This morning at the Parliamentary Buildings, President Kagame officiated at the Swearing in ceremony of Anastase Murekezi as the new Prime Minister. Following his swearing in ceremony, Prime Minister Anastase Murekezi reshuffled the cabinet in agreement with the President in accordance to article 116 of the Constitution.
President Kagame thanked the previous cabinet for their hard work adding that the new cabinet would build on the existing accomplishments:
“This new cabinet is about building on the progress achieved to date, its role will be to continue working together for the benefits of all Rwandans,” President Kagame said.
Many of the key ministers remained in their posts including defense, foreign affairs, finance and internal security. The cabinet is 22 ministers and 10 state ministers (deputies) – up by 2 posts. There is 41% female representation in new cabinet.
The following ministers form the new cabinet:
1. Murekezi Anastase : Prime Minister, replaced Dr PierreDamien Habumuremyi who was left out of cabinet
2. Binagwaho Agnes: Minister of Health (unchanged)
3. Biruta Vincent : Minister of Natural Resources, replaces Stanislas Kamanzi, who was not given a new posting
4. Busingye Johnston : Minister of Justice/Attorney General (unchanged)
5. Gasinzigwa Oda: Minister of Gender and Family Promotion (unchanged)
6. Gatare Francis: CEO/RDB and member of cabinet – replaced Rugwabiza Valentine, who was moved to East African affairs docket.
7. Gatete Claver: Minister of Finance and Economic Planning (Unchanged)
8. Habineza Joseph: Minister of Culture and Sports – replaced Protais Mitali who was not given a new posting. He had also been in cabinet in different capacities for more than 15 years. Meanwhile Joseph Habineza was initially in the same ministry, but was dropped and named envoy to Nigeria.
9. Harerimana Musa Fazil: Minister of Internal Security (Unchanged)
10. Kabarebe James: Minister of Defense (Unchanged)
11. Kaboneka Francis: Minister of Local Government, he replaced James Musoni, who was moved to the Infrastructure ministry. Kaboneka has been a member of parliament for many years and senior insider in the Rwanda Patriotic Front party of President Kagame.
12. Kanimba Francois : Minister of Trade and Industry (Unchanged)
13. Lwakabamba Silas: Minister of Education – replaced Dr Vincent Biruta, who was also transferred to Natural Resources docket.
14. Mugabo Stella Ford: Minister of Cabinet Affairs in the Office of the Prime Minister (Unchanged)
15. Mukantabana Seraphine: Minister of Refugee and Disaster Management (Unchanged)
16. Mukeshimana Geraldine: Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources – replaces long-serving Dr Agnes Kalibata who did not get any post in the new hierarchy. Mukeshimana is a new entrant in cabinet
17. Mushikiwabo Louise: Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (Unchanged)
18. Musoni James: Minister of Infrastructure – he was brought from local government ministry. They simply swapped posts with Prof Lwakabamba Silas.
19. Nsengimana Jean Philbert: Minister of Youth and ICT (Unchanged)
20. Rugwabiza Valentine: Minister of East African Community – she replaces Jacqueline Muhongayire, who had been there since July last year. Rugwabiza, before becoming CEO of the Rwanda Development Board, was deputy director general at the World Trade Organisation WTO.
21. Tugireyezu Venantie: Minister in Presidency Office (Unchanged)
22. Uwizeye Judith: Minister of Public Service and Labour – she replaces the new PM in that ministry he had been leading for several years. She is a new entrant into cabinet
State Ministers (deputy ministers)
1. Gasana Eugene: Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in charge of Cooperation, and also Rwanda’s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York (Unchanged)
2. Imena Evode: Minister of state in the Ministry of Natural Resources in charge of Mining (Unchanged)
3. Kamayirese Germaine: Minister of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure in charge of Energy and Water, replaces Emma Francoise Isumbangabo, who was not moved to any new appointment
4. Mukabaramba Alivera : Minister of State in the Ministry of Local Government in charge od Social Affairs and Community Development (Unchanged)
5. Ndagijimana Uzziel: Minister of State in the Ministry of and Economic Planning in charge of Economic Planning, new entrant into cabinet as he has been Permanent Secretary at the Health Ministry
6. Ndimubanzi Patrick: Minister of State in the Ministry of Health in charge of Public Health and Primary Health Care – new entrant and replaced Dr Anita Asiimwe, who was left out of cabinet after a short stint.
7. Nsanganira Tony: Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources in charge of Agriculture, he was elevated from Permanent Secretary in the same ministry
8. Nsengiyumva Albert: Minister of State in the Ministry of Education in charge of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (Unchanged)
9. Nzahabwanimana Alexis: Minister of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure in charge of Transport (Unchanged)
10. Rwamukwaya Olivier: Minister of State in the Ministry of Education in charge of Primary and Secondary – replaces Mathias Harebamungu, who was not given any new posting.