Four officials were named ambassadors during a cabinet meeting that took place yesterday at Urugwiro Village.

According to a statement released by the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, Yamina Karitanyi, Olivier Nduhungirehe, Hope Tumukunde and Alfred Kalisa were proposed by the cabinet to represent Rwanda in different countries.

Karitanyi, who has been Chief Tourism Officer at Rwanda Development Board, was named High Commissioner to the UK, where she replaces William Nkurunziza who has been there since 2013.

Nduhungirehe, who is currently the Acting Director General in charge of Multilateral Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was named ambassador to Belgium where he replaced Robert Masozera.

The same meeting nominated Tumukunde Gasatura, the Vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs, City of Kigali, as ambassador to Ethiopia while Kalisa was posted to Angola.

Tumukunde will replace embattled former Sports and Culture Minister, Protais Mitali, who abandoned his posting following investigations into allegations of embezzlement of his party’s funds.

Mitali was President of the Liberal Party (PL) when he allegedly embezzled millions from the party coffers. He is on an Interpol wanted list.

In Angola, Kalisa will be the first ambassador to the country, as Rwanda continues to broaden its horizons by opening up new embassies on different continents.

The same meeting also endorsed Belise Kariza as the Chief Tourism Officer at RDB, replacing Karitanyi. Kariza has been working at the country's biggest beverages maker, Bralirwa.

All the appointees will have to be endorsed by the Senate prior to commencement of their duties.

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