Former Speaker of Parliament Donatille Mukabalisa has been designated as a senator by the National Consultative Forum of Political Organisations (NFPO) on September 19. Mukabalisa, 64, was elected alongside Hadidja Murangwa Ndangiza, who served in the outgoing Senate. ALSO READ: NEC announces provisional results for senatorial elections They were nominated to fill two of the four Senate seats allocated to representatives of the NFPO. Two additional senators will be elected next year, in 2025. Mukabalisa, who holds a bachelor’s degree in law, has been a lawmaker since 2000. From 2000 to 2003, she was a member of the National Transitional Assembly. In 2003, Mukabalisa was elected as a Member of the Chamber of Deputies. In 2011, she became a senator. In October 2013, Mukabalisa joine the lower house and became the Speaker until June this year. According to Article 29 of the Rwandan Constitution, NFPO is responsible for nominating candidates to the Senate. Once the candidates are selected, the General Assembly of the Forum must approve. The Speaker of the Forum then submits the candidates' files to the Supreme Court within three days for further approval. If any of the nominated candidates are not approved by the Supreme Court, the Forum is informed, and a meeting is called to nominate a replacement candidate. There are 26 seats in the Rwandan Senate. 14 of them are elective. Another eight Senators are appointed by the President. Four are reserved for representatives of the NFPO.
