African presidents without university education

Paul Kagame – Rwanda

The Rwandan president and former military leader is best known for defeating Hutu extremist forces to end the 1994 Rwandan genocide. He was born to Tutsi parents who had to flee the area to Uganda when the genocide started. Kagame was then around two years old and had to spend most of his childhood in exile.

He received his early education near the refugee camp until he moved to Rwengoro Primary School, where he came out with top marks that enabled him to attend one of the best schools in Uganda, the Ntare School. But when his father died in the 1970s, Kagame’s educational performance declined and he allegedly fought those who spoke ill of the Rwandan people, causing his suspension from Ntare and later completing his education at Old Kampala Secondary School.

With only a secondary school certificate, this outstanding African president defied all odds to become president of Rwanda after crushing the genocide. Kagame has been described by many as Africa’s “biggest success story,” largely due to his policies on foreign aid that seeks to make the recipients self-reliant and mostly due to his ability to turn around a country that has been heavily hit by genocide to a land of hope and prosperity. Nevertheless, he has been accused of several crimes against humanity (from the genocide era) and for crushing the opposition and free speech while in power.