President Paul Kagame yesterday acknowledged the performance of the outgoing Chamber of Deputies, saying that they did a good job. 

The President made the remarks while dissolving parliament to pave way for next month’s elections.  

Parliamentary elections are held every five years.

Kagame said there is evidence that the MPs carried out their duties diligently to the enourmous benefit of the country and the Rwandan people. 

The President cited their role in combating various forms of discrimination, corruption and environmental protection among the areas where the MPs stood out. 

The outgoing MPs passed more than 300 laws in addition to closely following up on the performance of the government and reaching out to grass roots populations with whom they exchanged ideas on how to improve their welfare and sought solutions to the day-to-day challenges they faced. 

The president said the new and amended laws passed during the just-concluded mandate contributed toward reforms in the Judiciary, promotion of good governance, social welfare and performance of the economy, which are among the key pillars on which the country’s development is hinged upon. 

"In all honesty, looking at the performance of Parliament and weighing the achievements during its mandate, one is left wondering what more they could have done within their time-frame,” Kagame said. 

The next parliamentary elections are slated for September 16, with some six million Rwandans registered to vote.  

Tasks for incoming MPs

The President urged all the eligible voters to turnout on Election Day and vote. He reminded the electorate that it is their responsibility to vote and to vote wisely, electing candidates who would serve their interests as well as the country’s. 

The incoming MPs were tasked by the President to promote regional cooperation and harmonise legislations with bodies, both regional and international, with which Rwandan shares interests. 

The outgoing Speaker, Rose Mukantabana thanked her colleagues for their tireless efforts and work attitude which were paramount to the performance of the House.  

Mukantabana also acknowledged the support from the country’s leadership, other arms of government, regional and international partners as well as the Rwandan people, saying the achievements of the House would not have been possible without their input. 

President Kagame wished Mukantabana and her team all the best in their next endevours adding that the country still expects a lot from them and they should keep playing nation-building roles. 

The country’s Constitution stipulates that in order to organise elections, the President shall dissolve the Chamber of Deputies at least 30 days and not more than 60 days before expiry of its current members’ term of office.