President Paul Kagame has revealed that he is a Catholic and shared a childhood story about making up a sin during confession in order to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

He made the remarks on Saturday, June 27, 2026, during the National Dialogue on the History of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, held in Rusororo.

"I am a Catholic. That, too, is an inheritance. I became one without having any role in it because I was too young to know. But as I grew up, I accepted it and respected those who raised me in that faith," President Kagame said.

The Head of State recalled that while he was in primary school, he attended confession as part of the preparation for Confirmation. Since candidates were expected to confess their sins, he felt compelled to invent one.

Laughing as he narrated the experience, Kagame said:

"I went there, and what I said probably shouldn’t even be repeated. But I had been told that I had to do it. If I hadn’t confessed, I wouldn’t have been confirmed. So I went in and made something up.

I’ll stop the story there, but I said, ’I did this and that,’ even though I hadn’t done those things. I was simply looking for a sin to confess so that I could be confirmed."

President Kagame linked the personal story to Rwanda’s journey of healing after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, emphasizing that genuine confession and repentance remain essential for reconciliation.

He said that when people openly acknowledge and repent for the wrongs they have committed, they free themselves from the burden of guilt while helping society heal.

"These are difficult and painful matters, but they are necessary because they help society recover from its wounds.

I appreciate those who spoke honestly during this dialogue. Discussing our history is important, and no one here is on trial. Instead, it helps us heal. It heals the soul and strengthens our hearts."

The President also stressed that confession and repentance help eliminate suspicion among people, encouraging everyone to acknowledge their actions truthfully as part of building lasting unity and reconciliation in Rwanda.