Rwanda has established a specialised military medical college designed to train healthcare professionals capable of providing advanced medical care both in peacetime and under demanding combat conditions.
Defence Minister Juvenal Marizamunda officially inaugurated the first cohort of the Defence College of Health Sciences (DCHS) at the Rwanda Military Academy in Gako on Friday, October 2, 2026.
The institution is expected to strengthen the Rwanda Defence Force’s medical capabilities by combining military science, advanced clinical training, research and innovation.
“The Defence College of Health Sciences is designed to bridge the gap between military science and clinical excellence. It will serve as the premier centre of gravity for specialised military medical education, tailoring clinical competencies to both peacetime care and austere combat environments,” Marizamunda said.
Military medicine presents challenges that conventional healthcare training does not always address. Medical personnel may be required to treat battlefield injuries, respond to emergencies in remote locations or provide healthcare during military deployments where equipment and medical supplies are limited.
The new college seeks to prepare military healthcare professionals for these demanding circumstances while improving the quality of medical services available to RDF personnel.
Marizamunda emphasised that the institution will extend beyond conventional medical training to promote research, innovation and leadership in military healthcare.
“The establishment of this college is a testament to our dedication to ensuring that our service members receive the highest standard of medical education and care,” he said.
Addressing the inaugural students, the minister reminded them that they would establish the academic and professional foundations upon which future generations of military healthcare specialists would build.
“You are the pioneers, the first to step into this noble institution. Your decision to serve your country through military health service is commendable, and I assure you that the path ahead will be both challenging and rewarding,” he said.
Yeshigeta Gelaw, Principal of the Defence College of Health Sciences, outlined an ambition to develop the institution into a leading African centre for medical education, research and innovation.
“Today, we are not merely opening a new college. We are actually launching a new paradigm for Rwanda: excellence in education, service, research and innovation,” Gelaw said.
He added that the college aims to become one of Africa’s premier institutions for health sciences education.
Beyond training military medical personnel, the institution’s emphasis on research and specialised clinical expertise could create opportunities for medical innovation and collaboration with other healthcare institutions.
Its establishment represents an investment in the RDF’s long-term medical capabilities, particularly its ability to maintain operational readiness and provide specialised healthcare in increasingly complex military environments.
