L-R: Mushabe David Claudian Nyagatare distrit, Antoinette Mukandayisenga, Mayor Nyabihu district, Ange Sebutege, Mayor of Huye district
Today, June 29, 2018, nine districts across the country electednew Executive Committees, according to Local Government Ministry (MINALOC).
The elected leaders replace their predecessors who were recently either ‘fired’ or resigned citing personal reasons.
In Huye district, Southern Rwanda, Ange Sebutege was elected the Mayor. The new Mayor formerly worked at the department of Customer Service at Rwanda Immigration and Emigration.
Ephrem Kayumba, Rusizi district Mayor
Sebutege replaced Eugene Kayiranga Muzuka – probably the longest serving Mayor among many others who recently resigned.
In Nyagatare district, Eastern Province, Claude Mushabe was elected to replace George Mupenzi who also resigned.
Mushabe has been the Executive Secretary of Gakenke district in the North, but served as Executive Secretary of different sectors in Nyagatare district.
In Bugesera district in the same Province, Richard Mutabazi who has been acting mayor after the district leadership resigned was elected as the Bugesera district Mayor.
Janvier Gashema, FED Nyaruguru
Rusizi district in the Western Province also got a new Mayor; Ephrem Kayumba. He was Executive Secreatry of Nyamasheke district in the same Province.
Gicumbi district in the Northern Province elected Felix Ndayambaje. In Nyabihu district, Western Province, Antoinette Mukandayisenga was elected.
In Nyaruguru district, Southern Province, Janvier Gashema was elected Deputy Mayor in charge of Economic Affairs replacing Antoine Bisizi who was dropped by the district Advisory Council over abuse of office.
Apart from Rusizi and Nyaruguru districts, other districts elected the entire Executive Committees including the mayor and two deputies in charge of Economic and Social Affairs.
What awaits the new leaders?
When former district mayors and their deputies started tendering in resignations since June 2017, the reason has always been the ‘personal reasons’ claim – apart from those who were forced to step down.
Richard Mutabazi, Bugesera district mayor(middle) and his deputies
KT Radio – a radio station of Kigali Today, recently hosted local government Minister, Francis Kaboneka who revealed that most of the mayors resign due to ‘capacity issues’.
While mayors are elected by citizens through advisory councils, Minister Kaboneka warned that: “Being elected directly by citizens does not make one become an angel. They elect them on trust but cannot know their inner selves. There will always be bad individuals.”
Given Minister Kaboneka’s comments, the ball remains in the court for these new leaders.
