The ardent Arsenal F.C. fan is doing a sandwich PhD programme at Gothenburg University sponsored by the University of Rwanda-Sweden programme, with funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. On March 24, the Office of the Prime Minister announced that Dr Jean Nepo Abdallah Utumatwishima, a public health professional, had been appointed as the new Minister of Youth. He will replace Rosemary Mbabazi, who was appointed as High Commissioner of Rwanda to Ghana. ALSO READ: Kagame appoints new youth minister, reshuffles diplomats The news about the appointment found Utumatwishima, 40, a medical doctor with surgery training, abroad. He was busy at Gothenburg University, a university in Sweden's second largest city, Gothenburg, an important seaport in Sweden situated off the Göta älv river on the country's west coast. Utumatwishima who was born in Kinigi, Musanze District, earlier travelled to the University and planned to return home to attend to his regular duties at Rwamagana Hospital, in June. He is a visiting doctoral researcher: student enrolled in a PhD program at an international (partner) university who has usually acquired a competitive scholarship to spend a period of research abroad as a visiting PhD student, without the initial explicit intention to obtain their PhD. He is in his second year of the PhD program at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg. In 2009, he earned his Bachelor's degree from the University of Rwanda, followed by a Master's of public health from England’s Manchester Metropolitan University, in 2016. The father of three – two daughters and a son – is an epidemiology fellow at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a research institute in Bethesda, Maryland. The NIH is the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and public health research. Prior to his appointment, Utumatwishima had served as the director of Kinihira, Ruhengeri, and Rwamagana hospitals, respectively, for 10 years. For over a decade, Utumatwishima who is known for his efforts in promoting patriotism among young people, has been working with national youth organizations in the country. He has been an RPF commissioner since 2013. In May 2021, he addressed the youth at the Igihango cy'Urungano rally and encouraged them to shun Genocide ideology as well as avoid divisions. Besides his interest in issues affecting the country’s youth, as a medical doctor, Utumatwishima loves surgery and, as a public health professional and researcher, he is keen on investigating the relationship between stunting and obesity on the continent. When he is not with his family, or busy conducting medical research or taking charge of the regular administrative responsibilities at hospital, or watching a football game, Utumatwishima enjoys reading leadership books.
