhance precision in locating deposits, with the potential to significantly modernize Rwanda’s mining industry while attracting further investment.

UGHE Leaders Discuss Rwanda’s Role in Global Health Education

Later the same day, President Kagame met with a delegation from the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), a pioneering medical university based in Butaro, Northern Rwanda.

The delegation included Dr. Jim Yong Kim, Honorary Chancellor of UGHE and former World Bank President, Prof. Phil Cotton, Vice Chancellor, Dr. Joe Rhatigan, Chair of the UGHE Board of Directors, and Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, Rwanda’s Minister of Health.

The meeting focused on Rwanda’s long-term collaboration with UGHE to position the country as a center of excellence in medical education, research, and innovation. Since its founding in 2015, UGHE has become a model for equity-driven global health training. In 2024 alone, it graduated 54 students from 16 countries including the U.S., Kenya, Nepal, and Nigeria.

President Kagame’s commitment to transforming Africa’s healthcare landscape has earned him global praise, particularly for championing equitable access to vaccines and strengthening pandemic preparedness.

During the 2024 Paris launch of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA), President Kagame highlighted the disparities revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic, stressing that Africa must build local capacity to avoid future vaccine inequity.

“COVID-19 claimed millions of lives and exposed the persistent gap between developed and developing nations in accessing lifesaving medical tools,” he said.

President Kagame’s leadership in health equity was recently recognized by the World Health Organization, which awarded him for his role in advancing global preparedness and resilience in the face of health emergencies.