President Kagame Swears in New Cabinet

President Paul Kagame on Monday, 19 August, officiated the swearing-in ceremony of 21 Ministers and nine Ministers of State appointed to the Cabinet, as well as the new CEO of the Rwanda Governance Board. Twenty-one Ministers and nine State Ministers were appointed last week, with new faces including Amb. Christine Nkulikiyinka (Public Service and Labor), Prudence Sebahizi (Trade and Industry), and Richard Nyirishema (Sports). During his remarks, President Kagame reminded both the newly appointed and returning leaders of the significant responsibility they bear in their roles. He emphasized that the cabinet’s renewal is not merely a routine change but an opportunity for self-evaluation and a commitment to greater achievements. "The way I see it, there are things we did well in the past, and things that did not go as well. It’s our duty to put everything together, analyze, and ask ourselves, 'What can we do better moving forward?' If you don’t see it this way, then there is a problem. What you did well before means you should do even better, and what was not done well needs to be corrected as we move on," he advised. Kagame also stressed the importance of appreciating public criticism and using it as a tool for correction to maintain the right direction when things are going well. However, he emphasized that self-evaluation should be a constant practice. The cabinet implements national policy. According to the Constitution, the Cabinet is accountable to the President and the Parliament. Under the responsibilities of the cabinet, the Prime Minister leads the functioning of the Government per the main guidelines given by the President and ensures the implementation of laws. The Prime Minister also formulates government programs in consultation with Cabinet members. He is also expected to present government programs to Parliament within 30 days of taking office.