President Kagame Makes Key Appointments, Including New Minister of Sports

On Friday, December 20, 2024, President Paul Kagame made several important appointments, including the appointment of Nelly Mukazayire as the new Minister of Sports. Mukazayire, who previously served as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports, replaces Nyirishema Richard, who held the position for four months.

The announcement, made in the evening through a statement from the Prime Minister’s office, also included several other notable changes in Rwanda’s leadership. Uwayezu François Regis, former Secretary-General of the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) and Executive Director of Tanzania’s Simba SC, was appointed Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports.

Other key appointments include Rwego Ngarambe, who was named State Secretary in the Ministry of Sports, and Kabera Godfrey, who is now the State Secretary for Finance and Planning in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.

In addition, Ambassador Vincent Karega was appointed Special Ambassador for the Great Lakes region, and Major General Joseph Nzabamwita was appointed Rwanda’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation. Francis Gatare, the former CEO of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), was appointed Special Advisor to the President, and Parfait Busabizwa was named Ambassador to the Republic of Congo.

Other notable appointments include Olivier Kayumba as Ambassador to the Central African Republic and Lambert Dushimimana as Ambassador to the Netherlands. Jean Claude Musabyimana was named Executive Secretary of the National Election Commission, while François Régis Uwayezu was appointed the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports.

Nelly Mukazayire, a seasoned economist with a strong background in public service, takes over the Ministry of Sports after months of reshuffling. She has been instrumental in Rwanda’s tourism development and previously served as Deputy CEO of RDB and as Director-General of the Rwanda Convention Bureau. Mukazayire holds a Master’s degree in Economics and a PhD in Political Economy Management.

Rwego Ngarambe, the newly appointed State Secretary in the Ministry of Sports, was previously the Director-General in charge of sports development. Kabera Godfrey, now the State Secretary for Finance, was formerly the Director of Planning and Research at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.

These appointments reflect President Kagame’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that experienced, capable leaders are at the helm of key institutions, guiding Rwanda toward continued growth and development.