Joanne Lomas, the new UK High Commissioner to Rwanda
The British government has named Joanne Lomas as the new High Commissioner to Rwanda and Non-resident Ambassador to the Republic of Burundi.
Lomas replaces William Gelling OBE who has concluded his three-year tour. According to a statement from the British government, Gelling will be transferred to another Diplomatic Service appointment.
Lomas is expected to take up her appointment effective January 2018.
“Delighted to announce my next posting to Rwanda. Will be very sorry to leave Namibia though,” Lomas said on her official Twitter account.
Currently, she has been the British High Commissioner in Windhoek, for the last two years.
The outgoing High commissioner William Gelling OBE said that he is sad to leave Kigali for it has given him the best times but again he is sure with no doubt that he has the best successor who will continue the good bilateral relationship between the two countries, but also between the people of UK and Rwanda.
“Great news and a superb successor. I will be very sad to leave but look forward to making the most of my last couple of months in Kigali,” he said via Twitter.
The UK has contributed to Rwanda’s achievement of lifting over 1.5 million people out of poverty in recent years. Between 2011 and 2015 UK aid supported 3.8 million people to obtain land titles and through our support to the Vision Umurenge Program and helped 390,000 of the poorest Rwandans to benefit from boosts in income.
Their support provided 355,000 people with access to financial services, and enabled 354,000 children to attend primary school.
