Members of the Chamber of Deputies, on August 21, elected heads of its nine standing committees, a week after the fifth legislature was inaugurated. All the 80 MPs who make up the lower house were present at the plenary sitting of Wednesday, August 21, which was chaired by Speaker Gertrude Kazarwa. ALSO READ: Kagame tasks new MPs to end disorder in churches The following are the elected committee chairpersons. Anastase Nabahire MP Anastase Nabahire was elected Chairperson of the Committee on Governance and Gender Affairs, which was previously called the Committee on Political Affairs and Gender. Nabahire, 58, holds a masters’ degree in international law, with more than 20 years of experience in the public sector. sin Before joining Parliament, he was the Director General of Justice Sector Coordination at the Ministry of Justice. ALSO READ: More about new Speaker Kazarwa and her deputies Nabahire said that various job positions he held enabled him to work with government entities, from grassroots to central government levels, non-governmental organisations, and development partners, as well as Rwandans in general. He is deputised by Jeanne d’Arc de Bohneur, who was a private notary before she was elected into Parliament. Furaha Emma Rubagumya MP Furaha Emma Rubagumya is the new chairperson of the Committee on Education, Technology, Culture, Sports and Youth. Previously, Rubagumya, who was in the last Parliament, chaired the Committee on Political Affairs and Gender. Rubagumya has an experience of 25 years in education sector. She has a master’s degree in education management. She is deputised by Rutebuka Balinda, 45, who holds a PhD in public administration, and had been a university lecturer for more than 20 years before becoming an MP. Hope Tumukunde MP Hope Tumukunde Gasatura was elected Chairperson of the lower house’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Security. Before joining Parliament, Tumukunde had been in public service for more than 20 years. A former Ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti, Tumukunde also served as Rwanda’s Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU) and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), from 2016 to 2023. Tumukunde will be deputised by MP Jean Claude Ntezimana, who was also a lawmaker in the fourth assembly. ALSO READ: Senatorial elections: 32 senate candidates approved Veneranda Uwamariya MP Veneranda Uwamariya is the new Chairperson of the Committee on Social Affairs in the Chamber of Deputies. In the fourth legislature, Uwamariya, who holds a master’s degree in political science and public administration, was the Chairperson of the Committee on Education, Technology, Culture and Youth at the same legislative entity. She worked for five years in non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and 18 years in the University of Rwanda in the areas of administration and teaching. She will be deputised by MP Christine Mukabunani, who was the deputy chairperson of the Committee on Land, Agriculture, Livestock, and Environment in the fourth legislature. Madina Ndangiza MP Madina Ndangiza was elected as the Chairperson of the Committee on National Unity, Human Rights, and Fight against Genocide, with MP Philbert Uwiringiyimana as the Vice Chairperson. They both served in the previous legislature. Ndangiza holds a Bachelors’ Degree in law obtained from the University of Rwanda. Her qualifications include being attorney and gender specialist with 16 years of experience supporting internationally-funded programmes. She also serves as the Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians, Africa Region for a term of office of three years (2023-2026). MP Odette Uwamariya MP Odette Uwamariya is the new Chairperson of the Committee on State Budget and Patrimony, which was previously called the Committee on National Budget and Patrimony. MP Pie Nizeyimana was elected the committee Vice Chairperson. Uwamariya, who holds a master’s degree in business administration, previously headed the Committee on Social Affairs. Other functions she has held include the Director of Cabinet of the Office of the Prime Minister, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Local Government, the Governor of Eastern Province. She has also been a university lecturer for more than eight years. Theogene Munyangeyo MP Theogene Munyangeyo, 58, was re-elected as Chairperson of the Committee on Economy and Trade. He has a master’s degree in economy. He will be deputised by MP Judith Mukarugwiza. Before Mukarugwiza was elected into Parliament in the July elections, she had worked for Rwanda Revenue Authority for 21 years. Alice Muzana MP Alice Muzana is the Chairperson of the Committee on Land, Agriculture, Livestock, and Environment. In the previous Parliament, Muzana was Vice Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. A holder of a master’s degree in organism biology and ecology, Muzana’s previous functions include being a fish monitoring specialist at Lake Kivu monitoring program. She will be deputised by MP Speciose Ayinkamiye. Valens Muhakwa MP Valens Muhakwa, 41, was re-elected Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The holder of a master’s degree in international law, Muhakwa headed PAC for four years in the previous term. He will be deputised by MP Cécile Murumunawabo, who was also in the previous legislature.
