These appointments come a few days after the National Electoral Commission officially announced the election of 12 senators chosen from local governance structures and two elected from both public and private higher learning institutions. Additionally, the Political Party Forum announced two senators elected to join the Senate.
Dr. François Xavier Kalinda
Dr. François Xavier Kalinda joined the Senate in January 2023 and was immediately elected as its President, replacing Dr. Iyamuremye, who had resigned. Born in Kitabi Sector, Nyamagabe District, Kalinda holds a PhD in commercial law from Strasbourg, France.
He completed his undergraduate and master's degrees at the National University of Rwanda, and later pursued a master's degree at the University of Ottawa in Canada. In 2015, he was elected to represent Rwanda in the East African Legislative Assembly, succeeding Céléstin Kabahizi, who had resigned.
Kalinda also served in the university's teaching and administration, including as a law lecturer at the University of Rwanda.
Dr. Usta Kayitesi
Dr. Usta Kayitesi is the former Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) who served from July 2019 until August 2024, when she was succeeded by Dr. Doris Uwicyeza Picard.
Prior to her role as CEO, Dr. Kayitesi was the Deputy CEO of RGB. She holds a PhD in law and has a background as a lecturer and administrator at the University of Rwanda, particularly in the College of Arts and Social Sciences.
She was also part of the seven-member commission tasked with reviewing the Constitution, as mandated by the Cabinet in 2015, where she served as Vice President of the commission.
Amb. Solina Nyirahabimana
Amb. Solina Nyirahabimana, formerly State Minister at the Ministry of Justice responsible for Constitutional and Legal Affairs, had previously served as Rwanda's ambassador to Switzerland and the country's permanent representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva until 2013.
She also held several government positions, including Minister of Gender and Family Promotion from 2018 until she transitioned to the Ministry of Justice.
Bibiane Gahamanyi Mbaye
Bibiane Gahamanyi Mbaye is a human rights activist with dual citizenship in Rwanda and Senegal. She is fluent in French, English, Kinyarwanda, and Swahili, with extensive experience in international human rights law, gender equality, reproductive health rights, and international partnerships.
She has worked with numerous non-governmental organizations and has held advisory roles in international human rights organizations such as International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF-Africa) and ActionAid International.
These four newly appointed senators join four others whose terms have one year to expire, as per legal provisions.
Recent elections saw senators elected from different provinces, including Dr. Nyinawamwiza Laetitia and Rugira Amandin from the Northern Province, Adrie Umuhire, Uwera Pélagie, and Cyitatire Sosthene from the Southern Province, Bideri John Bonds, Nsengiyumva Fulgence, and Mukabaramba Alvera from the Eastern Province.
Others are Havugimana Emmanuel, Mureshyankwano Marie Rose, and Niyomugabo Cyprien from the Western Province. In Kigali City, it is Nyirasafari Espérance who was elected with 55.26% of the vote.
Furthermore, Telesphore Ngarambe and Uwimbabazi Penine were elected to represent higher learning institutions, while former speaker of Parliament, Mukabalisa Donatille and Murangwa Ndangiza Hadija were elected by the Political Party Forum.
Sam K Nkurunziza
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/president-kagame-appoints-new-senators
