On Friday evening, President Paul Kagame named a new cabinet, which saw the majority of previous ministers and ministers of state retain their dockets. The new cabinet, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office will be composed of 21 Ministers and nine Ministers of State. On the new line-up, only three had not served in the previous government. They include the Ministers of Trade and Industry, Sports as well as Public Service and Labor. While the names are new, the trio is not new in public sphere. Prudence Sebahizi, the new Minister of Trade and Industry is an international trade economist, and regional integration and policy development expert with more than twenty years of experience. He has been extensively involved in a wide range of development areas including global governance, leadership, and international trade negotiations, among others. Until his new appointment, he was based in Accra, Ghana where he served as the Director of Institutional Matters and Programs Coordination at the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat. He replaces outgoing Minister Jean-Chrysostome Ngabitsinze who had assumed the responsibilities in 2022. At the Ministry, Sebahizi brings sound knowledge and proven expertise in regional integration and negotiation skills coupled with proven competencies. He has also worked with international organisations and Regional Economic Communities including negotiations and implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area – AfCFTA. But he is also familiar with public service in Rwanda. Sebahizi was a member of the high-level negotiations on Rwanda’s accession to the East African Community (EAC) in 2006. He has also previously advised the Rwandan government on regional integration options. He also contributed to the development and implementation of Rwanda’s Diagnostic Trade Integration Study – DTIS for mainstreaming trade into government policies and Strategy. Christine Nkulikiyinka, the Minister of Public Service and Labour replaces Jeanne d'Arc Mujawamariya who was dismissed from cabinet a few weeks back. Until her new responsibilities, the 59-year-old served as the chief executive at Rwanda Cooperation Initiative. The mother of two has also previously served in several diplomatic positions including as Ambassador Rwanda in Nordic Countries while based in Sweden. She has also served as Rwandan envoy to Germany and Russia. She boasts of a vast educational background. She graduated with a diploma (equivalent to Masters) at the University of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschule) in Ludwigshafen, Germany. She also graduated with a Diploma (equivalent to Masters) “Diplom Betriebswirtin” Degree in Business Administration- (majors in Marketing and Human Resource Management). Richard Nyirishema was also appointed as the new Minister of Sports replacing Aurore Mimosa who had been at the helm of the Ministry since 2019. Nyirishema is no novice in the world of sports. He has been the Vice President of Competitions for the Rwanda Basketball Federation (FERWAFA) since 2016. Beyond sports, he has an extensive background in water resources management, having worked as the Senior Water Supply Manager for the USAID Isoko y’Ubuzima Project. Meanwhile, President Kagame also named Doris Uwicyeza Picard as the new Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Governance Board, replacing Usta Kayitesi. Prior to the new appointmemt, she was the Coordinator of Migration and Economic Development Partnership Coordination Unit (MEDP - CU). Uwicyeza has also previously worked as the Chief Technical Advisor in the Ministry of Justice.
