Prof. Emmanuel Bajyana, the winner of the senatorial seat reserved for public institutions of higher learning, has said that improving the living standards of lecturers is among his first priorities.

The elections took place on Tuesday this week.

In an interview with The New Times yesterday, Prof. Bajyana who teaches Bio-Technology and Genetic engineering at the National University of Rwanda (NUR), added that professionalism in universities will be among his priorities

"I thank my fellow lecturers in public universities for voting me in. This indicates that they have trust in me; I will strive to promote professionalism in their respective teaching careers,” he said.

Bajyana, 64, who has been teaching at NUR since 2002, noted that he will advocate for building capacity in universities across the country as well as the promotion of the Rwandan culture through encouraging students to read the country’s history. He said this would promote nationalism and patriotism among the youth.

Prof. Laurent Nkusi, who will represent private universities, said that he would promote unity among university students and strive to eliminate and uproot the Genocide ideology among students.

Nkusi is the Vice Rector in charge of academics at the Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Education of Kibungo (INATEK) and a former cabinet minister.

The two dons and 12 others representing Kigali City and other provinces, will sit in the upper chamber of parliament for the next eight years.

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