The former Coordinator of the Projects Implementing Department in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Odette Uwamariya, has been appointed as the Governor of the Eastern Province.

She replaces Dr. Aisa Kirabo Kacyira who was last month named as the Deputy Executive Director and Assistant Secretary-General for UN-HABITAT by the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon.

The appointment was made by Cabinet during a meeting, which also announced changes in top government and diplomatic positions. The meeting chaired by President Paul Kagame on Friday also approved several government programmes and instructed their speedy implementation.

Uwamariya was excited of her new appointment.

"This is a big challenge. It’s an honour and opportunity to be Governor of the Eastern Province. I am so much excited for this post,” she said.

She pledged to work with all to improve the economic development of the Eastern Province.

The cabinet also appointed Augustin Habimana as Rwanda’s Ambassador to Burundi and Amb. Ben Rugangazi was proposed as High Commissioner to Tanzania.

Other prominent appointments include, James Kamanzi who has been appointed as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Jean Paul Kimonyo was named as the Coordinator and Advisor on NEPAD Implementation in the President’s Office and Serge Kamuhinda as the Acting Head of the Strategy and Policy Unit in the same office.

Anthony Ngororano was appointed as Senior Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister; Dr. James Gashumba was named as new Rector of Umutara Polytechnic.

Prof. Manasseh Mbonye is the Vice Rector in charge of Academic Affairs at the National University of Rwanda, Liliane Uwera Igihozo was appointed Vice Rector in charge of Finance and Administration at the School of Finance and Banking and Prof. Wenceslas Nzabalirwa Vice Rector in charge of Academic Affairs at Kigali Institute of Education.

The cabinet also appointed Eng. Pascal Gatabazi as the Principal of Tumba College of Technology, Zaina Nyiramatama is the Executive Secretary for the National Commission for Children in the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion. She is the former Executive Secretary Haguruka.

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