The Cabinet on Monday, June 9, approved over Rwf7 trillion the government plans to spend in the 2025/26 fiscal year, which will commence on July 1. This amount represents an increase of over Rwf1.2 trillion or 21 per cent compared to over Rwf5.8 trillion that was approved for the current fiscal year (2024/25). Here is what a few Rwandans think should be prioritized in the national budget. ALSO READ: Gov’t increases spending in revised 2024/25 budget by Rwf126bn Thomas Karangwa, Economist The government should prioritize infrastructure, human capital, agriculture, and private sector development, as each plays a crucial role in national progress. Good infrastructure boosts accessibility and energy independence; investing in education and health strengthens self-reliance and citizen confidence; supporting agriculture ensures food security and trade balance; and empowering the private sector increases employment, tax revenue, and the nation’s overall image. Florence Kudembe, Communications & Outreach, African School of Governance (ASG) The upcoming fiscal year should prioritize inclusive job creation for youth by investing in skills development, entrepreneurship, and digital innovation. This includes improving access to technical training, startup funding, and mentorship. The government should also strengthen partnerships with the private sector to promote youth hiring, internships, and apprenticeships. Tito Harerimana, Social media user Education, not only about increasing the number of classrooms but also about providing more intensive training for teachers. It is the backbone of Rwanda's future. However, many children still have to travel long distances to reach their schools. Additionally, the quality of education has significant room for improvement. Gloria Uwase Kaliza, Recovery officer in Property Management, Yyussa Company Ltd Investing in upskilling public sector employees should be priortitized so as to have public institutions run efficiently and effectively instead of retaining people with experience and no skills and fund Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) auditing departments to help hold accountable these public institutions for quick and effective services. ALSO READ: Cabinet approves Rwf7 trillion national budget for 2025/26 Felicien Niyomugabo, former Innovation Facilitator for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Entrepreneur Rwanda’s tech scene is growing, but AI needs a bigger push to stay globally competitive. Our government should fund nationwide AI literacy programmes in schools and communities so every Rwandan—youth, farmers, entrepreneurs—can master AI tools. Support AI solutions like crop yield analytics for agriculture and diagnostic tools in healthcare to solve local challenges. This is vital because AI drives global economies, and Rwanda cannot lag. AI is the future and we must equip our people now or fall behind. Queen Niyonkuru, Agriculture Extensionist, One Acre Fund To effectively translate funding into tangible results, the budget should prioritize support for farmers. This includes providing robust extension services, ensuring timely access to credit, implementing insurance schemes, and offering subsidies for agro-inputs. Last year, for instance, tens of thousands of livestock were insured, and many cows were inseminated, leading to significant positive outcomes. Straton Habyarimana, Economist Prioritizing job creation is essential to engage youth in productive activities and prevent issues like theft and drug abuse. This can be achieved by investing in well-equipped TVET institutions and collaborating with the Private Sector Federation (PSF) to help young people apply their skills through employment or self-employment. Additionally, supporting business advisory organizations like the Business Professionals Network (BPN) and creating more institutions that empower and motivate youth are crucial steps toward sustainable development.
