Now serving her second term, Mukabalisa is also known for her performances in athletics competitions involving East African legislators, where she has won several medals.
Speaking to IGIHE, Mukabalisa disclosed her interest in leadership began long before she entered Parliament. As a student, she regularly took part in school clubs and activities, including Scouts, and later became involved in student leadership at university.
'I liked being among the first people to volunteer whenever there was something to be done or whenever others needed help,' she said.
Mukabalisa studied law at the University of Rwanda after completing her secondary education. At university, she was elected to represent law students before later becoming a commissioner responsible for gender in the wider students' association.
She said these experiences taught her that leadership could provide a platform to raise issues affecting others, particularly women and students who might otherwise struggle to have their concerns heard.
After graduating, Mukabalisa spent time as a volunteer at a sector office in Musanze while looking for employment. She said the experience eventually helped her secure her first job after she used computers and internet access at the sector to apply for opportunities online.
'Volunteering is what I would say brought me into employment,' she said.
Mukabalisa said she did not grow up dreaming of becoming an MP. Instead, she developed an interest in serving people and gradually recognised opportunities to do so through different stages of her career, including her work at the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Her entry into Parliament in 2020, she said, was driven by a sense of responsibility towards the women who supported her campaign.
'I do not see myself as Germaine asking a minister a question. I see myself as Germaine who has an agreement with a citizen to ask the minister how this or that issue was addressed,' she said.
Among the recent laws she is particularly pleased to have participated in is the 2024 family law, which recognises that unpaid domestic work performed by women can, in certain circumstances, be given value and taken into account.
She described the provision as an important step because women often spend much of their time performing household work that does not generate a formal income.
Mukabalisa has also found an unexpected platform for service through athletics. She first competed in the sport after joining Parliament, when legislators resumed competitions in 2022 following the disruption caused by Covid-19.
Having no previous experience in athletics, she taught herself through training and online resources and eventually began winning medals. In 2023, when Rwanda hosted the competition, she won a gold medal.
Her determination was tested during an 800-metre race when she noticed that Rwanda was not listed among the competitors. She decided to participate anyway and eventually overtook a Ugandan runner who had taken an early lead.
'I told myself that the worst thing that could happen was failing to win a medal. I put in all the strength we had been taught to use and eventually managed to overtake her,' she recalled.
For Mukabalisa, both Parliament and sport have provided different avenues through which she can represent others, challenge herself and turn opportunities into service.
Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/how-volunteering-law-and-sport-shaped-mp-germaine-mukabalisas-journey/
