Businessman Robert Bafakulera was on Wednesday, March 16 re-elected for the second term as the Chairperson of the Private Sector Federation (PSF).

Jeanne-Françoise Mubiligi and Aimable Kimenyi were elected 1st and 2nd Vice Chairpersons respectively. They were all elected for a three-year term.

While Bafakulera, whose business interest spans from hospitality to cargo transport among others, is coming for the second time, his two deputies will be serving their first terms.

The New Times looks at the three leaders at the helm of the body and their priorities as they embark on their term.

Robert Bafakulera

Bafakulera who was elected for a second-term as chairperson of the federation, has been in business for decades and holds multiple investments across sectors including real estate, manufacturing, hospitality and retail, among others.

He is the owner of Ubumwe Grand Hotel, an imposing four-star Hotel located in City Centre. 

Bafakulera has previously served as a board member of Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Business Council between 2018 and 2020.

Speaking to The New Times after being re-elected, he said that Covid-19 has had negative effects on private sector adding that his second term is in line with efforts geared up towards recovery.

"The country’s leadership has opened gates and therefore, in our priorities, we have to expand businesses beyond Rwanda. We are looking to new opportunities in Central Africa Republic, Mozambique, DRC, Congo Brazaville and many others. The country signed agreements with many countries to ease inter-trading and therefore we have to tap into such trade opportunities,” he said.

He called on the business community to seize the opportunity provided by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to which Rwanda is a founding signatory.

"Capacity building, benchmarking tours, access to bank loans, advocacy for different incentives for PSF members are among our priorities to help businesses recover from Covid-19,” he added.

Jeanne-Françoise Mubiligi

Mubiligi was leading women entrepreneur’s chamber at PSF in the outgoing leadership before being elected as 1st vice chairperson.

Mubiligi is a well learned with a Bachelor’ and master’s degree in international business development which she obtained from University of Neuchâtel

In Switzerland.

"I have been working for over 15 years. I first worked for investment companies and later entered business,” she told The New Times.

Her investments span various sectors, including in real estate and civil engineering, under E.M.P Ltd which provides engineering construction devices in different domains such as roads, buildings, dams, irrigation and drinkable water supply.

"I have also invested in different areas namely agriculture, mining and others,” she said. 

Speaking about her priorities during the three-year term, she said: "We will play a great role in facilitating members to expand the markets for their businesses outside Rwanda as part of reducing the trade deficit.”

She added the real estate sector is one of their sectors that need to be prioritized considering that there is still a shortage of affordable houses in the country.

Aimable Kimenyi

Kimenyi, who was elected 2nd vice chairperson, is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Algorithm Incorporation Ltd which he created in 2007 after completing university.

He studied mathematics and computer science at Université de Montréal in Canada.

He has more than years of experience in developing software for small and medium size businesses in Africa.

He developed an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software package powered by a Point of Sale (POS) system called Ishyiga which helps businesses in recording and tracking operations data.

The system has been used by more than 125 pharmaceutical companies in Rwanda and Burundi since 2007 and it is currently being expanded for deployment in other retail stores and supermarkets.

Algorithm Incorporation Ltd currently operates in three countries Rwanda, Burundi and Gabon.

He worked on a number of websites that provide online services of guiding and recommending people to African restaurants, barber shops and events. Between 2012 and 2018, he served as a Board Member of the Rwanda Software Developers and Application Providers Association within the Private Sector Federation.

Speaking about his priorities, he said; "We want to reach out PSF members so they use ICT, e-commerce and others in running their businesses. Technology has been found essential in businesses especially during Covid-19 pandemic. ,” he said.

What members expect from the new committee

Emilienne Benurugo, one of the players in the private sector in beverage production industry urged the new PSF leaders to identify all businesses that were most affected by Covid-19 pandemic so as to do a follow up of recovery funds supporting them.

"It is better to advocate for the sectors that can quickly boost a country's development,” she said.

Ostine Ntivuguruzwa Kagina, an entrepreneur in banana value addition in Gisagara district said that the new PSF committee should prioritise advocacy so that startups get more capital to improve what they do.

"We need modern machines in improving the quality of our products and therefore financial support could help,” he said, adding it could enable recovery from Covid-19.

Gerard Sina, an entrepreneur in food and beverage production said that PSF should intervene in advocacy to improve locally made products and link them to the international market. 

"The new committee should promote e-commerce platforms among members to be able to reach wider markets. I say this because one of the committee members has a background in technology,” he added.