Twenty senators are set to serve in the Upper House for a five-year term, under the fourth legislature, following the September legislative polls and appointments. Six senators from the third legislature will continue serving in the fourth Upper House to complete their five-year term. They were sworn in on October 22, 2020, implying that they have about one more year to serve. The six are Jean-Pierre Dusingizemungu, Epiphanie Kanziza, André Twahirwa, and Evode Uwizeyimana, who were appointed by President Paul Kagame, on September 23, and Alexis Mugisha, and Clotilde Mukakarangwa, who were elected through the Consultative Forum of Political Organizations (NFPO). Twelve senators were elected by national administrative entities comprising four provinces (Southern, Northern, Eastern, and Southern) and the City of Kigali, on September 16. Two were elected by the academic and research staff from public and private institutions of higher learning, on September 17, and two others were designated by the National Consultative Forum of Political Organisations (NFPO), on September 19. ALSO READ: Rwanda's Senate gets female majority for first time Here is a look at the 26 senators: Solina Nyirahabimana She is a former envoy of Rwanda to Switzerland. Nyirahabimana served as a member of cabinet in various capacities including as Minister of Gender and Family Promotion and Minister in the Office of the President. Until August, she was the Minister of State in charge of Legal and Constitutional Affairs at the Ministry of Justice, a position she held since 2020. She is new in the Senate. Usta Kaitesi Also a new face in the Senate, Kaitesi served as Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) since October 2018. The PhD holder in law headed RGB until August 16. Earlier, she served as a lecturer at University of Rwanda, and Principal of its College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS). Amandin Rugira Rugira is a career diplomat who has risen through the ranks from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the past 20 years. The former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has served as Rwanda’s envoy in countries including DR Congo, Burundi, Zambia, Malawi, and Belgium. Bibiane Mbaye Gahamanyi Gahamanyi is a human rights advocate, who has worked with various international organisations including Oxfam, Action Aid International, and African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies. She is also new in the Upper House. Donatille Mukabalisa Mukabalisa, who holds a bachelor’s degree in law, is very experienced having served in Rwanda’s bicameral parliament for the past 24 years. Between 2000 and 2003, she was a member of the National Transitional Assembly. In 2003, she was elected as a member of the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house. In 2011, she became a Senator, and in October 2013, she returned to the lower house and became Speaker until June this year. She was designated as a senator by the National Consultative Forum of Political Organisations (NFPO) on September 19. Espérance Nyirasafari Nyirasafari was born on July 13, 1972. She was appointed to the Senate by President Paul Kagame, in 2019, and in September 2024, she was elected Senator from the City of Kigali. She has been the Senate Vice President in charge of Parliamentary Affairs. Her previous positions include Minister of Sports and Culture (2018-2019); Minister of Gender and Family promotion (2016-2018); and Member of Parliament in the lower house (2013-2016). John Bonds Bideri Born on July 19, 1958, Bideri, served as a Senator in Rwanda’s upper House since 2019. He holds a Master’s degree in Sustainable Development from the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom. Important functions he held include being the Chairperson of the Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration Matters at Pan-African Parliament (PAP), and Chairperson of Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA). Sosthène Cyitatire Cyitatire is not new in the Senate, having served there as, among others, Clerk of the Senate. In the latter capacity, his duties included advising the Bureau of the Senate on the functioning of the Senate, attending to requests of Senators related to working facilities they need, and acting as the Chief Budget Manager of the Senate. Emmanuel Havugimana Born on January 4, 1956, Havugimana, holds a PhD in Human Ecology, from the University of Gothenburg, in Sweden. He is returning to the Senate, having served there in the third legislature. Important functions he held include being a lecturer at the University of Rwanda, from 1997-2019, and lecturer at University of Rwanda. He was also UR’s Academic Registrar, from 2010-2011, and Head of the Department of Geography at the same academic institution, from 2012-2017. François-Xavier Kalinda The current Senate President (since January 2023) was born on May 30, 1962. He holds a PhD in law – Intellectual Property being his field of research – from the Université de Strasbourg, France. Before being joining the Senate, Kalinda was a member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), from October 2015 to December 2022. Among others, previously, he was also Dean of the School of Law at UR’s College of Arts and Social Sciences. Pélagie Uwera Uwera was also re-elected to the Senate. She was born on August 28, 1974, and holds a Master’s Degree in Development Studies from Kigali Independent University. Before becoming a Senator, she was a Commissioner in the National Electoral Commission (October 2012- September 2019); and a secondary school teacher (October 1998 - September 2009). Adrie Umuhire Born on July 25, 1977, Umuhire is going to serve as a Senator for another term. She holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies. Earlier, she was assistant lecturer at University of Rwanda’s College of Arts and Social Science, from 2006 up to October 2019. She also served as a member of the National Women Council in charge of social affairs in Ngoma Sector, Huye District, from 2011 to 2016. Laëtitia Nyinawamwiza Also returning to the Senate, Nyinawamwiza was born on December 17, 1972. She holds a PhD in animal production (Aquaculture). Her functions outside legislating include being a Senior Lecturer at the University of Rwanda’s College of Agriculture (from 2010), and Head of Department of Animal Production in the Faculty of Agriculture at the National University of Rwanda (from 2009 to 2011). She served as Principal of the College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine at University of Rwanda, from 2013 to 2019. Fulgence Nsengiyumva Nsengiyumva is going to serve another five-year term after re-election. He was born on January 6, 1958, and is an agricultural engineer specialised in development studies and rural development. Important functions he held before joining Parliament include being the Minister of State in charge of Agriculture at the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, from 2016-2018, and Prefect of Gitarama Prefecture, from 2000-2002. Cyprien Niyomugabo Niyomugabo secured a second legislative term in September when he was re-elected a senator. Born on May 22, 1965, he holds a PhD of Arts and Humanities (Specialization: African Linguistics Education), from Rouen and Lome Universities. Earlier, he was Professor of African Languages Education at University of Rwanda and at IB Cardiff /UK till October 2019; Dean, School of Education, University of Rwanda (UR)-College of Education from 2013 to October 2019; and Secretary of Kiswahili ACALAN (African Academy of Languages) Commission/African Union from 2009 to October 2019, among others. Marie-Rose Mureshyankwano Born on June 1, 1968, Mureshyankwano holds a Masters in Development Studies. A member of the third Senate legislature, she previously served as the Governor of Southern Province, from 2016-2018, and a Member of Parliament in the Chamber of Deputies, from 2005-2016, among other positions. Hadidja Ndangiza Murangwa Murangwa is returning to the Senate after being re-appointed by the Consultative Forum of Political Organisations. She was born on May 30, 1975. The holder of Masters in International Business Law previously worked as Director of Strategy and Sustainability at the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Rwanda (ICPAR), from 2017-2019. She also served as GIZ Senior Advisor to the East African Community in tax affairs, and as a lecturer at the National University of Rwanda, from 1999- 2004. Dr Alvera Mukabaramba The former spokesperson of the Consultative Forum for Political Organisations was born on March 9, 1960. Dr Mukabaramba served as state minister in-charge of social affairs in the Ministry of Local Government (2011-2019). She also has parliamentary experience. From 2019 to 2024, she was a Senator and Vice President of the Senate in charge of Finance and Administration. The former president of the Party for Progress and Concord (PPC) was a presidential candidate in 2010. She holds a Doctorate in Medicine, with specialisation in paediatrics, from Leningrad Pediatric Institute, in St Petersburg, Russia. Telesphore Ngarambe Ngarambe is another newcomer. He was elected to represent public universities and higher learning institutions in the Senate. He has been the Dean of the School of Arts and Languages at UR’s College of Arts and Social Sciences, and a Senior Lecturer of translation and interpreting studies. Penine Uwimbabazi Uwimbabazi holds a doctoral degree (PhD) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), South Africa – where she served as a postgraduate and research assistant – and is specialised in public policy analysis and conflict transformation. It is her first time in the Senate, after being elected to represent private universities and higher learning institutions. ALSO REA: Who is Prof. Uwimbabazi, the sole senatorial candidate for private varsities? Previously, she was the Vice Chancellor of the Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences (PIASS), in Rwanda. She has been in academia as a lecturer and researcher for more than 15 years, at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and in Rwanda. Senators whose term goes into the fourth legislature Clotilde Mukakarangwa Mukakarangwa is still serving her five-year term. She was born on January 1, 1966, and holds a Master of Science in Finance. Before becoming a Senator, she served in various positions including as a decentralized revenue officer at Rwanda Revenue Authority’s domestic taxes and local government taxes department (in 2020), and a Member of Parliament in the Chamber of Deputies, from October 2012 to September 2013. Épiphanie Kanziza Kanziza is a senator who is still serving her five-year term after being appointed by President Paul Kagame, in October 2020. She was born on January 1, 1972. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations Earlier, she worked, among others, as Coordinator of the Women’s Organization for Promoting Unity (WOPU), from 2012-2020. Evode Uwizeyimana Uwizeyimana is a serving Senator in the third legislature, since October 2020. Born on January 14, 1970, Uwizeyimana holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) with specialisation in international law. His previous important functions include being the Minister of State for Constitutional and Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Justice, from 2016 to 2020, and Deputy Chairperson of Rwanda Law Reform Commission (RLRC), from 2014 to 2016. Alexis Mugisha Mugisha was born on January 1, 1977, and holds Bachelor’s Degree in Human and Physical Geography from National University of Rwanda. His other previous functions include being an environmental project designer and management in Rwanda Wildlife Club 2006, Executive Director of Rwanda Green Society (2007). He has experience in private consultancy in diverse domains of environmental management. Jean-Pierre Dusingizemungu Born on January 1, 1963, Dusingizemungu holds a PhD in Psychology (Clinical Psychology) from the University Toulouse II. Before joining the Senate in 2020, the former President of Ibuka, an umbrella organisation for Genocide survivors' associations, he held other positions including Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academics, in the University of Kibungo, Vice-Chancellor of East African University Rwanda, and Dean of the Faculty of Education at the National University of Rwanda. André Twahirwa The PhD holder in language sciences (University of Sorbonne Nouvelle-Paris III), Twahirwa is a Senator since October 2020. He was a Lecturer of modern language in Paris from 1994-2015, an assistant in linguistic research in University of Sorbonne Nouvelle-PARIS III, from 1991-1992, and a lecturer of modern languages in Rwanda from 1970-1973, among other functions.
