[2] The minor seminary of Kabgayi has educated a number of notable people both in the church and politics.

The seminary's alumni[3] include two former Presidents of Republic of Rwanda, several catholic church bishops, two former Presidents of Rwanda's senate, tens of ministers, several members of the parliament and hundreds of Catholic priests.

[2] After the creation of Apostolic Vicariate of Kivu in 1912,[4] its first Vicar Bishop John Joseph Hirth founded Saint Léon Minor Seminary in Nyaruhengeri near Save.

The first 16 students of the Minor Seminary of Nyaruhengeri then of Kabgayi[4] are Albert Kanyamudale, Aloys Balitubya, Ignace Ndenzaho, Ferdinand Kabunda, Mercure Bazilake, Boniface Mufuri, Laurent Kirobafi, Ananias Kanyamugenge, Simon Bapfakurera, Laurent Sehene, Albert Ndagijimana, Joseph Binego, Aster Senzige, Velan Majanja and Abraham Aholihisa.

As the oldest formal education institution, the influence of St Léon Minor Seminary of Kabgayi is visible in political space and Catholic church of Rwanda.