Prof. Emile Rwamasirabo is recognized as the pioneer of urology in Rwanda. He completed his medical education at Dakar University in Senegal before undergoing a residency in general surgery at Lille University in France from 1980 to 1984. He subsequently pursued a fellowship in urology and surgical oncology.

In 1988, he moved to Kampala, Uganda, where he taught urology to both undergraduate students and residents at Mulago Teaching Hospital. After the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994, Prof. Rwamasirabo returned to Rwanda, at a time when the country had lost much of its professional workforce. He became the only urologist in the nation, dedicating himself to managing complex urological conditions amid the crisis.

His contributions extended beyond clinical service; he trained colleagues, mentored young doctors, and laid the groundwork for the development of urology in Rwanda. In 2012, he initiated the first in-country urology residency program at the University of Rwanda and served as the inaugural urology residency director from 2013 to 2023.

Alongside his colleagues and through collaboration with overseas partners such as IVUMED, the residency program continued to evolve and successfully produced eight Rwandan urologists who passed the COSECSA Fellowship examination by the time of his retirement.

Prof. Rwamasirabo was also actively involved in regional surgical training, serving as the urology program director and chief urology examiner for COSECSA from 2013 to 2023.

Through COSECSA, the training was extended regionally, producing two additional urologists in Rwanda. Today, as a result of his pioneering vision and the contributions of Prof. Theobald Hategekimana, Rwanda counts 14 practicing urologists and 20 residents in training.

Under the stewardship of the Rwanda Urological Association (RUA), this progress has evolved into a national movement for urology development — uniting practitioners, strengthening postgraduate training, and promoting surgical excellence.