50 MPs return experience to House

Of the eighty Members of Parliament who will tomorrow swear in to represent their respective constituencies for the next five years, a majority 50 were part of the previous House. Those returning include former Speaker Rose Mukantabana (Women, Kigali), two former deputy speakers and most former chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of the nine standing committees in the Chamber of Deputies. Former deputy speakers Evariste Kalisa (oversight and legislation) and Marie-Josée Kankera (administration and finance), from PL and RPF, respectively, were also re-elected. Both the former chairperson and deputy chairperson of the Committee on Political Affairs and Gender, Alfred Kayiranga Rwasa (RPF) and Yvonne Uwayisenga (Women, Kigali), respectively, also take oath for another term. They are joined by former chairperson and deputy chairperson of the Committee on Education, Technology, Culture and Youth, Agnès Mukazibera (RPF) and Veneranda Nyirahirwa (PSD), respectively. Other former chairpersons and vice-chairpersons who return are: Esperance Mwiza (RPF) and Ignacienne Nyirarukundo (Women) of the Committee on Social Affairs; François Byabarumwanzi (PL) and Françoise Mukayisenga (RPF) of the Committee on Unity, Human Rights and Fight against Genocide. Constance Mukayuhi Rwaka (RPF) and Abbas Mukama (PDI) of the Committee on National Budget and Patrimony, and Adolphe Bazatoha (PSD) and Joseph Désiré Nyandwi (RPF) of the Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Environment, are the other notable names having another five years of representation. Also, former Public Accounts Committee Chairperson Juvénal Nkusi (PSD) returns but his deputy, Evode Kalima (RPF), stood down. Juliana Kantengwa (RPF), the former chairperson of the Committee on Economy and Trade, who is also the fourth vice-president of the Pan-African Parliament (Pap), returns. However, the committee’s former deputy and president of the Democratic Union of Rwandan People party, Gonzague Rwigema, exits because the party did not feature in the polls. Also out is the chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Security, Gédéon Kayinamura (RPF), but his former deputy, Julienne Uwacu (RPF) will take the oath of office for another term. The 30 new faces Prominent among the new faces from the RPF camp include former Justice minister and envoy to Canada, Edda Mukabagwiza; former Mufti Saleh Habimana; former secretary-general in the Senate, Fidel Rwigamba; former director of Cabinet in the Prime Minister’s office, Eugene Barikana; and filmmaker, actor and poet Edouard Bamporiki. Others are Health ministry official Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi, who is bouncing back after a spell outside the House, Esperance Nyirasafari, the former permanent secretary in the Ministry of Justice; and Francesca Tengera, who has hitherto been the head of the National Women Council, among others. PL’s Donatille Mukabalisa and Theogene Munyangeyo, and PSD’s Theodomir Niyonsenga and Georgette Tutayisire are among the new non-RPF faces. The interests of persons living with disability will now be represented by Gaston Rusiha, who succeeds Pierre Claver Rwaka–the latter stood on the RPF ticket but lost out. The youth will be represented by Philbert Uwilingiyimana and Justine Mukobwa. They replace Basile Bayihiki and Marie Pélagie Uwamariya, who now exit the scene. The Lower Chamber will have 51 out of the 80 seats (64 per cent) occupied by women.