Colonel (Rtd) Jill Rutaremara is currently the Director of the Rwanda Peace Academy, a regional peacekeeping training and research institution. He is also a member of the interim Board of Directors of Rwanda Cooperation (RC), Rwanda’s hub for learning that promotes the country’s innovative initiatives through South-South and Triangular Cooperation. Rutaremara is also a member of the RDF team on the project for establishing National Defence University, Rwanda (NDU, R).

Colonel (Rtd) Jill Rutaremara was born in Rwanda on 24 October 1960, but he largely grew up a refugee in Uganda following the 1959 pogroms in Rwanda. There, Rutaremara pursued university education and, after graduating, worked at Kenyatta High School (Mwatate, Kenya) and Burhaniya High School (Mombasa) as a teacher and Head of the Biology Department from October 1984 to October 1990.

In October 1990, Rutaremara joined the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), a liberation force that later transformed into the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF). Rutaremara has attended various military professional courses that include; senior command and staff course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) in Jaji - Kaduna (Nigeria), and Grade 3 (Junior) Course at the Rwanda Military Academy (RMA). Rutaremara also holds a Master of Arts (MA) degree in International Security and Civil Military Relations from the Naval Post Graduate School (NPS) in Monterey, California (USA) and a Master of Arts (MA) degree in International Studies from the National Defence College/University of Nairobi. He is also a holder of Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree (with honours) in zoology and botany, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), both from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda.

Jill Rutaremara held various appointments in the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) before his retirement in July 2020. These include: Head of Civil Military Cooperation; Director of Political Education; and Director of Formal Education at the Defence Force Headquarters, as well as Political Commissar (PC) at the Rwanda Military Academy. He also served as the Military and Defence Spokesman, as well as the Director of Defence Planning and Cooperation at the Ministry of Defence.

Jill Rutaremara also served as Administration/Personnel Officer under the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS), a board member of Zigama Credit and Savings Society (Zigama - CSS), as well  as the board member of Military Medical Insurance (MMI).

In addition to serving as a teacher in Kenya, Rutaremara has held other appointments outside the military and defence establishments. While representing the Rwandan Patriotic Army, Rutaremara served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Transitional National Assembly in Rwanda. He also served as the Prefet of the former Umutara Prefecture (province).  Furthermore, he worked as a part – time lecturer in the Department of Political Science, University of Rwanda. Jill Rutaremara has attended several international, regional and national conferences, workshops and training courses, and has delivered presentations in various peace and security fora.

Col (Rtd) Jill Rutaremara is a recipient of RDF awards that include: National Liberation Medal; Campaign Against Genocide Medal; Presidential Inauguration Medal; Community Service Ribbon; and Peace Missions Medal.