Ministry of Public Investments and Privatisation absorbed to Minecofin

The Ministry of Public Investments and Privatisation, which was established just over a year ago in July 2022, has been dissolved as part of a cabinet reshuffle carried out by President Paul Kagame on August 22.

A statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister confirmed that the responsibilities previously entrusted to the now-disbanded ministry will be transferred to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (Minecofin). This move aims to streamline administrative functions and ensure a more cohesive approach to economic management.

Assuming the role of Minister of State in charge of Public Investment and Resource Mobilization within Minecofin is Jeanine Munyeshuli. She takes over the duties previously overseen by Eric Rwigamba. Rwigamba, on the other hand, has been appointed as the Minister of State for Agriculture and Animal Resources.

Before her current appointment, Munyeshuli held the position of Chief Strategy Officer at the University of Global Health Equity. With a background as an economist and a Yoga teacher, she also holds a Master’s Degree in Econometrics and Statistics from the University of Geneva, Switzerland. Munyeshuli’s diverse experience, both in academia and governance, makes her a fitting choice for the challenging role of steering public investment strategies.

At the inception of the now-defunct ministry, experts acclaimed its formation, recognizing its potential to mitigate losses incurred from government investments. Additionally, the ministry was anticipated to strengthen oversight mechanisms, thereby enhancing efficiency and optimizing results.

The role of Minister of State in charge of Public Investment and Resource Mobilization came with a range of pivotal responsibilities. These encompassed identifying prospects for government investments, closely monitoring the performance of existing government investments in various enterprises, and executing privatization of public investments where deemed advantageous.

As the nation enters this new phase of economic governance with the restructuring of ministerial roles, it remains to be seen how this adjustment will impact the management of public investments and the overall trajectory of the Rwandan economy.

PM