President of Rwanda to deliver Cambridge lecture

The title of the President’s lecture will be "Building viable medical research communities in Africa: policy challenges". He is expected to call for prioritization of health and medical research, as well as increased investment in the training and retention of African scientists and researchers.

Aged 51, Mr Kagame rose to prominence as leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front whose invasion ended the Rwandan Genocide of 1994. It is estimated that 800,000 to 1 million Rwandans were killed during the conflict. After the overthrow of the government of Jean Kambanda, Mr Kagame was appointed Vice-President and Minister for Defence in the Government of National Unity.

Credited with restoring stability to Rwanda he was elected President in 2003 in the first democratic election since the 1994 Genocide, securing 94% of the vote.

The Dr S.T. Lee Lectures were established in 2003 thanks to a benefaction from Seng Tee Lee, the business executive, philanthropist and Honorary Fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge. Each lecture considers aspects of scientific, medical or technological research and developments that are likely to have significant implications for public policy over the next decade.

This will be the fourth lecture in the series. Last year The Right Honourable David Miliband MP outlined future approaches to an economy beyond oil. Previous lectures have been given by Professor Sir David King, former Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government, and the Nobel Laureate, Sir John Sulston.

The lecture will be chaired by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, Professor Alison Richard.

This free lecture will take place at the Faculty of Law, West Road, at 5.30pm on Wednesday 3 December. It is open to all who are interested and there will be a reception after the lecture at which refreshments will be served.

Those wishing to attend the lecture are requested not to bring either large bags or laptop computers with them.