A statement from Village Urugwiro (Office of the President) said the meeting took place on March 18, 2026.
The statement noted that President Kagame welcomed David A. Bednar and his delegation during their visit to Rwanda. Their discussions emphasized values that should guide faith-based organizations serving communities, with particular focus on education and improving living standards.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues to support social welfare initiatives in Rwanda. In 2025, it invested about $700,000 (over 1.2 billion Rwandan Francs) in education development.
The Church has also engaged Rwandan leaders and government institutions to explore ways to further support education and community development projects. While the Church primarily focuses on teaching the gospel, it also actively participates in social development initiatives.
It operates a university program called BYU–Pathway Worldwide, based in the United States, which offers higher education. To make it more accessible, it provides online learning opportunities for students worldwide.
Through cooperation with the Rwandan government, the Church signed an agreement with the Ministry of Education allowing Rwandan students enrolled online in BYU–Pathway to receive tuition support ranging from 10% to 50%, along with laptops for their studies. Students can pursue undergraduate degrees through the program.
One advantage is that after just one year of study, students may gain better employment opportunities due to the Church’s partnerships with global institutions. The program started in Rwanda in 2020 with 98 students, and it is expected to enroll at least 450 more students next year.
Additionally, in collaboration with partners including the Church, Rwanda announced a program to provide free bicycles for people with disabilities. Over the past five years, the Church has donated more than 4,500 bicycles, with about 900 distributed annually in Rwanda.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded in 1830 by Joseph Smith in the United States, with headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah.
