President Paul Kagame has said that a woman arrested by police in August 2026 over allegations of indecent dressing had done nothing wrong, urging Rwandans to understand and forgive police officers who make mistakes while carrying out demanding duties.
The remarks come amid public debate over dress codes for people attending concerts and other public gatherings. Videos recently circulated on social media showing two police officers handcuffing a woman and placing her in a vehicle. After reports emerged that she had been accused of indecent exposure, the Rwanda National Police announced that the officers had been arrested and that the woman had been cleared of wrongdoing. The police also said officers had been instructed and warned against allowing similar incidents to happen again.
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Kagame Questions Circumstances Surrounding the Arrest
On October 21, 2026, while addressing more than 10,000 young people at BK Arena during the Youth Meet the President dialogue, Kagame said he had contacted the Inspector General of Police, CG Felix Namuhoranye, after learning about the incident.
According to the President, Namuhoranye explained that the officers had not properly understood their instructions. Kagame said he then asked about the woman’s appearance and requested a photograph. After seeing it, he concluded that she had been treated unfairly.
Kagame said: “I asked CG Namuhoranye, ‘What was this woman arrested for when I can see that what should not be exposed in public has been properly covered? What is your problem?”
President Urges Rwandans to Understand Police Officers
Kagame said the incident could have resulted from an officer’s exhaustion and urged people to show understanding towards police officers who sometimes make mistakes after long and demanding working hours.
he said: “Sometimes, try to understand them and forgive them. They start work early and become tired. They start early and deal with many challenges, as you know. Sometimes, they reach a point of exhaustion, and you find that they make a mistake.” His remarks highlighted the demanding nature of police work while encouraging the public to respond to such incidents with understanding.
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Kagame Says Societies Establish Their Own Dress Codes
The President explained that societies establish boundaries around what is considered appropriate in different settings. He illustrated his point by referring to beaches, where clothing norms may differ from those expected in other public places.
Kagame said: “At the beach, that place where people feel comfortable, you may meet others, and certain things are acceptable there. People behave differently from how they would elsewhere. But if someone who is dressed for the beach suddenly appears here, would that be acceptable? If they came here looking as though they had just come from the beach, would you not turn around and say, ‘What is this? What happened to this person?”
He used the example to explain how expectations about clothing can vary according to the setting and the norms of a particular society.
President Says Dress Expectations Apply to Men and Women
Kagame noted that discussions about clothing often focus on women, despite men also being expected to observe appropriate dress standards.
he said: “Most people direct these discussions only at women. Men are subject to the same expectations. Even now, we might see a man suddenly walk in looking as though he has just come from the gym, with nothing on his upper body, and sit among us. People would ask, ‘What happened to this man? Did he forget where he was going? Did he not know where he was coming?”
His remarks broadened the discussion to include expectations for both men and women in public spaces.
Kagame Calls for Respecting Cultural Values and Boundaries
The Head of State said societies develop their own rules, laws and taboos, and that introducing practices from elsewhere can lead to disagreements when those practices conflict with established norms. He stressed that differences over clothing and cultural expectations should not lead to hostility but should instead be addressed through dialogue and mutual understanding.
Kagame said: “Society works in that way. When a healthy society has its own way of doing things and you introduce something unusual, gradually, that society pushes you a little, and you may find yourself outside it. There can be a struggle between someone who wants to change society to suit their preferences, based on what they have brought from elsewhere, and society itself, which says, ‘Do not bring these things among us.’ It should not become a war; that is how things ought to be handled.” He also used the example of a thorn entering the body, explaining that the body naturally tries to push it out over time.
Kagame Urges Youth to Participate in Cultural Discussions
Kagame urged young people to understand how society functions, reflect on the values they want to uphold and express their views when they believe certain practices offer no benefit or could harm others.
He encouraged them to speak up and participate in discussions about which practices should be accepted or rejected within their communities. The President emphasised that every culture has its own values and taboos. He said discussions about what should or should not be accepted in society should lead to mutually agreed solutions rather than conflict.
