Rwanda’s new Senate inaugurated, reelects Kalinda as president

During a ceremony presided over by President Paul Kagame at parliament’s building in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, the new senate elected its president and two deputies.

François-Xavier Kalinda was reelected the senate president unopposed after garnering 25 out of 26 votes cast.

In the senate for a second term, Kalinda first assumed the position in January 2023.

Senator Alvera Mukabaramba was elected as vice president in charge of finance and administration while Solina Nyirahabimana was voted as vice president in charge of legislature and government oversight.

Mukabaramba held the same position in the previous senate while Nyirahabimana replace Esperance Nyirasafari.

The Rwandan Senate is composed of 26 seats, including 14 lawmakers elected by electoral colleges from the capital Kigali, provinces, and higher learning institutions, eight appointed by the president, and four from the National Consultative Forum of Political Organizations.

Public and private universities each have one seat in the Senate.

“I was happy to see that the number of women in the Senate is increasing. It is a good move, and while it is not a must to have the same ratio, other institutions are encouraged to do the same,” Kagame said in his address.

For the first time, the Senate achieved a milestone with 53.8% female representation.

Kagame stressed the crucial of the Senate particularly working together with the central government to address challenging tasks.

“The main thing is to ensure that no one is left behind in this cause, every Rwandan should see themselves in the development that we continue to see. This is something that we should not forget,” he said.

Meanwhile Kalinda pledged continuous development working with other government institutions.

He thanked Kagame for his support and expressed confidence in the new legislature to deliver on its mandate.