Samuel Dusengiyumva is the new Mayor of the City of Kigali, according to by-election results announced by city authorities. He replaces Pudence Rubingisa, who was at the helm of the city for about four years, since August 2019.

Rubingisa was on Thursday named the new Governor of Eastern Province.

Dusengiyumva, the immediate former Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Local Government, garnered 532 out of 638 votes cast in a poll held Friday, December 15, at the City Hall.

He was vying for the position with Rose Baguma, Director General of Education Policy and Analysis at the Ministry of Education.

The by-election followed the swearing-in of Samuel Dusengiyumva and Solange Ayanone as new members of the City of Kigali Council, an event that was presided over by the High Court.

Dusengiyumva and Ayanone were appointed members of the Council by President Paul Kagame Thursday, December 14.

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The city Executive Committee members, namely the Mayor, and both vice mayors – Vice Mayor in Charge of Urbanisation and Infrastructure, and Vice Mayor in charge of Socioeconomic Affairs – are also members of the city council.

On December 14, shortly after the release of the statement announcing the appointment of Dusengiyumva and Ayanone, among other appointees, City of Kigali took to X to announce that Merard Mpabwanamaguru was also no longer a member of its Council.

Mpabwanamaguru was until Thursday the Vice Mayor in Charge of Urbanisation and Infrastructure in the City of Kigali.

Martine Urujeni retains her post as Vice Mayor in charge of Socioeconomic Affairs.

By the time of filing this story the Council of the City of Kigali was due to pick the next Vice Mayor in charge of Urbanisation and Infrastructure who would replace Mpabwanamaguru. Ayanone, a media consultant, is widely tipped to take the post.