President Paul Kagame has appointed four new ministers to the cabinet, following the recent naming of Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva as Rwanda’s new Prime Minister.
The changes, announced on Thursday, July 24, include new leaders in key ministries such as Environment and Local Government. The new ministers are Bernadette Arakwiye, Dominique Habimana, Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, and Dr. Telesphore Ndabamenye.
Arakwiye has been named the new Minister of Environment. Before this, she worked at the World Resources Institute, where she led land restoration projects across Africa. Her work focused on helping countries bring back degraded land and forests.
She holds a PhD in Geography from Clark University in the United States, where she studied changes in Rwanda’s forest cover. Her appointment brings a strong background in science and environmental policy.
Habimana is the new Minister of Local Government. He recently served as Secretary General of the Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities (RALGA). He has spent more than 18 years working in areas like governance, decentralisation, and community development.
Habimana has also worked with international organisations such as the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, GIZ, and World Relief. He is known for his work supporting local leadership, public policy, and services that improve people’s daily lives.
Also joining the cabinet are Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye as State Minister in charge of Infrastructure—returning to a role he held from 2017 to 2019—and Telesphore Ndabamenye as State Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture. Ndabamenye previously led the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB).
Prince Ruzigana / The Kaminuza Star