The incident, which occurred at a bus park in Rubavu, sparked public debate after videos circulated on social media showing two police officers handcuffing the woman and bundling her into a vehicle.

The Rwanda National Police subsequently announced that the officers had been arrested and the woman cleared of wrongdoing. Police also warned officers against allowing similar incidents to happen again.

Speaking to about 10,000 young people gathered at BK Arena for the ‘Meet the President’ engagement on Wednesday, October 21, Kagame said he had called Inspector General of Police Felix Namuhoranye, who explained that the officers had misunderstood their instructions.

After requesting a photograph of the woman, the President concluded that she had been treated unfairly.

“What exactly did this woman do wrong? Looking at her, I do not see anything inappropriate that should be exposed in public. What is your problem?” Kagame recalled asking the police chief.

He suggested that fatigue might have contributed to the officers’ conduct, urging the public to be understanding while holding officers accountable for their actions.

“Sometimes, try to understand them and forgive them. They start work early and get tired. They deal with many things, as you also know. Sometimes they reach a point of exhaustion, and you find that an officer makes a mistake,” he said.

Kagame said societies establish expectations about acceptable behaviour and dressing depending on the setting, noting that clothing considered appropriate at the beach might attract a different reaction elsewhere.

He added that discussions about dress codes should apply to men as well as women, arguing that people are generally expected to dress in ways that reflect the setting they are in.

The President said societies also have their own values, rules and taboos, which can sometimes differ from practices people encounter elsewhere. However, he cautioned against turning such differences into conflict.

“There should be no hostility arising from this. There should be an agreed way of handling it so that people understand one another,” he said.

Kagame urged young people to understand how society functions, express their views on practices they believe add no value to their culture, and call for harmful practices to be rejected. He added that discussions about what should or should not be accepted can lead to mutually agreed decisions without conflict.

‘Be healthy first’

President Kagame also used the platform to urge young people to prioritise their health and well-being, warning that alcohol and drug abuse could undermine their personal development.

“First, take care of yourself. The other things can come afterwards, but you need to be healthy, from childhood to adulthood, so that you can achieve everything else,” he said.

He encouraged them to focus on learning, work and personal responsibility, urging them to make informed decisions about their future.