PHOTOS: New ministers pledge new momentum

President Paul Kagame, on Wednesday, officiated at the swearing-in ceremony of the Minister for Education, Dr Eugene Mutimura, and Minister of Technology, Jean de Dieu Rurangirwa. The two ministers were appointed by President Kagame, through the Prime Minister on December 6, replacing Papias Musafiri Malimba (education) and Jean Philbert Nsengimana (ICT). Kagame challenged the new members of cabinet to work with their colleagues in leading the national transformation. “We shall work closely with you and complement each other in transforming our country,” Kagame said. Prior to his appointment, Mutimura was the project coordinator for the Africa Centers of Excellence based in Kampala, Uganda. The project is an initiative by the Inter University Council of East Africa and the World Bank to establish regional education and research centres in specific topics. President Kagame poses for a group photo with new ministers Dr Eugene Mutimura of Education (3rd right) and Jean de Dieu Rurangirwa of ICT (3rd left), along with Senate President Bernard Makuza (2nd left), Speaker Domitille Mukabalisa (2nd right), Chief Justice Sam Rugege (right) and Prime Minister Dr Edouard Ngirente, shortly after the inauguration of the new ministers at Parliament in Kimihurura, Kigali yesterday. Mutimura has also previously worked at the Regional Alliance for Sustainable Development. Mutimura told The New Times that he looks forward to improving the quality of education in the country. “I will start by examining the prevailing challenges together with my team and other stakeholders before we can lay strategies to improve the education system. The overall objective is to build on the existing pillars to improve the quality of our education that would set new momentum of our development agenda of making Rwanda a knowledge-based economy,” Mutimura said. The new ICT minister, Rurangirwa, also pledged to “continue working toward making Rwanda an ICT-driven country. Rurangirwa, previously worked at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. Dr Eugène Mutimura is sworn in as Minister for Education at Parliament in Kigali yesterday. He was working on Integrated Financial Management Information and System (IFMIS), a programme that manages government finances, budget, commitments control, treasury management, cash management, accounts payables, tax, and non-tax revenues, accounts receivables, and a centralised general ledger system. Rurangirwa also worked as a consultant at the International Monetary Fund as an advisor focusing on public sector financial management processes. Jean de Dieu Rurangirwa takes the oath of office as Minister for ICT at Parliament in Kigali yesterday. President Kagame poses with the new Minister for Education, Dr Eugène Mutimura, at Parliament yesterday. President Kagame poses with the new Minister for ICT, Jean de Dieu Rurangirwa, at Parliament yesterday. Newly sworn-in Education minister Dr Eugène Mutimura (right) and his family pose for a group photo with President Kagame at Parliament in Kigali yesterday. Newly shown-in ICT minister Jean de Dieu Rurangirwa and his family pose for a group photo with President Kagame at Parliament in Kigali yesterday. President Kagame addresses senior government officials shortly after the new cabinet ministers’ inauguration at Parliament in Kimihurura yesterday. President Kagame greets the family of new ICT minister Jean de Dieu Rurangirwa (right) shortly after the latter’s inauguration at Parliament yesterday. The wife and children of the new Education minister Dr Eugène Mutimura (not in picture) follow the proceedings from the public gallery at Parliaments yesterday. Justice minister and Attorney General Johnstone Busingye, along with his new colleagues Eugene Mutimura of Education (left) and Jean de Dieu Rurangirwa of ICT (centre), observe the national anthem at Parliament yesterday. President Kagame, Senate president Barnard Makuza (left) and Speaker Donatille Mukabalisa during the new cabinet ministers’ swearing-in proceedings in the Chamber of Deputies yesterday. Education minister Dr Eugène Mutimura takes the oath of office before the Head of State (centre) and other top government leaders at Parliament yesterday. The family of new ICT minister Jean de Dieu Rurangirwa witness his inauguration from the gallery in the Chamber of Deputies in Kigali yesterday. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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PHOTOS: New ministers pledge new momentum