Rwandans are going to be represented by a female majority in the Senate – a first in the country’s history – with women making a 65 per cent of the Upper House, or 17 of the 26 senators, up from 35 per cent.

This follows the September 16-17 elections and September 23 presidential appointments of four other senators, as well as two other members named by the Consultative Forum for Political Organisations.

President Paul Kagame named immediate former Senate President François-Xavier Kalinda, Bibiane Mbaye Gahamanyi, Usta Kaitesi, and Solina Nyirahabimana to the chamber, completing the latest cycle of elections and appointments of new senators.

Apart from Kalinda, who served as Senate President since January 2023, the other three presidential appointees -- all women -- are new faces in the Senate.

The third Upper House had nine women senators.

Six women senators are returning to the Upper House. They join two other women – Clotilde Mukakarangwa and Epiphanie Kanziza – who are still serving, having been sworn in in 2020.

Eight other women were elected from provinces and the City of Kigali, according to the final list published by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) on September 20. Laëtitia Nyinawamwiza was elected in Northern Province, and served in the outgoing Senate. Pélagie Uwera was re-elected in Southern Province. Alvera Mukabaramba, also a member of the previous Senate, was elected from Eastern Province. Marie-Rose Mureshyankwano was re-elected from Western Province, and Espérance Nyirasafari in the City of Kigali.

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Penine Uwimbabazi was elected to represent private universities. Former Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Donatille Mukabalisa, and Hadidja Murangwa Ndangiza, a member of the third Upper House, were designated as senators by the National Consultative Forum of Political Organisations (NFPO).

The Senate now joins the Chamber of Deputies in boasting majority women members, and cementing Rwanda's position as the world's leader in having a women-dominated parliament.